65mpg, available in November & it's a Ford!!

[smithy]

So, if you live in Europe you can get one.

Ford and GM's European divisions have been producing cars like this for years. GM North America and GM Europe (Vauxhall/Opel) have been run as separate companies since for ever. I imagine it's the same at Ford. For this reason they can't easily assemble their Euro cars in North America, meaning expensive imports.

There is some integration going on now, but this new Ford Ka is not an example of such integration. The new Ford Ka uses the Fiat Panda platform, that Ford Europe pay Fiat a license for. The Ka is built in Poland, at a Fiat factory, by Fiat, alongside the 500, which also uses its Panda platform.

 

[smithy]

So, if you live in Europe you can get one.

Ford and GM's European divisions have been producing cars like this for years. GM North America and GM Europe (Vauxhall/Opel) have been run as separate companies since for ever. I imagine it's the same at Ford. For this reason they can't easily assemble their Euro cars in North America, meaning expensive imports.

There is some integration going on now, but this new Ford Ka is not an example of such integration. The new Ford Ka uses the Fiat Panda platform, that Ford Europe pay Fiat a license for. The Ka is built in Poland, at a Fiat factory, by Fiat, alongside the 500, which also uses its Panda platform.

 

[smithy]

So, if you live in Europe you can get one.

Ford and GM's European divisions have been producing cars like this for years. GM North America and GM Europe (Vauxhall/Opel) have been run as separate companies since for ever. I imagine it's the same at Ford. For this reason they can't easily assemble their Euro cars in North America, meaning expensive imports.

There is some integration going on now, but this new Ford Ka is not an example of such integration. The new Ford Ka uses the Fiat Panda platform, that Ford Europe pay Fiat a license for. The Ka is built in Poland, at a Fiat factory, by Fiat, alongside the 500, which also uses its Panda platform.

 

[smithy]

So, if you live in Europe you can get one.

Ford and GM's European divisions have been producing cars like this for years. GM North America and GM Europe (Vauxhall/Opel) have been run as separate companies since for ever. I imagine it's the same at Ford. For this reason they can't easily assemble their Euro cars in North America, meaning expensive imports.

There is some integration going on now, but this new Ford Ka is not an example of such integration. The new Ford Ka uses the Fiat Panda platform, that Ford Europe pay Fiat a license for. The Ka is built in Poland, at a Fiat factory, by Fiat, alongside the 500, which also uses its Panda platform.

 

[faethor]

The Ford Fiesta subcompact will be coming to the USA as a 2010 model. Likely it'll not use the same engines. Guesses are a new 1.5-1.8L. It'll use the B2E chassis of the Mazda2. It won't be imported from Europe but made in North America.

After this model the US will see the European Focus. Then the American Fusion and European Mondeo will be combined too.

 

[faethor]

The Ford Fiesta subcompact will be coming to the USA as a 2010 model. Likely it'll not use the same engines. Guesses are a new 1.5-1.8L. It'll use the B2E chassis of the Mazda2. It won't be imported from Europe but made in North America.

After this model the US will see the European Focus. Then the American Fusion and European Mondeo will be combined too.

 

[faethor]

The Ford Fiesta subcompact will be coming to the USA as a 2010 model. Likely it'll not use the same engines. Guesses are a new 1.5-1.8L. It'll use the B2E chassis of the Mazda2. It won't be imported from Europe but made in North America.

After this model the US will see the European Focus. Then the American Fusion and European Mondeo will be combined too.

 

[faethor]

The Ford Fiesta subcompact will be coming to the USA as a 2010 model. Likely it'll not use the same engines. Guesses are a new 1.5-1.8L. It'll use the B2E chassis of the Mazda2. It won't be imported from Europe but made in North America.

After this model the US will see the European Focus. Then the American Fusion and European Mondeo will be combined too.

 

[faethor]

The Ford Fiesta subcompact will be coming to the USA as a 2010 model. Likely it'll not use the same engines. Guesses are a new 1.5-1.8L. It'll use the B2E chassis of the Mazda2. It won't be imported from Europe but made in North America.

After this model the US will see the European Focus. Then the American Fusion and European Mondeo will be combined too.

 

[faethor]

The Ford Fiesta subcompact will be coming to the USA as a 2010 model. Likely it'll not use the same engines. Guesses are a new 1.5-1.8L. It'll use the B2E chassis of the Mazda2. It won't be imported from Europe but made in North America.

After this model the US will see the European Focus. Then the American Fusion and European Mondeo will be combined too.

 

[Wayne]

Ford = idiots

While I agree with your statement, it's not ALL Ford this time, but the treehugger's clean air crap and it's requirements on diesel engines that are to blame here. They can't import it because it doesn't meet those emission standards.

Wayne

 

[Wayne]

Ford = idiots

While I agree with your statement, it's not ALL Ford this time, but the treehugger's clean air crap and it's requirements on diesel engines that are to blame here. They can't import it because it doesn't meet those emission standards.

Wayne

 

[Wayne]

Ford = idiots

While I agree with your statement, it's not ALL Ford this time, but the treehugger's clean air crap and it's requirements on diesel engines that are to blame here. They can't import it because it doesn't meet those emission standards.

Wayne

 

[Wayne]

Ford = idiots

While I agree with your statement, it's not ALL Ford this time, but the treehugger's clean air crap and it's requirements on diesel engines that are to blame here. They can't import it because it doesn't meet those emission standards.

Wayne

 

[Wayne]

Ford = idiots

While I agree with your statement, it's not ALL Ford this time, but the treehugger's clean air crap and it's requirements on diesel engines that are to blame here. They can't import it because it doesn't meet those emission standards.

Wayne

 

[Wayne]

Ford = idiots

While I agree with your statement, it's not ALL Ford this time, but the treehugger's clean air crap and it's requirements on diesel engines that are to blame here. They can't import it because it doesn't meet those emission standards.

Wayne

 

[ltstanfo]

Ford = idiots

While I agree with your statement, it's not ALL Ford this time, but the treehugger's clean air crap and it's requirements on diesel engines that are to blame here. They can't import it because it doesn't meet those emission standards.

Wayne

Actually not entirely correct (although there is certainly some truth in what you say). Prior to CY2009 most diesel motors in the US could not pass all 50 states emissions standards (namely California and New York whose markets are huge). With the introduction of the BlueTec and Urea based systems this is no longer a problem. VW and Mercedes are beginning to sell the "50 state" diesels.

The real problem is two fold...(IMO)

1. US car manufacturers (including Ford) do not believe that diesel is the way to go. They have (I believe) mistakenly put all of their money into hybrids and are not set up to either sell or produce "50 state" diesels. *IF* they wanted to sell the European Ford, as other have pointed out, it would be too expensive for the US market.

2. Diesel fuel production and pricing in the country is rediculous.

In any event, don't look for a US auto manufacturer to be pushing efficient diesel vehicles for the masses anytime soon. :-( But all the better for VW and Mercedes.

Regards,
Ltstanfo

 

[ltstanfo]

Ford = idiots

While I agree with your statement, it's not ALL Ford this time, but the treehugger's clean air crap and it's requirements on diesel engines that are to blame here. They can't import it because it doesn't meet those emission standards.

Wayne

Actually not entirely correct (although there is certainly some truth in what you say). Prior to CY2009 most diesel motors in the US could not pass all 50 states emissions standards (namely California and New York whose markets are huge). With the introduction of the BlueTec and Urea based systems this is no longer a problem. VW and Mercedes are beginning to sell the "50 state" diesels.

The real problem is two fold...(IMO)

1. US car manufacturers (including Ford) do not believe that diesel is the way to go. They have (I believe) mistakenly put all of their money into hybrids and are not set up to either sell or produce "50 state" diesels. *IF* they wanted to sell the European Ford, as other have pointed out, it would be too expensive for the US market.

2. Diesel fuel production and pricing in the country is rediculous.

In any event, don't look for a US auto manufacturer to be pushing efficient diesel vehicles for the masses anytime soon. :-( But all the better for VW and Mercedes.

Regards,
Ltstanfo

 

[ltstanfo]

Ford = idiots

While I agree with your statement, it's not ALL Ford this time, but the treehugger's clean air crap and it's requirements on diesel engines that are to blame here. They can't import it because it doesn't meet those emission standards.

Wayne

Actually not entirely correct (although there is certainly some truth in what you say). Prior to CY2009 most diesel motors in the US could not pass all 50 states emissions standards (namely California and New York whose markets are huge). With the introduction of the BlueTec and Urea based systems this is no longer a problem. VW and Mercedes are beginning to sell the "50 state" diesels.

The real problem is two fold...(IMO)

1. US car manufacturers (including Ford) do not believe that diesel is the way to go. They have (I believe) mistakenly put all of their money into hybrids and are not set up to either sell or produce "50 state" diesels. *IF* they wanted to sell the European Ford, as other have pointed out, it would be too expensive for the US market.

2. Diesel fuel production and pricing in the country is rediculous.

In any event, don't look for a US auto manufacturer to be pushing efficient diesel vehicles for the masses anytime soon. :-( But all the better for VW and Mercedes.

Regards,
Ltstanfo

 

[ltstanfo]

Ford = idiots

While I agree with your statement, it's not ALL Ford this time, but the treehugger's clean air crap and it's requirements on diesel engines that are to blame here. They can't import it because it doesn't meet those emission standards.

Wayne

Actually not entirely correct (although there is certainly some truth in what you say). Prior to CY2009 most diesel motors in the US could not pass all 50 states emissions standards (namely California and New York whose markets are huge). With the introduction of the BlueTec and Urea based systems this is no longer a problem. VW and Mercedes are beginning to sell the "50 state" diesels.

The real problem is two fold...(IMO)

1. US car manufacturers (including Ford) do not believe that diesel is the way to go. They have (I believe) mistakenly put all of their money into hybrids and are not set up to either sell or produce "50 state" diesels. *IF* they wanted to sell the European Ford, as other have pointed out, it would be too expensive for the US market.

2. Diesel fuel production and pricing in the country is rediculous.

In any event, don't look for a US auto manufacturer to be pushing efficient diesel vehicles for the masses anytime soon. :-( But all the better for VW and Mercedes.

Regards,
Ltstanfo