Lincoln: Development and Technology News
01-05-2004, 01:33 PM
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Lincoln: Development and Technology News
Lincoln restocks, adds 11 models
Upscale division attempts comeback
By Eric Mayne / The Detroit News
DEARBORN — In 1998, Lincoln was the top-selling U.S. luxury car brand.
The five years that have passed haven’t been pretty. Ford Motor Co.’s upscale American division has been pummeled by stagnant sales, multiple strategy shifts, executive turnover and financial losses.
Now, Lincoln trails not only Mercedes, Lexus and BMW, but also Cadillac, its crosstown rival that spent $4 billion on a stodgy-to-sexy makeover.
Lincoln executives say better times are ahead with the launch of 11 new products over the next four years. Today at the North American International Auto Show, Lincoln will unveil a full-size luxury pickup and two concept vehicles: a luxury roadster and a next-generation Aviator midsize sport utility vehicle.
The product push comes as Ford is counting on Lincoln, and the company’s other premium brands, which include Jaguar and Volvo, to deliver one-third of the automaker’s $7 billion pretax profit goal by mid-decade.
Nonetheless, Ford Executive Vice President Jim Padilla acknowledged that the automaker is still searching for the right formula for Lincon.
“Lincoln is a big challenge,” he said in an interview Sunday. “The customers expect a lot more and that means we have to invest a lot more. So we have to find the right business equation for Lincoln.”
Critics charge that Lincoln has forsaken the car market in recent years amid consumers’ continuing fascination with pickups and SUVs.
But Lincoln officials say the variety of vehicles to be displayed at the Detroit auto show proves the brand is not abandoning cars for light trucks — despite the success of the Aviator and its full-size cousin, the Navigator.
“To get to the level of share that we want in the United States, you have to be able to do both,” said John Fitzpatrick, general marketing manager for Ford’s Lincoln and Mercury brands.
Through mid-December 2003, Lincoln had already surpassed 2002 U.S. sales of 150,057 units — the brand’s first annual sales gain in three years. Final 2003 sales will be released today.
“We’re going to continue that uptick, and there is product in the pipeline that will ensure that,” Fitzpatrick said.
Upscale and stylish
Among the new products in Lincoln’s stable is the Mark LT luxury pickup, based on the underpinnings of Ford’s F-150 pickup. The Lincoln offering is decidedly more upscale, highlighted by a more stylish interior, which is becoming a hallmark of the brand.
A black cloud hangs over any Lincoln-badged pickup, however. More to the point: a Blackwood cloud.
Lincoln introduced the Blackwood pickup in 2001, but engineering miscues by a major supplier stalled production. A carpeted cargo bed, fixed tonneau cover and lack of four-wheel drive severely limited the truck’s functionality, forcing Lincoln to scrap the program just months after launch.
“We’ve learned,” Fitzpatrick said, adding that there remains considerable interest in a luxury pickup.
“Dealers came back to us and said, ‘Listen. You’re right. There’s opportunity there, but there’s some things that you should look at when you go to your next execution,’ ” he said. “And we are comfortable that we’ve looked at those things and are doing it right.”
Due to hit showrooms in early 2005, the Mark LT will be built at Ford’s rejuvenated Rouge assembly complex in Dearborn.
The show truck features an illuminated Lincoln star as the centerpiece of its chrome grille. Inside are metallic air vents and door handles and sheepskin flooring.
“This vehicle has a harmonious balance of materials, while providing enough contrast to be visually exciting,” said Marek Reichman, interior design strategy director.
Rick Doyle, sales manager at Bob Maxey Lincoln-Mercury in Detroit, is upbeat about the prospect of bringing another pickup into his showroom.
“It will be great,” Doyle said. “The only problem they had with the Blackwood was it only came in two-wheel drive. We sold probably 25 of them. But most people, you get into a $50,000 truck, they’re looking for four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.”
Pricing for the Mark LT has not been set.
Aviator here to stay
The next-generation Aviator concept is a car-based SUV.
The show vehicle features a full-length glass roof and a rear center console designed to accommodate laptop computers, video games or snacks. The vehicle also boasts a polished egg-crate grille that recalls Lincoln Continentals of decades past.
Despite media reports to the contrary last year, “Aviator is here to stay and is evolving to meet customer demand,” said Phil Martens, Ford group vice president of North American product creation.
Lincoln’s concept roadster, dubbed Mark X, also takes some cues from Continentals of old.
Built on the same underpinnings as the Lincoln LS and Ford Thunderbird, the Mark X show car features a retractable hard top.
Lincoln spokeswoman Sara Tatchio said there are no firm plans to produce the car-based Aviator or the Mark X, which Lincoln pronounces as “Mark 10.”
If the vehicles eventually go into production, however, customers will receive them well, said Chris Conley, general manager of SESI Lincoln-Mercury and Volvo in Ann Arbor.
“Cadillac has the XLR, and Lexus has the SC 430,” Conley said. “It would be nice to have a halo car.”
Automakers use “halo cars” to burnish a brand’s image and draw showroom traffic. Some successful halo cars have been the Dodge Viper and Ford Mustang Cobra.
Conley and Doyle are not worried about the apparent dearth of new Lincoln vehicles planned for 2004.
“Just by having something at the auto show, hopefully people will wait and give us time to get it to market,” Conley said.
Jim Sanfilippo, executive vice president for new business development at AMCI, an automotive marketing consulting firm in Warren, is equally impressed with Lincoln’s prospective lineup. But not with its timing.
“Lincoln is a wonderful brand,” he said. “But if there ever was an experiment to see how long you can go without replenishing, they’re trying to push the limit.”
The Aviator “makes abundant sense,“ Sanfilippo said. “But they’ve got to hurry.”
The Mark LT is a shoo-in success, and the Mark X’s engineering roots are solid, he added. “The LS platform is so completely underrated.”
Fitzpatrick said products such as the Navigator — which rode a 26 percent sales hike into December — have “legs” and will remain popular throughout 2004.
Lincoln is more concerned with execution than timing.
“We just need to make sure we continue to execute around what the customers want,” Fitzpatrick said. “When you can execute the vehicle right, the customer will obviously follow.”
You can reach Eric Mayne at 313-222-2443 or emayne@detnews.com.
Upscale division attempts comeback
By Eric Mayne / The Detroit News
DEARBORN — In 1998, Lincoln was the top-selling U.S. luxury car brand.
The five years that have passed haven’t been pretty. Ford Motor Co.’s upscale American division has been pummeled by stagnant sales, multiple strategy shifts, executive turnover and financial losses.
Now, Lincoln trails not only Mercedes, Lexus and BMW, but also Cadillac, its crosstown rival that spent $4 billion on a stodgy-to-sexy makeover.
Lincoln executives say better times are ahead with the launch of 11 new products over the next four years. Today at the North American International Auto Show, Lincoln will unveil a full-size luxury pickup and two concept vehicles: a luxury roadster and a next-generation Aviator midsize sport utility vehicle.
The product push comes as Ford is counting on Lincoln, and the company’s other premium brands, which include Jaguar and Volvo, to deliver one-third of the automaker’s $7 billion pretax profit goal by mid-decade.
Nonetheless, Ford Executive Vice President Jim Padilla acknowledged that the automaker is still searching for the right formula for Lincon.
“Lincoln is a big challenge,” he said in an interview Sunday. “The customers expect a lot more and that means we have to invest a lot more. So we have to find the right business equation for Lincoln.”
Critics charge that Lincoln has forsaken the car market in recent years amid consumers’ continuing fascination with pickups and SUVs.
But Lincoln officials say the variety of vehicles to be displayed at the Detroit auto show proves the brand is not abandoning cars for light trucks — despite the success of the Aviator and its full-size cousin, the Navigator.
“To get to the level of share that we want in the United States, you have to be able to do both,” said John Fitzpatrick, general marketing manager for Ford’s Lincoln and Mercury brands.
Through mid-December 2003, Lincoln had already surpassed 2002 U.S. sales of 150,057 units — the brand’s first annual sales gain in three years. Final 2003 sales will be released today.
“We’re going to continue that uptick, and there is product in the pipeline that will ensure that,” Fitzpatrick said.
Upscale and stylish
Among the new products in Lincoln’s stable is the Mark LT luxury pickup, based on the underpinnings of Ford’s F-150 pickup. The Lincoln offering is decidedly more upscale, highlighted by a more stylish interior, which is becoming a hallmark of the brand.
A black cloud hangs over any Lincoln-badged pickup, however. More to the point: a Blackwood cloud.
Lincoln introduced the Blackwood pickup in 2001, but engineering miscues by a major supplier stalled production. A carpeted cargo bed, fixed tonneau cover and lack of four-wheel drive severely limited the truck’s functionality, forcing Lincoln to scrap the program just months after launch.
“We’ve learned,” Fitzpatrick said, adding that there remains considerable interest in a luxury pickup.
“Dealers came back to us and said, ‘Listen. You’re right. There’s opportunity there, but there’s some things that you should look at when you go to your next execution,’ ” he said. “And we are comfortable that we’ve looked at those things and are doing it right.”
Due to hit showrooms in early 2005, the Mark LT will be built at Ford’s rejuvenated Rouge assembly complex in Dearborn.
The show truck features an illuminated Lincoln star as the centerpiece of its chrome grille. Inside are metallic air vents and door handles and sheepskin flooring.
“This vehicle has a harmonious balance of materials, while providing enough contrast to be visually exciting,” said Marek Reichman, interior design strategy director.
Rick Doyle, sales manager at Bob Maxey Lincoln-Mercury in Detroit, is upbeat about the prospect of bringing another pickup into his showroom.
“It will be great,” Doyle said. “The only problem they had with the Blackwood was it only came in two-wheel drive. We sold probably 25 of them. But most people, you get into a $50,000 truck, they’re looking for four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.”
Pricing for the Mark LT has not been set.
Aviator here to stay
The next-generation Aviator concept is a car-based SUV.
The show vehicle features a full-length glass roof and a rear center console designed to accommodate laptop computers, video games or snacks. The vehicle also boasts a polished egg-crate grille that recalls Lincoln Continentals of decades past.
Despite media reports to the contrary last year, “Aviator is here to stay and is evolving to meet customer demand,” said Phil Martens, Ford group vice president of North American product creation.
Lincoln’s concept roadster, dubbed Mark X, also takes some cues from Continentals of old.
Built on the same underpinnings as the Lincoln LS and Ford Thunderbird, the Mark X show car features a retractable hard top.
Lincoln spokeswoman Sara Tatchio said there are no firm plans to produce the car-based Aviator or the Mark X, which Lincoln pronounces as “Mark 10.”
If the vehicles eventually go into production, however, customers will receive them well, said Chris Conley, general manager of SESI Lincoln-Mercury and Volvo in Ann Arbor.
“Cadillac has the XLR, and Lexus has the SC 430,” Conley said. “It would be nice to have a halo car.”
Automakers use “halo cars” to burnish a brand’s image and draw showroom traffic. Some successful halo cars have been the Dodge Viper and Ford Mustang Cobra.
Conley and Doyle are not worried about the apparent dearth of new Lincoln vehicles planned for 2004.
“Just by having something at the auto show, hopefully people will wait and give us time to get it to market,” Conley said.
Jim Sanfilippo, executive vice president for new business development at AMCI, an automotive marketing consulting firm in Warren, is equally impressed with Lincoln’s prospective lineup. But not with its timing.
“Lincoln is a wonderful brand,” he said. “But if there ever was an experiment to see how long you can go without replenishing, they’re trying to push the limit.”
The Aviator “makes abundant sense,“ Sanfilippo said. “But they’ve got to hurry.”
The Mark LT is a shoo-in success, and the Mark X’s engineering roots are solid, he added. “The LS platform is so completely underrated.”
Fitzpatrick said products such as the Navigator — which rode a 26 percent sales hike into December — have “legs” and will remain popular throughout 2004.
Lincoln is more concerned with execution than timing.
“We just need to make sure we continue to execute around what the customers want,” Fitzpatrick said. “When you can execute the vehicle right, the customer will obviously follow.”
You can reach Eric Mayne at 313-222-2443 or emayne@detnews.com.
01-05-2004, 01:47 PM
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I like seeing Lincold look for their identity. They certainly have something to offer, especially when they add their own AMG/M/V Series, whatever it's gonna be called (maybe SVT?), line.
01-08-2004, 07:15 PM
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From this week's autoextremist.com
2004 marked another auto show for the Lincoln nameplate at which they trot out concepts, mumble statements about the future - yet production reality seems to continue to slip backwards. This year, Lincoln showed the Mark LT pickup, which is based on the F-150 and will compete against the Cadillac Escalade EXT pickup. Which is all well and good, but why won't it come out until the 2006 model year? And are they absolutely sure that it's the best use of Lincoln's engineering and financial resources? We think not. Lincoln also showed a quite handsome next-generation Aviator, which will be on a car platform rather than the truck platform it currently utilizes. The Aviator will compete against the likes of the Cadillac SRX and Lexus RX330, etc., and looks like it would do well - but it won't be available until 2007. Lincoln's plans after that continue to be vague, although they showed a Mark X hardtop/convertible based on the Thunderbird platform that was quite beautiful, but there are no plans to build it. Actually, all of the Lincoln concepts were wonderfully executed with sumptuous interiors and arresting details, so it's quite frustrating to continue to see Lincoln flail about on Planet Vague. There are other future products planned for the Lincoln and the Mercury brands (the Mercury Mariner is due in '05), but at this point we'll just have to file Lincoln-Mercury in the "wait and see" drawer. Lincoln will continue to struggle as long as Ford has other fires to put out, which means that until the Ford ship is righted and they start making money on vehicles other than trucks - the Lincoln nameplate will just have to wait its turn for its revival. Meanwhile, Lincoln continues to lose ground to Cadillac at a prodigious rate. Not a good thing right now in this, the most competitive market in automotive history.
2004 marked another auto show for the Lincoln nameplate at which they trot out concepts, mumble statements about the future - yet production reality seems to continue to slip backwards. This year, Lincoln showed the Mark LT pickup, which is based on the F-150 and will compete against the Cadillac Escalade EXT pickup. Which is all well and good, but why won't it come out until the 2006 model year? And are they absolutely sure that it's the best use of Lincoln's engineering and financial resources? We think not. Lincoln also showed a quite handsome next-generation Aviator, which will be on a car platform rather than the truck platform it currently utilizes. The Aviator will compete against the likes of the Cadillac SRX and Lexus RX330, etc., and looks like it would do well - but it won't be available until 2007. Lincoln's plans after that continue to be vague, although they showed a Mark X hardtop/convertible based on the Thunderbird platform that was quite beautiful, but there are no plans to build it. Actually, all of the Lincoln concepts were wonderfully executed with sumptuous interiors and arresting details, so it's quite frustrating to continue to see Lincoln flail about on Planet Vague. There are other future products planned for the Lincoln and the Mercury brands (the Mercury Mariner is due in '05), but at this point we'll just have to file Lincoln-Mercury in the "wait and see" drawer. Lincoln will continue to struggle as long as Ford has other fires to put out, which means that until the Ford ship is righted and they start making money on vehicles other than trucks - the Lincoln nameplate will just have to wait its turn for its revival. Meanwhile, Lincoln continues to lose ground to Cadillac at a prodigious rate. Not a good thing right now in this, the most competitive market in automotive history.
02-09-2004, 09:51 AM
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Development of new flagship sedan is top priority for Lincoln
Development of new flagship sedan is top priority for Lincoln - - - - By AMY WILSON | Automotive News
A new flagship sedan for Lincoln is the top product development priority for Lincoln Mercury.
A large sedan takes precedence over a new coupe or convertible for Lincoln or Mercury, division President Darryl Hazel said Sunday after the Lincoln Mercury make meeting.
The company is studying two existing platforms to carry the Lincoln flagship. One is the aging rear-drive Panther platform that underpins the Lincoln Town Car, Mercury Grand Marquis and Ford Crown Victoria. The other is the platform that supports the Ford Five Hundred sedan, which debuts this year.
The flagship would be all-wheel drive and likely wouldn't arrive until 2007 or later.
A new flagship sedan for Lincoln is the top product development priority for Lincoln Mercury.
A large sedan takes precedence over a new coupe or convertible for Lincoln or Mercury, division President Darryl Hazel said Sunday after the Lincoln Mercury make meeting.
The company is studying two existing platforms to carry the Lincoln flagship. One is the aging rear-drive Panther platform that underpins the Lincoln Town Car, Mercury Grand Marquis and Ford Crown Victoria. The other is the platform that supports the Ford Five Hundred sedan, which debuts this year.
The flagship would be all-wheel drive and likely wouldn't arrive until 2007 or later.
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10-31-2005, 05:20 PM
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Lincoln counting on Zephyr, Aviator to launch sales recovery, says large sedans to come - - AMY WILSON | Automotive News - - Source: Autoweek
NEW YORK -- Next year will mark the beginning of Lincoln's sales recovery, Ford Motor Co. executives predict.
The 2006 Zephyr sedan and 2007 Aviator sport wagon will carry the struggling luxury brand to its first annual sales increase since 2003, they say.
Lincoln's turnaround will depend mostly on the Zephyr, which went on sale this fall. The Aviator won't go on sale until late next year.
The two vehicles "begin the progression of Lincoln being relevant in the marketplace again," Elena Ford, Ford's director of North America product marketing, planning and strategy, said at a press event here last week. Executives won't say how much of a sales increase they expect.
In 1990, Lincoln sales peaked at 231,660 units. The best the luxury unit has done since then was 193,009 sales in 2000. Aside from a brief upturn in 2003, sales have fallen steadily this decade. Through September, Lincoln sales totaled 93,700 units, down 10.1 percent from the year-ago period.
More models
It will take more than the Zephyr and Aviator to return the brand to glory.
Lincoln will introduce more vehicles after 2006. Two large sedans will go on sale starting in 2007. At least one of the sedans is likely to appear as a concept car at the Detroit auto show in January.
With those two sedans, Lincoln aims to revive its bread-and-butter large-car business.
Lincoln also is developing a people mover and is studying a sporty coupe based on the Ford Mustang.
Lincoln has said it wants to boost retail sales to 200,000 annually. By the end of the decade, dealers will have at least eight Lincoln nameplates in their showrooms, company executives have said.
That's up from six today -- the Aviator, LS, Town Car, Navigator, Zephyr and Mark LT. The truck-based Aviator ended production in July, and the LS sedan will be discontinued next year.
Improvements for the Mark LT pickup also are likely down the road. Lincoln sold 5,927 units of the lightly reworked Ford F-150 from its February debut through September. That's well behind its annual target of 20,000 units.
Said Elena Ford: "We could do more to Lincoln-ize it, frankly."
The 2006 Zephyr sedan and 2007 Aviator sport wagon will carry the struggling luxury brand to its first annual sales increase since 2003, they say.
Lincoln's turnaround will depend mostly on the Zephyr, which went on sale this fall. The Aviator won't go on sale until late next year.
The two vehicles "begin the progression of Lincoln being relevant in the marketplace again," Elena Ford, Ford's director of North America product marketing, planning and strategy, said at a press event here last week. Executives won't say how much of a sales increase they expect.
In 1990, Lincoln sales peaked at 231,660 units. The best the luxury unit has done since then was 193,009 sales in 2000. Aside from a brief upturn in 2003, sales have fallen steadily this decade. Through September, Lincoln sales totaled 93,700 units, down 10.1 percent from the year-ago period.
More models
It will take more than the Zephyr and Aviator to return the brand to glory.
Lincoln will introduce more vehicles after 2006. Two large sedans will go on sale starting in 2007. At least one of the sedans is likely to appear as a concept car at the Detroit auto show in January.
With those two sedans, Lincoln aims to revive its bread-and-butter large-car business.
Lincoln also is developing a people mover and is studying a sporty coupe based on the Ford Mustang.
Lincoln has said it wants to boost retail sales to 200,000 annually. By the end of the decade, dealers will have at least eight Lincoln nameplates in their showrooms, company executives have said.
That's up from six today -- the Aviator, LS, Town Car, Navigator, Zephyr and Mark LT. The truck-based Aviator ended production in July, and the LS sedan will be discontinued next year.
Improvements for the Mark LT pickup also are likely down the road. Lincoln sold 5,927 units of the lightly reworked Ford F-150 from its February debut through September. That's well behind its annual target of 20,000 units.
Said Elena Ford: "We could do more to Lincoln-ize it, frankly."
10-31-2005, 05:48 PM
#9
The sizzle in the Steak
Hope Lincoln can pull it off.
10-31-2005, 05:53 PM
#10
Race Director
The only thing relevant in this thread is:
01-05-2004, 5:42 PM
1SICKLEX
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Biker, who doesn't see Lincoln going back to their 200K/yr sales any time in the near future.
01-05-2004, 5:42 PM
1SICKLEX
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Biker, who doesn't see Lincoln going back to their 200K/yr sales any time in the near future.
10-31-2005, 05:59 PM
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Said Elena Ford: "We could do more to Lincoln-ize it, frankly."
I would so love Lincolns to rule the roost again. These were my favorite cars when i was young. I know that is wierd...but I loved when my dad would take us out in his Town Car. My friends dad always had Mark VII LSC's and I wanted one soooo bad.
10-31-2005, 06:00 PM
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Originally Posted by biker
The only thing relevant in this thread is:
01-05-2004, 5:42 PM
1SICKLEX
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Biker, who doesn't see Lincoln going back to their 200K/yr sales any time in the near future.
01-05-2004, 5:42 PM
1SICKLEX
BANNED
Biker, who doesn't see Lincoln going back to their 200K/yr sales any time in the near future.
who was that freak who used to do that? didn't he get banned?
10-31-2005, 06:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Moog-Type-S
Hope Lincoln can pull it off.
10-31-2005, 06:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Loseit
You have to do that from the beginning. Why does Ford keep doing this? You cant' half ass it, introduce it and hope no one no one notices that you cut corners. And then if they do, refine the engine or the luxury factor etc. This seems to be the business model that ford is following.
I would so love Lincolns to rule the roost again.
I would so love Lincolns to rule the roost again.
11-01-2005, 01:12 PM
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Originally Posted by gavriil
Let me remind you again that Lincoln has decided they want to be like Acura, not like BMW/MB/Lexus.
11-01-2005, 07:52 PM
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I still don't see the point of Lincoln AND Mercury.
Neither have any kind of true "luxury" credibility right now so why not just make one unit and focus on building the reputation of that one brand? FoMoCo already has Jag AND Volvo.
Charlie Mike, who would talk in fourth person if he could figure it out
Neither have any kind of true "luxury" credibility right now so why not just make one unit and focus on building the reputation of that one brand? FoMoCo already has Jag AND Volvo.
Charlie Mike, who would talk in fourth person if he could figure it out
11-01-2005, 08:59 PM
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^ Both brands are historic; especially Lincoln. As far as luxury credibilty "right now," that's not a big deal. Americans have a very short memory. Look at what has happened to Caddy in a very short time. There is definitely a point for both Lincoln and Mercury. But only Ford knows what it is. The real problem is that they lack strong identities. Why not make Mercury a performance division? It's easily doable, and makes sense since Ford will be turning it's image green and eco-friendly in the very near future. Lincoln should be true American Luxury, IMO. What's so sad is that Ford's only got the three domestic brands, and they don't know what the hell to do with them. GM's the ones with a gang of brands and they're doing a better job of conveying what each one stands for. As for Jag, and Volvo, let them continue doing what they're doing. Don't be so quick to throw out the American plates.
11-01-2005, 09:32 PM
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Originally Posted by titan
^ Both brands are historic; especially Lincoln. As far as luxury credibilty "right now," that's not a big deal. Americans have a very short memory. Look at what has happened to Caddy in a very short time. There is definitely a point for both Lincoln and Mercury. But only Ford knows what it is. The real problem is that they lack strong identities. Why not make Mercury a performance division? It's easily doable, and makes sense since Ford will be turning it's image green and eco-friendly in the very near future. Lincoln should be true American Luxury, IMO. What's so sad is that Ford's only got the three domestic brands, and they don't know what the hell to do with them. GM's the ones with a gang of brands and they're doing a better job of conveying what each one stands for. As for Jag, and Volvo, let them continue doing what they're doing. Don't be so quick to throw out the American plates.
GM doesn't need 8 divisions and Ford certainly doesn't need three in the current system. It's idiotic. Honda does just fine with two distinct brands. Toyota has three and it's still a dubious need for Scion.
If Ford builds something good that I like, I'll buy it. I'll pay $30k for a entry-level luxury car like the A4/3-Series/etc ... I'm certainly not going to go to Lincoln and buy it just because it's Lincoln. Unless, they do something about the dealer network for Lincoln/Mercury.
Now, if Ford wants to get into the $30k+ range with this Zephyr, then yes, three distinct brands are necessary. For $30k+ I expect a completely different dealer experience than at a Ford or Mercury dealership (which are essentially the same) and having Lincoln AND Mercury in the same dealership is not going to produce that experience. It's going to be the same salesmen, the same service department, etc ... Until they fix that dilemma, Lincoln is going to fail.
11-01-2005, 10:26 PM
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Originally Posted by charliemike
It's not like Lincoln's going to have anything other than badge engineered cars anyway ... Keeping Lincoln AND Mercury together is like fighting over the same retiree's Social Security check.
Now, if Ford wants to get into the $30k+ range with this Zephyr, then yes, three distinct brands are necessary. For $30k+ I expect a completely different dealer experience than at a Ford or Mercury dealership (which are essentially the same) and having Lincoln AND Mercury in the same dealership is not going to produce that experience. It's going to be the same salesmen, the same service department, etc ... Until they fix that dilemma, Lincoln is going to fail.
Now, if Ford wants to get into the $30k+ range with this Zephyr, then yes, three distinct brands are necessary. For $30k+ I expect a completely different dealer experience than at a Ford or Mercury dealership (which are essentially the same) and having Lincoln AND Mercury in the same dealership is not going to produce that experience. It's going to be the same salesmen, the same service department, etc ... Until they fix that dilemma, Lincoln is going to fail.
11-02-2005, 08:34 AM
#23
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Originally Posted by titan
The comment about the social security is true now, but why not be open minded. Again, look at Cadillac. Look at how quickly they're image shifted. And ofcourse, it was with good product, like the CTS coming in with the right credentials on paper and on the track. All I'm saying is, lets look at the glass half full in that particular instance. In addition, Lincoln's gonna fill they're lineup with a blitz in the next few years. What remains to be seen is how good the product will be and how well it'll be recieved. As far as the dealership comment, I AGREE 100%. I have major gripes about that. Also for Buick. How can you expect to be a major lux player without the money dedicated to top notch dealership service. That's one thing they should emulate from Lexus... and GM and Ford seems to refuse to put the effort into that all important arena. In the future, if Ford wants Lincoln to be seen as a real lux competitor (and GM for Buick), they need have they're own swanky stand alone dealerships. Lincoln shouldn't be joined at the hip with Mercury (and Buick with Pontiac).
The only way that Lincoln and Mercury can co-exist is if Ford Corporate says to Lincoln/Mercury dealers that they will be scrutinized heavily and that they will run their dealership as if every sale and service is being done on the most expensive car in their lineup.
As far as the actual lineup goes, I'm really disappointed in the production Zephyr vs. the concept. Something was lost in translation and though it's not dramatic, it's enough to really disappoint me.
11-02-2005, 08:54 AM
#24
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Originally Posted by charliemike
Nothing would make me happier than a good product from Lincoln. Really. I'd rather my money go to Ford or GM than a foreign company.
The only way that Lincoln and Mercury can co-exist is if Ford Corporate says to Lincoln/Mercury dealers that they will be scrutinized heavily and that they will run their dealership as if every sale and service is being done on the most expensive car in their lineup.
As far as the actual lineup goes, I'm really disappointed in the production Zephyr vs. the concept. Something was lost in translation and though it's not dramatic, it's enough to really disappoint me.
The only way that Lincoln and Mercury can co-exist is if Ford Corporate says to Lincoln/Mercury dealers that they will be scrutinized heavily and that they will run their dealership as if every sale and service is being done on the most expensive car in their lineup.
As far as the actual lineup goes, I'm really disappointed in the production Zephyr vs. the concept. Something was lost in translation and though it's not dramatic, it's enough to really disappoint me.
11-02-2005, 02:01 PM
#25
Senior Moderator
Originally Posted by charliemike
Keeping Lincoln AND Mercury together is like fighting over the same retiree's Social Security check.
11-03-2005, 12:53 AM
#29
Fahrvergnügen'd
The second one is the Euro Mondeo and is so vastly superior in so many ways that I cannot begin to list them.
The differences between the two highlight the reason I won't give Ford or GM a fucking nickel of my money again if they continue to foist this marketing focus group bullshit on us.
11-03-2005, 05:27 AM
#30
Senior Moderator
That center console reminds me of Spongebob Squarepants:
11-03-2005, 08:25 AM
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Originally Posted by charliemike
The second one is the Euro Mondeo and is so vastly superior in so many ways that I cannot begin to list them.
The differences between the two highlight the reason I won't give Ford or GM a fucking nickel of my money again if they continue to foist this marketing focus group bullshit on us.
10-25-2010, 09:53 AM
#33
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Proof Wanted
Lincoln dealers say they are reluctant to invest in pricey upgrades to their stores until Ford Motor Co. reveals more details about Lincoln's future lineup.
Ford is asking some dealerships to spend more than $1 million to remodel buildings and make other improvements to meet new standards that have yet to be spelled out, several dealer sources say.
"I say show me the money," said Larry Taylor, owner of Beau Townsend Ford-Lincoln Mercury in Vandalia, Ohio.
"They told us there would be no new products for about 24 months. I don't know how the stand-alone Lincoln dealers are going to make it, especially those dealers who have to spend $2 million on their upgrades."
Taylor is also a member of the Ford Lincoln Mercury National Dealer Council.
Ford plans to cut at least 200 of 1,200 U.S. Lincoln franchises, mostly in the top 130 metro markets. It wants to rehabilitate the sagging luxury brand with fewer, more profitable dealerships.
Ford has begun offering some Lincoln dealers cash -- in one case about $1.5 million and in another just over $300,000 -- to give up the franchise if they're not in a "preferred location" or won't make the recommended improvements.
"My facility is in excellent shape," one dealer said. "I plan on doing nothing here but selling Lincolns -- unless Ford comes up with a lot more money."
Some dealers see tough negotiations ahead with the factory. Some are rejecting buyout offers as too low. And others wonder about the commitment to product. Ford has said it will spend $2 billion to upgrade Lincoln's lineup.
No to status quo
Lincoln spokesman Christian Bokich said the "status quo is not an option" when it comes to the changes Lincoln wants to see in stores. If the dealers decline to meet new standards for facilities and customer service, they can negotiate a price to give up the Lincoln franchise.
If the two sides can't agree on a price, the legal options become murky. But Ford's real leverage could come from getting tough with incentive money if dealers refuse to comply.
At an October meeting with Lincoln dealers, Ford said Lincoln stores not in compliance with upgrade requirements by fall 2011 would face limitations on incentive money.
The negotiations come at a time when Ford is paying down $27.3 billion in debt, and the company intends to play hardball in forcing dealers to make a decision. But some dealers insist that Ford can't make them invest or exit -- especially if the settlement offers are unreasonable.
Ford has started meeting individually with Lincoln dealers to outline expectations for facility improvements and to offer cash compensation to some who choose to leave. Some stores would require more extensive investment than others.
The dealers who have met with Ford say the automaker wants a decision before Dec. 31.
2 cases in point
In 1 major metro market, a dealer said Ford offered him about $1.5 million to relinquish his Lincoln franchise.
The dealer asked for anonymity because he plans to keep selling Lincolns. But the dealer says Ford's offer for Lincoln is "very low." He owns a large Lincoln-Mercury dealership and sells nearly 1,000 new vehicles a year. The dealer earns nearly $2 million in annual profits. Ford's offer, the dealer says, should be closer to $5 million.
"So they're just offering me one year of earnings," the dealer said. "For some stores that's fair because they're losing money, but for us, it's not."
The dealer rejected Ford's offer and says he will not comply with Ford's requested $2 million in facility changes.
A second dealer in the same market estimates Ford's desired remodeling would cost at least $1.5 million. Ford offered that dealer just more than $300,000 to give up the franchise.
"'Insulted' isn't a harmful enough word to describe it," the dealer said. "It's asinine. I'm getting my numbers together and going back. I'm not going to accept this."
A Lincoln spokesman says there is no formula for compensation offers because offers are made on an individual and market-by-market basis.
Ford does have a Mercury formula, though. It's based on the average number of new vehicles sold at a dealership from 2007 through 2009, times a per-unit amount that ranges from $1,500 to $2,500 depending on the dealer's average percentage of Mercury sales as compared with the store's total sales.
Some dealers are refusing Ford's exit offers and are hesitant to upgrade stores because Ford has yet to reveal its future Lincoln products. Dealers say they can't make a business decision without the facts.
At the October meeting, Ford told dealers it will take about two years to rebuild the Lincoln lineup and at least four years for many buyers to add Lincoln to their consideration lists.
Lincoln now sells three cars, two crossovers and a full-sized SUV. Supplier and company sources say Lincoln will add a vehicle based on Ford's global compact car platform.
As Ford continues to meet with Lincoln dealers, it will slowly roll out specifics on the dealership requirements, dealers say.
"They showed us pictures and renderings, but nothing specific," said Bob Tasca Jr., a Rhode Island dealer and head of Lincoln Mercury's dealer council. "A lot of these details will be rolled out over the next year. There will be a plan and some type of time line."
Specifics wanted
At the meeting, Ford told dealers that maintenance for four years or 50,000 miles, such as oil changes, will be included in the price for all Lincoln vehicles. Also, beginning Jan. 1, a new slate of owner privileges, such as providing the same Lincoln model loaner vehicle for Lincoln warranty work, better roadside service and a dedicated team of Lincoln customer service people will kick in.
Dealers also must agree to wash and detail every Lincoln vehicle at every service visit.
Ford is telling dealers that it would like a distinct look for Lincoln showrooms, but Ford and Lincoln franchises can share a rooftop.
Lincoln spokesman Bokich said: "The key to success is consistency."
But an East Coast Lincoln-Mercury dealer said: "They cannot force us to upgrade. So you'll get a stalemate that results in two classes of dealers -- the fools who upgrade and the ones who are at acceptable levels but haven't upgraded."
09-28-2011, 12:35 PM
#34
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Grille
Love it or hate it, Lincoln's waterfall grille is on the way out, according to sources familiar with plans for the updated MKS sedan and MKT crossover coming next spring.
One source said the MKS and MKT grille will be "completely different" from the current grille, which has been controversial. He said the new grille is "not as pronounced" as the waterfall and "more elegant."
Ford might show the revised MKS and MKT at the Los Angeles auto show in November, says a Ford source.
The MKS and MKT get minor interior and exterior updates. But the biggest change will be in ride and handling as Ford aims to differentiate Lincoln from the Ford division, sources say. The MKS and MKT will get new steering, braking and suspension systems, the sources say.
"Lincoln's goal is to become world class," says Christian Bokich, a Lincoln spokesman. "So we know our current products will continue to evolve."
09-28-2011, 12:59 PM
#35
The sizzle in the Steak
Subaru knew when to kill a bad grille, so does Lincoln.
Acura....not so much.
Acura....not so much.
09-28-2011, 09:22 PM
#36
I don't think Acura's grille is bad per se. it's the execution. it's too blunt right now, they need to finesse it.
09-29-2011, 10:36 AM
#38
The sizzle in the Steak
09-29-2011, 10:51 AM
#39
Senior Moderator
Good on Lincoln, never liked that over the top design.
I don't mind the Acura grille after the revision. I think the 11+ TSX looks good and the MDX looks great with that grille. The ZDX, RL and RDX still need to tone it down.
I don't mind the Acura grille after the revision. I think the 11+ TSX looks good and the MDX looks great with that grille. The ZDX, RL and RDX still need to tone it down.
09-29-2011, 01:52 PM
#40
I don't mind the Acura grille either anymore. As long as it doesn't dominate the front end like the 09 TL's. The '11+ TSX definitely has the ideal execution of the grille and I think the current MDX looks better than the pre-MMC one.