The US-Spec Hatchback Spied

[BRGT350]

I am 100% ok with the Verve Sedan front bumper. It is not as nice as the EU bumper, but still very much ok. What is not ok is taking away the large air opening and replacing it with a very small one like the Fusion. I have always liked bigger openings in the front, and prefer them to be lower on the bumper.

[mrbirdman330]

Hopefully Ford keeps the larger lower grill.

[streetfiesta]

I agree with BRGT350 a lot. I want a PREMIUM B-segment car with style and performance. What I really want is a SMALLER version of a mazdaspeed3, say an MS2 (Demio in Europe). The Fiesta has that potential, but Ford NA doesn't bring the stylish cars over here in the Ford name. They badge them as Volvos or Mazdas, etc.

[mrbirdman330]

In technicality Ford has never been a premium name, its reserved for luxury brands like Lincoln and Mercury, Volvo, and Jag.

[BRGT350]

I would say Ford is a premium name, but not in the "old man" sense of premium. Any SVT product and the Ford GT are very premium and fast. For me, that is something Lincoln can't offer. Oh, I am not retired yet, so Lincoln's and most Jag's don't appeal to me.

[mrbirdman330]

Ford has upped its standards within the past 8 years to try and bring more into its name. I would for the last six years Ford has marketed itself as lower cost premium brand of car taking away what Mercury and Lincoln were. Now Mercury and Lincoln are straight luxury brands.

[Mark Kleis]

FWIW, Ford sold Jaguar

[mrbirdman330]

When it owned Jag.

[golf strom]

Didn't Ford Dearborn tell us that unless it WAS REQUIRED for DOT or EPA they were NOT going to change anything??!?!?!?!?

What happened........ Dearborn trying to create a failure to save some of your engineering jobs?? Turf protection danger zone!!!!!!

What really puts the proverbial nail in the coffin for me is those on this forum that keep bleating " Unitil the final production car is on the road don't judge it."

Interestingly this is what the automotive industry (especially in the US) loves to do when they darn well KNOW the outcome is not very good for the product. The same bleating was repeated for the Chevy Cobalt, US Ford Focus [07+], and quite a few others as well.

Same goes for some here claiming that the potential buyers in general won't notice the difference between the great EU Fiesta that is being paraded around the US now and the possible piece of crap that might show up a year from now. Ford this is the arrogance that got you in hot water before. You're about to make the same mistake once again!!!! Or is it a mistake? Maybe it is just another case of "turf protection".

Ford if you truly want to make this car a success don't change ANYTHING that isn't required by DOT or EPA...you know just like you claimed at the beginning.

[mrbirdman330]

I think much of the problem still lies in dealing with CAFE.