Ford Explorer Ecoboost = SUV fail

[2o6]

North American Sales:
2011 = 145,110
2012 = 174,634
2013 = 203,169
2014 (through October) = 186,067

There are plenty of cars with fewer sales that are on unique or heavy modified platforms that just share a floor pan.


2016 would be 5 years.

I can't think of any at this price point


And these days, it seems like 5 years are par for course before a total platform refresh.

[SVT666]

I can't think of any at this price point

Mustang, BRZ/FR-S, Miata, Ridgeline, Genesis Coupe, etc.

[MX793]

These days, it seems like not many are doing "all new platforms" after only 5 years.  4-5 years is the typical "heavy facelift" cycle, with full-up redesigns closer to every 8-9 years.  Especially in the SUV segment.  Compacts still seem to be on the 6-year redesign plan for most, but they also have the most world-wide appeal.

[2o6]

Mustang, BRZ/FR-S, Miata, Ridgeline, Genesis Coupe, etc.

Mustang wasn't until lately, and doesn't serve the same purpose as the needs of w three row crossover

miata will probably soldier on as is for at least 10 years

genesis coupe shares roots with the Sedan

Ridgeline is far from unique; its an Odyssey/pilot underneath, which started as the Accord


And the Toyota twins have a slim profit margin, and Toyota is trying to find ways to leverage the platform

These days, it seems like not many are doing "all new platforms" after only 5 years.  4-5 years is the typical "heavy facelift" cycle, with full-up redesigns closer to every 8-9 years.  Especially in the SUV segment.  Compacts still seem to be on the 6-year redesign plan for most, but they also have the most world-wide appeal.

Yep

[SVT666]

Mustang wasn't until lately, and doesn't serve the same purpose as the needs of w three row crossover

No kidding. Explorer was on a unique platform for 20 years prior to this version, so why can't it be again?

miata will probably soldier on as is for at least 10 years

And? It's profitable and it's on a unique platform.

genesis coupe shares roots with the Sedan

And between the two of them don't have as many sales as the Explorer.

Ridgeline is far from unique; its an Odyssey/pilot underneath, which started as the Accord

The Ridgeline platform is so highly modified that very little is shared. From what I remember reading when it first came out, there is less than 10% commonality between the two.

And the Toyota twins have a slim profit margin, and Toyota is trying to find ways to leverage the platform

And yet still profitable and still sell less than the Explorer.

[MX793]

No kidding. Explorer was on a unique platform for 20 years prior to this version, so why can't it be again?

Explorer was based on the Ranger platform up until the '02 redesign.  Ford also marketed Lincoln and Mercury variants of the '02+ models, meaning it wasn't technically a bespoke platform even once it had been divorced from the Ranger line.

[SVT666]

Explorer was based on the Ranger platform up until the '02 redesign.  Ford also marketed Lincoln and Mercury variants of the '02+ models, meaning it wasn't technically a bespoke platform even once it had been divorced from the Ranger line.

The Ranger platform was a starting point.  It was heavily modified for Explorer duty.  Since the Lincoln and Mercury versions were simple rebadges, I consider them all to be the same truck.

[MrH]

No kidding. Explorer was on a unique platform for 20 years prior to this version, so why can't it be again?

And? It's profitable and it's on a unique platform.

And between the two of them don't have as many sales as the Explorer.

The Ridgeline platform is so highly modified that very little is shared. From what I remember reading when it first came out, there is less than 10% commonality between the two.

And yet still profitable and still sell less than the Explorer.

How do you know how profitable all of these cars are?

Every vehicle has a different business case. Because a miata is on its own dedicated platform means absolutely nothing about whether an Explorer could be.

[68_427]

Re:

[SVT666]

How do you know how profitable all of these cars are?

Every vehicle has a different business case. Because a miata is on its own dedicated platform means absolutely nothing about whether an Explorer could be.

There are much larger profit margins in a $45K high volume SUV than there is in a $28K low volume sports car.

[ifcar]

Maybe the bigger question isn't whether Ford could still turn a profit with an Explorer on a unique platform, but whether the additional costs would result in enough additional sales that the profit wouldn't be less. With a sports car, the only shot at any success -- either profit on that model or some other motivation -- often needs more investment.

[12,000 RPM]

I wonder how the Fusion based Edge compares. That whole Taurus platform is no good. Seems like stretching the Edge to a 7 seater would work better. The whole crossover realm is pretty cut throat though... you need a lot of things to go well to have something good.

[FoMoJo]

I wonder how the Fusion based Edge compares. That whole Taurus platform is no good. Seems like stretching the Edge to a 7 seater would work better. The whole crossover realm is pretty cut throat though... you need a lot of things to go well to have something good.

You mean like a Mazda CX-9.  Same platform.

[SVT666]

You mean like a Mazda CX-9.  Same platform.

Ford just introduced a 7 seat Edge for China.

[2o6]

Ford just introduced a 7 seat Edge for China.

Are going to. No one has seen pics yet.



And the next Taurus will be a long Fusion

[68_427]

Pics have been out for a week man

Are going to. No one has seen pics yet.



And the next Taurus will be a long Fusion

Pictures were released a week ago.

[SVT666]

Are going to. No one has seen pics yet.

Really?

[68_427]

I think it looks better than the normal one

[ifcar]

I think it looks better than the normal one

Agreed.