Ford 500 to be renamed Taurus

[jaybee]

I had hopes that the new Ford CEO would focus on product rather than rearranging the furniture, now I'm not sure.  Does anyone in Detroit get that the problem is product, not promotion?  The 500 is getting mediocre sales because it's a mediocre car.  I know they're strapped for cash, but Ford doesn't even seem to be using the assets it has.  For example the Focus.  When it first came out it was promoted as an edgy car with appeal to 20-somethings.  The pieces are there for that.  The Focus World Rally car is awesome.  In Europe the same car is available in fire-breathing pocket rocket incarnations that really get the blood going.  None of those parts have been used on US cars and a promising platform has been relegated to a boring market niche not scaring grandmothers.   Thanks for listening to me vent, I just don't see this new move fixing anything if the platform isn't given some zing along with the name change.

[oldmanolds]

I spent 26 years working on one of Fords most profitable products.They seem to care more about bottom line cost reductions then they do quality.The reason most people are crossing over to the foreign products is quality! Hell a Toyota,or Honda is not any cheaper than a Ford or Chevy, it's just a better car! Detroit wants to pay all their fat-cats big $, then blame all their troubles on union wages, and farm out all their production south of the border. Why is it that Japan is moving all their production facilities to the US? Just had to vent..sorry.   oldmanolds

[model a vette]

I have often wondered if the american auto makers have ever heard of "name loyalty". It appears that some bean counter decides that the mediocre selling "XYZ" is not rushing out the door because of the name. He tells the brass at a board meeting: "Just rename it on the next restyle and watch them sell!"
The result: still a so-so car and the few people who liked it before think it is another car so they lose sight of "their" model.
GM had a slightly better idea when they would have a basic name and then add trim/style or performance models to sell more.
Example: ChevyII had Nova and then became Nova
Even earlier: 150, 210, Belair, then Impala, Caprice.
At least then you knew where it was going!
Some people liked the Cavalier (?) but it was dropped when they made the "All New" Cobalt.
I guess "Marketing" knows what they are doing!???.

[phat46]

Wait till the Taurus "faithfull" flock to buy a new one and see the sticker!!!!!  

[unklian]

I had hopes that the new Ford CEO would focus on product
rather than rearranging the furniture, now I'm not sure.  
Does anyone in Detroit get that the problem is product, not promotion?  

Classic North American corporate "Business" mentality.  
He will get a big bonus if things go well,and a golden parachute if they don't.

Unfortunately,the line between product and promotion has become blurred,
and the Japanese have a better handle on target marketing to the average American consumers.

[Flipper]

Wait till the Taurus "faithfull" flock to buy a new one and see the sticker!!!!!  

That is one of the reasons they change names....so they can jack up the price.