CEO Jim Farley says Americans need to fall ‘back in love’ with smaller cars

[Limeymav]

F Jim Farley, we could have had a very nice 2.3 focus st mk 4, and in a wagon to boot ( no pun intended) and also in a Diesel, if they put the 8 speed in it from the maverick that would have been a pretty hot model ( think it still uses the dino 6 speed tranny)& the 3 pot fiesta st was still a quick car also, on another note though, i did see an all electric explorer now availiable in the uk not looked at any details yet

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[OneAlienBoi]

You need to look around. Small cars are not $50K! Taken from random ads, mostly MSRPs, you can usually buy them cheaper, these are not the cheapest prices I found:

2024 Civic LX $26045
Civic Sport $27900
2024 Impreza Base $24525
Impreza Sport $28854
2024 Elan $24625
2024 Versa S $16680
Versa SV $19970
2024 Sentra S $22335
Sentra SR $26325
2024 Corolla LE $23145
Corolla XSE $28245

The issue is both a dealer, and a consumer one. There are quite a few affordable new cars still, it's just dealerships order them full of options. I do blame some buyers as well though. I've encountered my fair share of people who want an affordable car, but think they're too good for affordable car compromises.

 

[OneAlienBoi]

F Jim Farley, we could have had a very nice 2.3 focus st mk 4, and in a wagon to boot ( no pun intended) and also in a Diesel, if they put the 8 speed in it from the maverick that would have been a pretty hot model ( think it still uses the dino 6 speed tranny)& the 3 pot fiesta st was still a quick car also, on another note though, i did see an all electric explorer now availiable in the uk not looked at any details yet

We need a new hatch, but I'll take it a step further, give me an exciting hatch, like a new fox body. Something that not only appeals to people on a rational basis, but an emotional one as well. Emotional cars can command a higher price, making them more profitable, and economically sustainable.

 

[Master Blaster]

Yet half the guys out here complain that gas is waaaau too high . Well depending on certain other things. But I agree with you if gas was higher less people would buy these tanks. Honestly it does annoy when I see some jacked up bro dozer flying down the road now that my 17 yr old son has his license. It makes me want him to drive a tank as well even though it's not my preference

I just shake my head when I see these full-size pickups and SUVs weighing only maybe 4,000lbs getting only maybe 20mpg highway, while every transport truck hauling a 53' trailer and maybe 50,000 lbs GVWR is getting about 10mpg with 10x the torque. 12x the weight and only 2x the fuel hit. The efficiency of the big honking pickups is beyond disgusting. Who can afford to pay half their pay cheque just to cover their fuel costs? I want to work where they work and drive my much more efficient Mav and put the fuel savings into my retirement fund.

 

[2020 GT500]

I just shake my head when I see these full-size pickups and SUVs weighing only maybe 4,000lbs getting only maybe 20mpg highway, while every transport truck hauling a 53' trailer and maybe 50,000 lbs GVWR is getting about 10mpg with 10x the torque. 12x the weight and only 2x the fuel hit. The efficiency of the big honking pickups is beyond disgusting. Who can afford to pay half their pay cheque just to cover their fuel costs? I want to work where they work and drive my much more efficient Mav and put the fuel savings into my retirement fund.

Hahaha! No, they do not weigh 4,000 lbs. try 5,000-8000lbs for non-hybrid…no kidding! If you get into an accident with a Ford Rapture weighing 8,000lbs with your Maverick weighing 3,600lbs…guess who wins?

 

[Blinky]

Farley is a butthead who likes to hear his own voice.
Bring the current Euro Focus and Fiesta over here, as much as I like mine, I wouldn't have bought a Maverick if that sexy Focus wagon was an option.

 

[Your_Cousin_Vinny]

What we need is for Ford to bring back some sort of iconic hatchback/coupe.

I know I'm gonna get a lot of hate for this, but I see this upcoming CE1 EV platform, and Ford's C2 platform, which is of course the basis for our trucks, the escape, focus, and BS, as platforms which could bring Ford back to it's glory days. Where Ford always outshined the rest was in affordable, but aspirational products, dream cars you could actually realistically afford, your broncos and mustangs, which despite some complaints, are still quite affordable, particularly lower trims.

For instance, Jim Farley talked about wanting to do multiple mustang body styles beyond the s650 coupe and mach-e. I personally think some sort of smaller, affordable, less powerful but more nimble mustang would make a great addition to the lineup. Take styling cues from the fox body to cash in on 80s nostalgia. If it's c2 based, give it the 2.0 and 2.3 Ecoboost with big turbo graphics on the side for fun.

For CE1, give me an awesome EV, I'd love a modern take on the escort whale tail, or even a new modern RS 200 that would be sold as a less powerful, but significantly cheaper version of the original RS 200. This affordable EV platform is being developed to be profitable at 25-30k, so some sort of RS 200 with 250-300 hp of electric power at a price of around 40 grand would be awesome imo.

The opportunities are endless. I'm not saying don't give us an electric escape or maverick. Give us those, they'll sell very well. But give us some fun, cool enthusiasts products on top of it. There's so much potential here, if they just make an electric maverick, then kill the platform, I'm gonna be so depressed.

I fully, wholeheartedly agree. The maverick is a goldilocks vehicle, hence the success. Other small cars need to still be aspirational and/or desirable. The possibilities on their small platforms gives me hope, and hopefully they see the same potential.

One of the best things I learned from my junior year studio professor is that "good design is free" and I use that adage pretty frequently going on 10 years later. They are going to pay their designers whether its a boring blob like the escape, or a butch box like the Bronco, so you might as well give them a design brief that will catch eyes and hearts. Like someone else said, emotions sell cars as much as pragmatics. And if all the pragmatists are heading over to Toyota, you might as well reel in the folks shopping with their eyes and ears.

I do think an electric maverick that sells for maybe $3Kish more than a comparable hybrid would be equally popular. My hybrid is best on short trips around town, and a 200mi electric version with a Lightning-style frunk for groceries or golf bags would be perfect for my use case to go along with the bed for hardware store trips.

 

[Suzukiridr14]

People are buying Civics, Corollas, and Elantras, because that's what they want.

 

[Donziman]

Farley's full of bull sh*t. Blowing smoke out of his a*s for those that like to hear it. Does he really think the F150, Super Duty's, Expedition's etc. for commercial and personal use that many in this country and others rely on is just going to cease to exist. Ford and the others would just go bankrupt. Will be a long time before that happens IMO. The EV is a great fit for many and that's fine, i'm not an EV hater (nor lover), but there's a very large population that they won't be a fit for.

Completely agree. I have a Tesla, Yukon XL Denali, Maverick (as a towed) and (very soon) a motor home. I love them all and each has a use and purpose. It's total BS that everything should be an EV or a super small fuel efficient compact (and that everyone should be forced into one). As consumers, our needs vary. I wish the brain dead, Marxist loving bureaucrats would leave market forces vs. Government coercion and manipulation determine what's available to us. Stop with the determining of winners and losers based on government subsidies and penalties!

 

[DesertHorses]

My Explorer was a downsize from an F-250 crew cab.Does that count?

 

[Gonzo chris]

Completely agree. I have a Tesla, Yukon XL Denali, Maverick (as a towed) and (very soon) a motor home. I love them all and each has a use and purpose. It's total BS that everything should be an EV or a super small fuel efficient compact (and that everyone should be forced into one). As consumers, our needs vary. I wish the brain dead, Marxist loving bureaucrats would leave market forces vs. Government coercion and manipulation determine what's available to us. Stop with the determining of winners and losers based on government subsidies and penalties!

I agree EVs aren't suitable for every need, no doubt. But a lot of the rest of that is gibberish. If it was up to just the market we'd still have no emissions controls at all. Sometimes the cheapest option that works, which is what the market will choose, is horrible for air and water quality. We'd still have leased gas.

 

[grumpyunk]

Government CAFE requirements force them to, although electric vehicles will upend this trend hopefully.

That being said cheap gas has really made people not care about the size of cars either. Buying that 20-25 mpg SUV/truck doesn’t hurt too much when gas is inexpensive.

Honestly though the Mav is just about perfect for myself and wife. It’s big enough to feel comfortable in but small enough to easily drive and park, and get good efficiency.

CAFE does not mix trucks and cars. Maverick is a truck. Cars? They make one, the Mustang Mach E. Escape and Bronco Sport are trucks.
Fusion, Fiesta, Focus were all cars.
Somehow I do not see how CAFE enters the equation.
What did I miss?

 

[Donziman]

I agree EVs aren't suitable for every need, no doubt. But a lot of the rest of that is gibberish. If it was up to just the market we'd still have no emissions controls at all. Sometimes the cheapest option that works, which is what the market will choose, is horrible for air and water quality. We'd still have leased gas.

Not gibberish at all. Very big and fundamental difference in making ICE vehicles cleaner (air and water impact), more efficient (higher mpg standards) or economical (better tech and lower cost) vs outright trying to ban them (state / Fed mandates to phase out) in favor of something that is nowhere near ready as a viable replacement (EVs for all, like em or not). Heck, I paid a premium for a Tesla because for a specific use I have it makes sense. For the poor guys that needs big engine capability (SUV or truck) EVs aren't even close yet government policy is forcing that. No gibberish there! In the end as informed consumers we'll continue to make free choices to the limit others don't eliminate our options.

 

[grumpyunk]

This is such a bogus comment. The furniture man Hackett canceled all cars despite the Focus and Fiesta being pretty competitive (transmission notwithstanding), and the Fusion being the 3rd best selling Ford all the way up until it's demise, and also being a very good, competitive midsizer (LOVED my Fusion Sport). Now Farley blames that decision on the buyer? Absolutely F*ing not. people were still buying a ton of them, they just didn't have the sort of profit margins like crossovers and trucks.

A Fusion and an Edge likely took about the same resources to build, but why sell 2 Fusions when you make the same profit on 1 Edge. They traded volume for margins, and now they want to blame the consumers after they also raised prices well beyond inflation just like every other short-term money-hungry company. They saw the opportunity for a cash grab without thinking far enough ahead to understand the consequences.

You can only wring people out once, then there's nothing left...

The overwhelming success of the Maverick is a testament to the average person's continued desire for a reasonably sized, competent vehicle at a reasonable price. People were then, are now, and always will be enamored with these type of cars (in any shape), Ford just stopped offering them.

As much as I want to scold Ford for their shortsightedness, I'm excited for new, small Fords if the Maverick is any indication of their direction.

What you said, and add into the mix that NO ONE who is buying their first NEW car will come close to a Ford dealer store. No reason to even take a look. There are NO Ford small entry level cars.
That means you have killed the path to the dealership. Once they get a Kia, Hyundai, Honda or Toyota, all CARS, they won't bother with Ford.
Way to kill your future customer flow. Yay team. .... not
I do not own Ford stock(F) and would not buy any now. I see a Dead End sign ahead for FoMoCo as all they have are large expensive products.
tom

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