Ford Riding The Big Vehicle Wave To A Small Car Future

While the recent Ford announcement of a new $1.6 billion small car manufacturing plant in Mexico is fodder for political ballyhoo, it also demonstrates where the number two US automaker is planning to be into the 2020s.

The strength of Ford today is payload of its trucks, SUVs and Crossovers.

Led by the best selling F-150 Pickup Truck, the segment leading mid-sized Explorer, the Edge Crossover and the Escape small SUV, Ford is promising four new truck and SUV models by 2020.

While cashing in on low fuel prices is an industry-wide strategy, seeing beyond this horizon is critical. Ford is betting on small cars with the expanding operations in Mexico.

And while they are currently tight margin sales, Ford understands small car product planning and engineering from its long standing success in Europe over the last 60 years.

The latest lightly refreshed $22,000 Ford Focus SE, is one of the cars slated to be built in Mexico. The celebrated Euro styled Focus maximizes the small sedan format with attractive exterior lines and a distinctive front fascia, spare but stylish interior, and an exuberant 1.0 liter 3 cylinder engine delivering 40 mpg highway fuel economy.

Interior comfort is an inherent premium of the Focus and a smooth and quiet ride follow through on the promise. A generous technology options list and 28 city and 40 highway mpg ratings round out a compelling small sedan value proposition.