One Ford - an engineer says

"505 - morphine not found" (morphine500)
04/27/2015 at 10:05 • Filed to: Ford

I was at a press launch last week, the C-Max facelift and the brand new S-Max were introduced to the bottom-feeder class of the European motoring press - yes, that’s what i consider myself. Even though we were invited to Mallorca, it was a fairly run-of-the-mill event, mainly because they made sure we don’t have time to go to !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Not that any of my peers knew what i was on about, when i mentioned this.

So, not much of a driving event. However, the discussion with the S-Max program leader, who was designated to talk to us, proved to be very interesting. For a German engineer at a huge OEM, he turned out to be quite the Jalop, insisting on having ‘80s cars as a hobby, and he had interesting opinions on the issues with One Ford. As we on these pages were discussing some of these before, at length even, i was all ears. Here’s what I learned.

Is Ford of Europe German, or American?

Neither. Thinking global isn’t just hot air in this case, now it is a truly world-wide undertaking, with input into models from all over the globe. The US, Europe, Russia and China all have a say in how cars like the Focus or the Mondeo/Fusion turn out.

And what does this “imput from all over the Globe” mean?

Basically it means being always on. When they are trying to solve a problem, but the working hours in Cologne are over, they can, and do ask their colleagues in the US, who are just coming on-line to carry on where they left off. And the US can pass on to China, if they run out of hours. Clever IT solutions and integrated thought processes make this possible, easy even, so in effect, One Ford is hammering away on the problem, not until they can, but until it is solved.

With so much shared, why are there engines that are still only available on one of the US and EU markets, even though they are built into the same car?

This comes down to several factors. American engineers, when confronted with European diesels, are always on about how the car has vibrations, that an American customer would not be happy about. For us Europeans, some NVH intrusion is considered normal, but for the US buyer, bred on smooth I6 and V8 engines with automatics, these are off-putting. On the other hand, including the American V6 Ecoboost into the European lineup, even as a performance engine, would come with a huge logistical nightmare for the Valencia plant. So on both accounts these market-special engines only make it across the Pond, if there is a very strong business case for them.

And how was the car? The C-Max didn’t change much, the S-Max though is brand new. Built on the same platform as the Mondeo/Fusion, it can now incorporate AWD, as well as loads of clever gizmos. It feels huge inside, and heavy when driving with gusto, just as one would assume. However, it also handles itself very well, corners flat, accelerates and stops quickly, so it is a dynamic product, even if you don’t get any sensation of speed because of the enormity of it. Feels much more of a quality product than before too, and that’s important, as loads of customers come from Audi and the like...

DISCUSSION (17)

not for canada - australian in disguise > 505 - morphine not found
04/27/2015 at 10:09

Huh, wonder if we’ll ever get the S-Max, could be a good competitor to the big minivans (Caravan/T&C/Odyssey/Sienna)

Cé hé sin > 505 - morphine not found
04/27/2015 at 10:13

“On the other hand, including the American V6 Ecoboost into the European lineup, even as a performance engine, would come with a huge logistical nightmare for the Valencia plant.”

The real issue is that nobody would buy them! Ford used to have NA V6s in the previous Mondeos and buyers stayed away in droves. There’s no market requirement in the western Europe market for anything more than a 2 litre diesel in a Mondeo sized car.

duurtlang > Cé hé sin
04/27/2015 at 10:18

Exactly. The vast majority of people interested in a V6 in a vehicle the size/price of a Mondeo will get a BMW or similar instead.

RustedSprinter > 505 - morphine not found
04/27/2015 at 10:20

Put the Ford KA in the USA!

LongbowMkII > 505 - morphine not found
04/27/2015 at 10:20

Is this a 7 seater?

505 - morphine not found > Cé hé sin
04/27/2015 at 10:20

To be fair, the Mondeo ST could feasibly be a turbocharged V6. Small numbers are a given in that market but so is gas consumption, and it could work out - see what GM did with the Vectra and Insignia OPC models using engines that also get to propel Cadillacs.

Rock Bottom > 505 - morphine not found
04/27/2015 at 10:23

And what does this “imput from all over the Globe” mean?

HA AHAAAAHAHAA ha ha ha HA HAAA!!!! This guy! How about the way it really works: The thermal analysis guys are trying to figure out why a car won’t run right on a dyno in Michigan so they call the calibrator... who is in Turkey. And doesn’t speak English, even if it wasn’t WAY after he went home from work. So instead they say “hey, let’s call the engine guys. Maybe they know what’s going on”. False. They’re in Germany, so also not available. So instead, the thermal guys send an e-mail to the guys in Turkey who will receive it tomorrow, and promptly reply in the middle of the Michigan night. Boom. 2 day delay when the answer should be 5 minutes away.

Globalization works well for some things, but not for everything.

505 - morphine not found > LongbowMkII
04/27/2015 at 10:26

Yes it is. It’s basically a low-roof, sporty MPV, as opposed to the high-roof, more sedate Galaxy.

505 - morphine not found > Rock Bottom
04/27/2015 at 10:29

Having worked at places where my bosses didn’t really care about working hours, just about solutions, I’m pretty sure it’s your version at least 50% of the time :-)

Cé hé sin > LongbowMkII
04/27/2015 at 10:31

It’s more of a 5+2 I think. They also do the Galaxy which is basically the same thing with a more roomy body and is more of a genuine seven seater, though seven adults wouldn’t thank you for being in there on a long journey..

carcrasher88 > 505 - morphine not found
04/27/2015 at 10:34

Another thing about this whole ‘One Ford’ thing is the fact that it’s not really ‘One Ford’, if all models aren’t available in all markets.

Currently, there are 8 Ford models in Europe that aren’t sold in the US: Ka, B-Max, EcoSport, S-Max, Galaxy, Transit Courier, Transit Custom, and Ranger.

Some of them make sense to not be sold here, like the S-Max and Galaxy, since they’re both closely related, so it wouldn’t make sense to sell BOTH here.

The Transit Courier might be too small a van for the US market. And I’m pretty sure nobody in the US would want to buy the new Ka, since it’s basically become a Ford equivalent to a Nissan Versa.

The others, though would probably do decent, like the EcoSport. The small CUV market is booming in the US, with models like the Nissan Juke and Buick Encore leading the way, and Ford is missing out on it by not selling the EcoSport here.

Plus, it’s based on the Fiesta, so there’s a possibility they could build it in Mexico alongside the Fiesta.

The whole ‘too close in size to the F-150’ excuse is wearing thin when it comes to the Ranger. It’s only an inch longer than the new Colorado, a little over an inch taller, and is actually not as wide as the Colorado.

If the new Colorado can do decent in the US market, the current Ranger can as well. The excuses aren’t working anymore, Ford.

Throw an EcoBoost I4 in, and an optional 2.7 EcoBoost V6, and build it in Avon Lake, Ohio alongside the Medium Duty F-Series trucks, problem solved.

Cé hé sin > carcrasher88
04/27/2015 at 10:47

“Another thing about this whole ‘One Ford’ thing is the fact that it’s not really ‘One Ford’, if all models aren’t available in all markets.”

That’s never really going to work though and Ford don’t expect it to. Looking through the US Ford range, I couldn’t see any market in Europe for anything bigger than the Fusion/Mondeo and even that’s nowhere near as big a seller as it once was, which is why Ford were forced to combine it with the American equivalent.

The Ranger is something that Americans talk about a lot but it isn’t a common sight on this side of the pond and there wouldn’t be any viable market for bigger pickups (too big) or commercial vehicles (wrong shape).

All the One Ford policy aims for is that where it’s possible to sell the same sized vehicle in different markets it should be as near as practicable the same vehicle.

LongbowMkII > 505 - morphine not found
04/27/2015 at 10:59

Any chance of coming to America? Im not holding my breath.

505 - morphine not found > LongbowMkII
04/27/2015 at 11:11

Technically it shouldn’t be a problem, as it’s based on the Fusion, has much the same propulsion etc. The question is if there’s a market for such a car on the USDM....

The Compromiser > 505 - morphine not found
04/27/2015 at 19:52

Having had a Ford meeting delayed 3 hours in the middle of a major, cross platform, international crisis because the 5th extra engineer had to go to his kids soccer practice or some such, its more in the 90% range, I would guess. And it is more like the engineer has the supplier working 24/7 to solve the issue. Sure they wake up for the hourly conference call to see what has changed in the 20 minutes since the last one ended, so I guess that counts?

KirkyV > Cé hé sin
04/27/2015 at 21:06

“All the One Ford policy aims for is that where it’s possible to sell the same sized vehicle in different markets it should be as near as practicable the same vehicle.”

I realise that I’m probably completely off-base, but I can’t help but wonder if that’s why the new Mondeo is something of a step-down from the last one, at least when it comes to the handling.

(This is, of course, purely based on the reviews I’ve read; I’ve only seen a single new Mondeo so far.)

Cé hé sin > KirkyV
04/28/2015 at 04:27

That’s been said by several reviewers. Having said that the current Mondeo is based on the American Fusion which in turn is based on the previous Mondeo (which the Americans didn’t get) so it shouldn’t be that dumbed down.

I’ve seen loads of new Mondeos although the equally new, new Passat is selling better.