Ford will add 4 all-new SUVs to lineup in next few years... Bronco possible

[Mustang313]

UPDATED WITH FORD PRESS RELEASE:

FORD TO ADD FOUR NEW SUV NAMEPLATES AS MILLENNIALS, BOOMERS, GLOBAL DEMAND DRIVE CONTINUED SUV GROWTH

• Ford will add four new nameplates to its global SUV lineup in the next four years in segments in which company does not currently compete
• Millennials starting families lends strong support to ongoing SUV boom in the United States
• As baby boomers age, they’re more likely to stay in or return to SUVs
• Increased fuel efficiency of Ford’s newest utility vehicles makes consumers less sensitive to fuel costs

CHICAGO, Feb. 11, 2016 –Together, millennials and baby boomers give Ford 160 million good reasons to expect the surge in SUV sales will continue into the next decade.
Growth in SUV sales is expected to continue – not only in the United States, but around the world – and why Ford is adding four new SUVs in the next four years – all four in SUV segments in which the company does not currently compete.

“As members of the 80-million-strong millennial age group enter their prime child-rearing years, a leading indicator of more SUV sales, nearly 80 million aging baby boomers continue to prefer their SUVs,” said Mark LaNeve, Ford Motor Company vice president of Marketing, Sales and Service. “It’s a demographic double whammy and it all points to one thing – more SUVs for the foreseeable future.”

LaNeve cited recent Ford research that shows once millennials even begin thinking about starting a family, their interest in shopping for SUVs goes up significantly. And as many have delayed starting families, these yet-to-form family households represent additional SUV growth opportunities for the company.

Yet millennials alone aren’t expected to drive SUV growth – aging baby boomers tend to stay with or return to SUVs, in part because it’s easier to get in and out of a vehicle that sits higher off the ground than a passenger car. LaNeve also noted that many boomers feel younger and more active driving an SUV.

While low gas prices have contributed to the growth in SUVs in recent years, much improved fuel efficiency in the latest generation of utility vehicles leads Ford to believe a potential rise in gas prices wouldn’t push consumers back to passenger cars.

“Some SUVs now rival the fuel efficiency of V6-powered midsize sedans from only a few years ago,” said LaNeve, “and as baby boomers grew up with much less capable, much less efficient vehicles, they tend to appreciate the efficiency of Ford’s newest SUVs.” Even if gas prices go up, he added, refueling costs for owners of modern SUVs will be much less than they were during the last SUV boom.

https://media.ford.com/content/ford...2/11/ford-to-add-four-new-suv-nameplates.html

Saw this on Detroit News:

Ford to add 4 all-new SUVs to lineup in next few years

Ford Motor Co. will add four all-new sport utility vehicles to its Ford and Lincoln brand vehicle lineups in a “few years” time, the automaker confirmed Monday.

The Dearborn automaker would not comment directly on what vehicles it would introduce, nor would it define what a “few years” means. SUVs are among the hottest segments in the auto industry now as consumers are choosing them over somewhat more fuel-efficient cars in the wake of lower gas prices.

“We study lots of things,” Ford President of the Americas Joe Hinrichs told reporters Monday. “SUVs are hot, no question about it. We have a strong brand for SUVs and a strong customer base. Opportunities for SUVs are important to us.”

Ford’s SUV lineup includes the Edge, Escape, Explorer and Expedition. Lincoln has the MKC and larger MKX, MKT and Navigator.

Ford said Monday that one in three cars in the U.S. market sold today are SUVs, and it’s expecting that eventually in the next four years, SUVs will make up 40 percent of the U.S. auto market.

Ford-brand SUVs totaled 65,675 sales last month – a 13 percent increase versus a year ago, for the best December performance since 2003. Edge sales rose 29 percent, Escape sales rose 9 percent and Explorer sales rose 14 percent. MKC sales rose 88 percent, while MKX and MKT sales fell.

One of Ford’s likeliest options would be a subcompact SUV. The automaker sells the subcompact EcoSport in Europe. Former CEO Alan Mulally said previously that Ford would eventually bring the EcoSport stateside, but didn’t offer a timeline.

When asked if the EcoSport would easily be transferred from Europe to the United States, Hinrichs said, “I don’t know.”

The automaker also could revive its Bronco SUV. Bloomberg reported last year that Ford entered contract talks with the United Auto Workers hoping to bring the Bronco to Michigan Assembly Plant.

Lincoln executives have said the brand would introduce two more new vehicles to its luxury lineup by the end of the decade, but have so far declined to offer any details.

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[FL Trucker]

That's great news. Seems like Bronco has to be one of them then. And about time we started stealing some Jeep Wrangler sales.

Yea especially since Jeep will be trying to steal F-150 sales with their just confirmed upcoming Jeep Wrangler pickup truck.

 

[Shocknawe]

Another article on this: http://www.freep.com/story/money/ca...ding-4-new-suvs-ford-lincoln-brands/78685618/

Ford plans to add four new utility vehicles to the lineup over the next few years and they will be new nameplates, including at least one for the Lincoln brand.

CEO Mark Fields announced the SUV plans during a presentation at the 2016 North American International Auto Show. He did not provide further details.

But Raj Nair, head of global product development, confirmed they are additional models -- not just updates of existing ones sold in the U.S.

Joe Hinrichs, president of the Americas for Ford, would not confirm that one of the utility vehicles is the EcoSport, a subcompact crossover that sells well in other parts of the world including Europe and China.

Hinrichs would only say that Ford continues to look at that possibility.

And Ford could bring back the Bronco around 2019, based on the Ranger midsize pickup. The Ranger and Bronco are expected to be the two new products promised for the Michigan Assembly plant that will stop making the Focus car in 2018.

 

[Mustang313]

Yea especially since Jeep will be trying to steal F-150 sales with their just confirmed upcoming Jeep Wrangler pickup truck.

Did they really?? Hah everyone is trying to go after each other's strengths and carve out a piece of the pie. Gas prices being so low is really making all these companies rabid over trucks and SUV's.

 

[Jim The Tool Man]

Did they really?? Hah everyone is trying to go after each other's strengths and carve out a piece of the pie. Gas prices being so low is really making all these companies rabid over trucks and SUV's.

Gotta say the Jeep pick up truck will look pretty badass, like the custom job below.

So I hope Ford can fight back and make the Bronco a proper Jeep Wrangler fighting in looks and in off road capability.

 

[Shocknawe]

^^^ looks like a military transport truck.. in a good way.

Ford is eating everyone's breakfast when it comes to pickups so no surprise that others want a piece of that action.. especially with gas prices being so crazy low. With the success it has with its truck platform, it also makes sense that Ford should branch out and create more variants on their truck platform and that's why the Ranger and the Bronco are a great move IMO. You see it all the time now with auto companies using the same platform to build out a more well rounded portfolio which fulfills many niches.

 

[FL Trucker]

Gotta say the Jeep pick up truck will look pretty badass, like the custom job below.

So I hope Ford can fight back and make the Bronco a proper Jeep Wrangler fighting in looks and in off road capability.

Yea Ford has its work cut out. Jeeps have gotten progressively more aggressive and better looking. I'm confident FMC will come out with a TOUGH looking Bronco even if it has to come in Raptor form.

 

[Kris]

Interesting that Ford says all 4 cars will be in segments it currently doesnt have a model. So besides the Bronco which makes total sense, what other models we talking about?

 

[Simmy]

Yea Ford has its work cut out. Jeeps have gotten progressively more aggressive and better looking. I'm confident FMC will come out with a TOUGH looking Bronco even if it has to come in Raptor form.

Maybe if the 6th gen Bronco becomes a hit we'll see them make a pickup Bronco Would look cool and practical.

 

[Mustang313]

More articles today about the Ford Bronco revival because of statements made by Ford's Mark LaNeve at the Chicago Auto Show, once again confirming that 4 new SUVs will be introduced in the next 4 years.

http://www.automobilemag.com/featur...s-globally-by-2020-possibly-including-bronco/
http://www.autoblog.com/2016/02/11/ford-bronco-four-new-suv-models/
http://blog.caranddriver.com/ford-p...ars-signs-continue-to-point-to-reborn-bronco/

Exciting times coming up!

 

[Ecobeasttt]

More articles today about the Ford Bronco revival because of statements made by Ford's Mark LaNeve at the Chicago Auto Show, once again confirming that 4 new SUVs will be introduced in the next 4 years.

http://www.automobilemag.com/featur...s-globally-by-2020-possibly-including-bronco/
http://www.autoblog.com/2016/02/11/ford-bronco-four-new-suv-models/
http://blog.caranddriver.com/ford-p...ars-signs-continue-to-point-to-reborn-bronco/

Exciting times coming up!

It's good to see Detroit News was so far in front of this news before Ford announced it. They were the ones saying that the UAW agreement calls for a new Bronco by 2020. Let's hope they're right about that one too.

 

[Administrator]

Added official Ford Press Release:

FORD TO ADD FOUR NEW SUV NAMEPLATES AS MILLENNIALS, BOOMERS, GLOBAL DEMAND DRIVE CONTINUED SUV GROWTH

• Ford will add four new nameplates to its global SUV lineup in the next four years in segments in which company does not currently compete
• Millennials starting families lends strong support to ongoing SUV boom in the United States
• As baby boomers age, they’re more likely to stay in or return to SUVs
• Increased fuel efficiency of Ford’s newest utility vehicles makes consumers less sensitive to fuel costs

CHICAGO, Feb. 11, 2016 –Together, millennials and baby boomers give Ford 160 million good reasons to expect the surge in SUV sales will continue into the next decade.
Growth in SUV sales is expected to continue – not only in the United States, but around the world – and why Ford is adding four new SUVs in the next four years – all four in SUV segments in which the company does not currently compete.

“As members of the 80-million-strong millennial age group enter their prime child-rearing years, a leading indicator of more SUV sales, nearly 80 million aging baby boomers continue to prefer their SUVs,” said Mark LaNeve, Ford Motor Company vice president of Marketing, Sales and Service. “It’s a demographic double whammy and it all points to one thing – more SUVs for the foreseeable future.”

LaNeve cited recent Ford research that shows once millennials even begin thinking about starting a family, their interest in shopping for SUVs goes up significantly. And as many have delayed starting families, these yet-to-form family households represent additional SUV growth opportunities for the company.

Yet millennials alone aren’t expected to drive SUV growth – aging baby boomers tend to stay with or return to SUVs, in part because it’s easier to get in and out of a vehicle that sits higher off the ground than a passenger car. LaNeve also noted that many boomers feel younger and more active driving an SUV.

While low gas prices have contributed to the growth in SUVs in recent years, much improved fuel efficiency in the latest generation of utility vehicles leads Ford to believe a potential rise in gas prices wouldn’t push consumers back to passenger cars.

“Some SUVs now rival the fuel efficiency of V6-powered midsize sedans from only a few years ago,” said LaNeve, “and as baby boomers grew up with much less capable, much less efficient vehicles, they tend to appreciate the efficiency of Ford’s newest SUVs.” Even if gas prices go up, he added, refueling costs for owners of modern SUVs will be much less than they were during the last SUV boom.

https://media.ford.com/content/ford...2/11/ford-to-add-four-new-suv-nameplates.html

 

[Simmy]

Here's another article saying similar things. Everyone's buzzing about a Ford Bronco return.

http://www.autonews.com/article/201...s-short-of-confirming-broncos-expected-return

CHICAGO -- The Bronco, one of Ford’s storied nameplates, seems likely to be one of the four new utility vehicles coming to the Ford lineup in the next four years. But Mark LaNeve, Ford Motor Co.’s vice president for sales, marketing and service, stopped just short of confirming it today.

“It’s a great nameplate,” said a smiling LaNeve, when reporters pressed him to confirm the return of Ford’s original, rugged off-roader.


During a speech this morning to open press days for the Chicago Auto Show, LaNeve dropped at least one hint where Ford will fill holes in its utility lineup: compacts.


Ford is widely expected to add the small, Fiesta-based EcoSport, which would slot under the Escape and give Ford a competitor against the Chevrolet Trax, Honda HR-V, Nissan Juke and others.


But the vehicle might not be called EcoSport. In a scrum with reporters after his speech, LaNeve said the new vehicles would consist of nameplates not currently in Ford’s global lineup. He would not give timing or any details about the segments the new vehicles will compete in, or where they will be built.


Ford CEO Mark Fields said last month that the Lincoln brand would get a new utility vehicle, the Detroit Free Press reported.


LaNeve said surging demand for SUVs has more to do with changing buyer preferences among millennials and baby boomers than it does with cheap gasoline. “One of three vehicles sold in 2015 was an SUV, and that will grow to 40 percent of the market by 2020. Low fuel prices has helped the shift, but it is much more permanent,” he said.


Citing improved fuel economy, added capability and ease of exit and entry, LaNeve said the demand for SUVs won’t slow down even when fuel prices rise. “Even when prices start to rise, the shift will be from big SUVs to small SUVs, not back to cars.”


Ford’s original Bronco debuted in 1966 as a stripped down, topless off-road vehicle that competed with the ancestor of today’s Jeep Wrangler. It grew larger over the years and finally ended production in 1996 as an F-150-based two-door.


Ford has not announced which vehicles are going to be built at is Michigan Assembly Plant in suburban Detroit once production of the Focus and C-Max move to Mexico in 2018. LaNeve would not say whether any of the new utility vehicles would be built there.

 

[Simmy]

And another. So much buzz about the Bronco reboot!

http://www.thetorquereport.com/2016/02/ford_to_release_four_new_suvs_.html

Ford expects the love affair with SUVs to continue into the next decade, so Ford has announced plans to introduce four new SUV models by 2020. Ford sees increased demand from millennials that are starting families and the 80 million aging baby boomers that continue to prefer SUVs.

"It's a demographic double whammy and it all points to one thing - more SUVs for the foreseeable future," stated Mark LaNeve, Ford Motor Company vice president of Marketing, Sales and Service

Ford didn't announce what the four new SUVs will be, but all four will be in segments that the automaker currently doesn't compete in. Does this mean that the Bronco nameplate could finally come back? Ford is also reportedly working on a subcompact crossover for the United States, which will be based on the EcoSport that is sold in other markets.

 

[Mustang313]

So any guesses which 4 new SUV's in which new segments?

That wording so specific that it means it doesn't include any new versions of the Escape or Explorer that will probably be released between now and 2020 and wouldn't include any existing vehicles that may get renamed.

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