When America Needs A Better Idea: An Alternate Ford Corporate History

1998
  • kernals12

    Banned
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    For the full sized Crown Victoria, the 1998 model year brought a new body. The market for traditional body on frame rear drive sedans was dwindling, with the Chevrolet Caprice having been discontinued in 1996, but the Crown Vic was very popular with fleet buyers especially the police and taxis.

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    The Probe was redesigned.
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    The Fiesta based Puma was introduced as a Probe companion.
     
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    1999
  • kernals12

    Banned
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    For 1999, the Escort was replaced by the Focus, an all new compact with avant garde styling and fun to drive handling. With the Focus, Ford was able to take the small car fight to the Japanese.

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    The Windstar was redesigned.
     
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    2001
  • kernals12

    Banned
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    2001 brought the compact Focus based Escape. It was a competitor to the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester.
     
    2002
  • kernals12

    Banned
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    The Mondeo was redesigned with more Germanic styling inside and out. The increase in size allowed the Contour to be discontinued and the Taurus to become its stablemate.

    The Probe and Puma were discontinued as sales of front wheel drive sports coupes vanished.
     
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    2003
  • kernals12

    Banned
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    The Ford Explorer was redesigned right as full sized SUVs reached their peak. Rising gas prices would wipe out the market for such big trucks.
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    The Fiesta was redesigned with standard anti lock brakes.
     
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    2004
  • kernals12

    Banned
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    The F-150 was redesigned.
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    The Windstar became the Freestar. Minivan sales were in terminal decline thanks to SUVs.

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    The C-max, a tall version of the upcoming Focus, was unveiled for the European market.
     
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    2005
  • kernals12

    Banned
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    The Crown Victoria was thoroughly redesigned for 2005. It got smaller, gained front wheel drive, and switched to unibody construction, the last passenger car to do so.
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    The Explorer also switched to unibody construction for 2005. This helped keep sales strong against the Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot.
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    The Focus was redesigned.

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    The Mustang was revamped with retro styling and independent rear suspension.
     
    2006
  • kernals12

    Banned
    2006 saw Ford outsell General Motors for the first time since the 1920s despite having 1 brand to GM's 8.
     
    2007
  • kernals12

    Banned
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    The Mondeo/Taurus was redesigned for 2007. The new car was more stylish, bigger (almost as big as the Crown Victoria), and nicer to drive than ever.

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    The Edge, a 2 row crossover slotting between the Escape and Explorer, was introduced.

    The Freestyle was killed off.
     
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    2008
  • kernals12

    Banned
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    The Fiesta was redesigned, marking the company's switch from "new edge" to "kinetic" design.

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    The Escape was redesigned with a stylish new body and a 6 speed automatic transmission.

    2008 saw gas prices rise to over $4 per gallon as well as the economy being plunged into the worst crisis since the Great Depression. Both of these were bad news for car sales.
     
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    2009
  • kernals12

    Banned
    2009 was a grim year for the auto industry. Sales were cut in half by the recession and Chrysler and GM both were forced into bankruptcy and US government bailouts. Ford however, was weathering the storm thanks to its innovative products.
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    The F-150 was redesigned, gaining coil spring suspension.

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    Ford brought out the Flex, a retro throwback to the old Country Squire station wagon.

    For 2009, all of Ford's cars had standard electronic stability control.
     
    2010
  • kernals12

    Banned
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    The Crown Victoria got a new design which swapped out the old car's airy almost SUV like driving position for a lowered roofline. It was criticized for poor interior space and visibility. This car saw the first use of Ford's ecoboost line of turbocharged direct injection engines. In this case it was a 3.5 liter V6 putting out 365 horsepower.
     
    2011
  • kernals12

    Banned
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    The Explorer was redesigned with a more rugged appearance.

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    The Focus was also redesigned
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    As was the C-Max
     
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    2012
  • kernals12

    Banned
    Ford announced the closure of all Australian production saying that unfavorable exchange rates and the small market size made it cost ineffective.
     
    2013
  • kernals12

    Banned
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    The Escape was redesigned
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    The Mondeo/Taurus was redesigned. By this point, sales of midsized sedans, once the bread and butter of the US car market, were in terminal decline.
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    Ford brought out an MPV based on the Fiesta, the B-max.

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    A plug in hybrid version of the C-Max was brought to the US.
     
    2014
  • kernals12

    Banned
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    Ford entered the subcompact SUV field with the Ecosport.

    Good news came with a 50% drop in oil prices in the end of the year.
     
    2015
  • kernals12

    Banned
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    The F-150 was redesigned with an 8 speed automatic transmission and a lightweight aluminum frame that made it 700 pounds lighter than its predecessor.

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    The Mustang was redesigned for its 50th birthday. For the first time ever, it was exported abroad.
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    The Galaxy was redesigned.

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    The Edge was redesigned.
     
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