Straightline

The July sales numbers are in, and the Ford Motor Company is looking pretty good.

Taken together, sales for the Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brands were up 9% over the same month last year. It' also posted the first year-over-year sales gain since November of 2007.

Highlights of the numbers include:

Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan sales up 66% and 60% respectively.

Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner sales up 94% and 71% respectively. 

Ford Focus sales up 44%.

Strangely, Ford Ranger sales were also up 65% in July, so Ford's claim of having the "freshest lineup in the business" is always the reason for its big numbers.

AutoObserver: Cash for Clunkers Produces July Sales Boost

Categories: Auto Industry,Ford,Lincoln,Mercury

One of the more unusual collections headed for Monterey this summer is the Nick Alexander Collection. A well-known Los Angeles car dealer, Alexander amassed what is considered one of the world's finest collections of pre- and post-war wood-bodied wagons. He even built a restoration shop near of one his dealers just to work on the various cars over the years.

In August, RM Auctions will offer 52 different vehicles from the collection, all with no reserves. In  other words, if you've always wanted a classic woody and you have the cash, this is the chance of a lifetime.

RM Auctions

 

Categories: Car Auctions,Classic Cars,Convertibles,Ford,Mercury

With what passes for winter in Southern California quickly fading and summer fast approaching, it's time for the annual Fabulous Fords Forever show in Buena Park, California.  This year not only marks the 24th anniversary of the show itself, but also the 45th anniversary of the Mustang, the 50th anniversary of the Galaxie and the 70th anniversary of Mercury.

Although Mustangs make up a fair bit of the cars in attendance, don't think this is a one model show. With an expected attendance approaching 2,000 vehicles, from Pintos to Panteras, if Ford had something to do with it, you're likely to find an example of it parked on the grounds.

Mark your calendars for April 19th, and set aside a good half day to soak in all the hydrocarbons and hot dogs you can handle.

Categories: Ford,Lincoln,Mercury

J.D. Power's latest dependability study, which surveys the first three years of ownership, says Buick and Jaguar owners experience the fewest problems. Lexus, Toyota and Mercury rounded out the top five.

The single most dependable model was the Lexus LS 430. Toyota had the most segment winners with five (Highlander, Prius, Sequoia, Solara and Tundra).

There were a few other interesting pieces of information contained in the report. The average age of a used vehicle trade-in has risen from 65 to 73 months in the last three years. J.D. Power also said that overall problems have decreased at a rate of 10% a year since the beginning of the study.

J.D. Power

Categories: Auto Industry,Automaker Feedback,Buick,Jaguar,Lexus,Luxury Cars,Mercury,Toyota,Trends

You may have already seen the sales totals for December, and 2008 as a whole. If not, here's a summary: not good. For a more detailed look, check out the industry wide 2008 sales analysis over at AutoObserver .

We assembled something a little different though. Instead of assessing the big picture, we looked at the sales numbers for individual models. Which new models flopped, which old models recovered, that sort of thing. Some of the results we expected, others were a little more eye opening.  See for yourself after the jump.

Continue reading Behind the Numbers: What Hit and What Missed in 2008.

Categories: Auto Industry,BMW,Cadillac,Chevrolet,Chrysler,Dodge,Ford,General Motors,Hybrids,Infiniti,Lexus,Mazda,Mercedes-Benz,Mercury,Nissan,Pontiac,Porsche,SMART,Saturn,Toyota,Trends

In what could be the first indication that the Mercury brand is about disappear, Ford has confirmed to Inside Line that the Sable will axed this spring.

As you know the Sable, like all Mercury models, is merely a clone of some other existing Ford model. Sales are down 21 percent this year, which is the reason for its dismissal, so says a Ford spokesman.

Here's Inside Line's take: Ford Will Kill Off Mercury Sable in the Spring

Categories: Auto Industry,Ford,Mercury,Trends

Everyone knows GM and Ford have too many models, too many brands, too many dealers, too many of just about everything and anything one can think of. So might this financial mess be a blessing in disguise? Might this be just the impetius for the General and Ford to do what just about everyone thinks should be done: Shed--not just some of their excess models--but instead shed some of their excess brands?

AutoObserver seems to think that this could be in the cards, as the market just can't support so many redundant brands. Put them out of their misery. Make them extinct, just like the Woolly Mammoth and countless other critters that have ceased to have a reason to exist.

At GM, Pontiac, Buick, Saturn, GMC and Saab certainly all fall into that category. Might we see a lean and mean General Motors consisting of just Chevrolet and Cadillac, with maybe leaving Buick strictly for China?

And Ford? Might this be the time to cut Mercury; and maybe even cut Lincoln loose, by replacing it with Volvo?

If GM and Ford are going to do this, now is the best time to do so.

COMMENTARY: For Bailout Blueprint, GM, Ford Might Finally Burn Rubber on Underperforming Brands

Related story here.

Categories: Auto Industry,Buick,Cadillac,Chevrolet,Ford,GMC,General Motors,Lincoln,Mercury,Saab,Saturn,Volvo

Cast aside in the corner, the 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid sure played second fiddle to its Ford Fusion Hybrid sibling today during the Blue Oval's L.A. show press conference.

Jim Farley, Ford's group VP of marketing and communications, confidently said, "With Fusion and Milan, Ford will become the number-one producer of hybrids in America."

That's all the love the Milan Hybrid received as the spotlight shone brightly on the Fusion. -- Kelly Toepke, News Editor

Read the 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid full story

Categories: LA Auto Show,Mercury

Since they have about $1.38 in available cash these days, Ford passed on doing separate press conferences for Lincoln, Mercury and the Blue Oval. Instead, they did one all together -- problem was, they weren't all on the same stage. As we sat there staring at the enormous Ford stage, this disembodied voice started speaking. We could see the teleprompter, but no promptee. Ford had called the auto show equivalent of an audible and started its 2010 Lincoln MKZ press conference over the gathered media's right shoulder at the Lincoln area (which moments earlier was the hors d'oeuvres station).

Anyway, I managed to get over there in time to hear the presentation and snap a few photos. The refreshed 2010 Lincoln MKZ now looks much less like a rebadged Fusion taking multiple design cues from the MKS (customers have apparently identified the split grille as "Lincolnesque"). In particular, the tail doesn't seem to be as high, lending a sleeker appearance. The interior is much richer-looking than the outgoing retro cabin and is a spitting image of the MKS.

There wasn't much mention of Mercury at the press conference, just the new Milan Hybrid sadly sitting in a corner. -- James Riswick, Edmunds.com Automotive Editor

For full details, check out Inside Line's 2010 Lincoln MKZ Auto Show story.

Categories: Ford,LA Auto Show,Lincoln,Mercury

The news of the Sable possibly being dropped is no surprise; same with the Taurus X. I must say, however, the Taurus X has had one of the shortest product lifespans of any recent vehicle that I can think of.

"The Taurus X doesn't really have much of a place anymore," said Erich Merkle of Crowe Chizek and Co.

"The Sable is a good enough car, but it doesn't really matter because they don't sell enough of them to make a difference."

Full story here.

Categories: Ford,Mercury,Sedans,Wagons

More news on what Ford has in store for the Mercury brand is starting to trickle out. The brand will offer smaller entry-level premium cars and crossovers that will complement the Lincoln brand.

Rumors had been that Ford was going to eliminate the Mercury brand and give Lincoln more models. Dealers protested, pointing out that Mercury brings a different demographic into the showroom than any other Ford brand.

"Mercury brings a younger, more female customer than the Ford brand. We're focusing (Mercury) very much on small, fuel-efficient products," said Derrick Kuzak, Ford's global product chief.

Sounds good in theory, but will it work?

Full story here.

Categories: Auto Industry,Ford,Lincoln,Mercury

Mercury may be taking a page from arguably the most famous ad campaign ever, the Doyle, Dane Bernback VW "Think Small" ad from 1959. With no future new products slated coming from American Ford plants, Mercury could become the one-stop-shop for small Euro-Ford cars. At least that's what The New York Times is suggesting here.

We'll have a better idea Thursday as that's when Ford is going to lay out revised product plans, and how Mercury fits into that picture.

So, anyone placing any bets here? Do you think this could be Mercury's (Merkur's?) savior?

Categories: Mercury,Volkswagen

Every now and then I stop by Hemming Auto Blogs to see what's going on with old cars.  Today I saw an entry on vintage Canadian cars, more specifically on Canadian Fords and Mercurys.

For those too young to remember, beginning back in 1946 and running through the 1960s Fords and Mercurys sold in Canada were badged differently than those here in the USA. I believe Lincolns were the same on both sides of the border, however.

A Canadian Ford was called a Meteor. Canadian Mercurys were called Monarchs and Canadian Ford trucks were sold as Mercury trucks. Not only was the badging different but so too was the styling. Ford was not alone here as GM and Chrysler also had their own Canadian-specific models.

Full story here and here.

Categories: Chrysler,Dodge,Ford,Lincoln,Mercury,Trucks

Inside Line has learned that Mercury will disappear by 2012. While not officially announced by Ford Motor Company, word has leaked out from sources that supply the brand. Apparently there are no new products planned beyond that date. In fact Straightline mentioned that last month (Mercury fading fast )...

Continue reading Mercury to be euthanized by 2012.

Categories: Auto Industry,Mercury

As you know, Straightline has posted two recent blogs on Mercury's future (Jerry York would like to sell Mercury ) (Mercury fading fast ) which looks pretty grim. Now word is out that Mercury dealers are also very worried as to what might happen with the brand.

There was to have been a meeting in April in Las Vegas between Mercury dealers and Ford management to discuss that very topic, that being Mercury's future. The meeting was canceled according to dealers by Ford...

Continue reading Dealers concerned about Mercury's future.

Categories: Mercury