The focus Mk 3 was planned to be the same in the UK and US, though from what I’ve read recently the design next design language, Kinetic edge (isn’t that just the last 2 design languages bolted together!!!) will appear first on the next generation Mondeo.

I think the EU models are superior to the US, in every way. I don’t accept that ruggedness is the way forward. The European Ford’s are as reliable as almost anything else out there. For something to be rugged it has to be heavy duty and for that it needs to be heavier, built from thicker gauge materials and use more resources in the process. That is very dated thinking.

I was delighted to hear that Ford was sending its EU models to the USA, but now I read that they are AGAIN changing their design direction so that they have just one international design language. Like Toyota for example. Nissan. Honda, or best example of all, Mazda. Why have they not always done this? Its seems ludicrous to sell completely different cars in various markets to satisfy the same basic niche.

Having heard about the design language issues, I now think that its possible the EU Fords are going to be dumbed down to the US model standards to save money. The EU models are probably very expensive to manufacture, whereas the US models are not. It is the Unions and all that goes with them that are crippling the US company.

But regardless of what they build… if the economic situation worldwide does not change, it doesn’t matter one iota what they produce, because no one will be buying them regardless.

And another thing; one thing that US autos and US influenced cars aren’t is ‘cheeky’. EU cars have that… er… ‘quality’. But it’s not really a quality though is it? Better sticking with ruggedness as your design influence, in the long run it carries more respect.

Ahh… lovely interest-bearing borrowed money… you know; the money that Ol’ Henry Ford loved so much!

If you consider that we are dealing with an ever growing number of working Americans, who were working last year, being without jobs or unemployed (unemployed means collecting unemployment) now, and add to that, that almost 1/4 of all American jobs are linked in some way to the auto industry, the companies cannot be allowed to fail as long as there is room to intercede. Even with this help, GM has announced 30,000 more layoffs, the possible sale of Saab, and the possible end of Pontiac. It’s good that the government has stepped in for now, even if all it does is delay the inevitable.

http://www.bls.gov/news.r elease/empsit.nr0.htm

What needs to happen is for these companies to fail, and for some young brave entrepreneurs to buy up the old warehouses and equipment and rebuild a viable business.

The Government is incompetent and they have absolutely ZeRO experience running a car business.

Manufacturing should be the heart of any economy but propping up bad businesses is like trying to prop up a house built on sand, when you should let it collapse and build again on more solid ground.

All these bailouts are only extending the problem.

Yes times will be tough, but for a much shorter period as rebuilding can happen quick. Instead these businesses will just die a longer death!