Lincoln is poised to downsize its current lineup with the addition of new smaller vehicles that are a huge departure from its other vehicles like the Navigator SUV.
Lincoln has shown off the possibility of small Lincolns with its recent concept cars and It's rumored that Lincoln could be working on a new compact car that would share its platform with the new global Focus. But it's not certain if Lincoln is ready to take a risk that its other luxury rivals have shied away from, fearing that the US market isn't ready for smaller cars.
But in the meantime a new compact crossover based on the European Ford Kuga is expected to be offered in late 2011. Redesigned versions of the Kuga will be released by Lincoln and Mercury. The Kuga is also expected to replace the Ford Escape.
Comments (12)
"The Kuga is also expected to replace the Ford Escape"
I am not sure that is a good move, the Escape is very popular, isn't it in the top three best selling small SUV's; Escape, CR-V, and Rav4, I think?
Posted by Jeremy | November 2, 2009 8:59 AM
Posted on November 2, 2009 08:59
"The Kuga is also expected to replace the Ford Escape"
I am not sure if that is a good move, the Escape is very popular. Isn't it in the top three best selling small SUV's; Escape, CR-V, and Rav4, I think?
Posted by Jeremy | November 2, 2009 9:02 AM
Posted on November 2, 2009 09:02
Sorry.
Posted by Jeremy | November 2, 2009 9:03 AM
Posted on November 2, 2009 09:03
"I am not sure if that is a good move, the Escape is very popular. Isn't it in the top three best selling small SUV's; Escape, CR-V, and Rav4, I think?"
So it would be your position that the Escape should just soldier on unchanged for all eternity?
Posted by huh? | November 2, 2009 9:50 AM
Posted on November 2, 2009 09:50
I will agree with Jeremy that the Escape is still popular, but it needs an update bad. It is 9 years old and received a make over in 2007, but still really long time between model cycles. If they used the Kuga, but renamed it the Escape in North America, that would probably be the best move for Ford.
Posted by Avatar | November 2, 2009 10:00 AM
Posted on November 2, 2009 10:00
Hell yeah the Escape is old.
My cousins dumb ass girlfriend bought (buying) one last year, brand spanking new.
Why is it that working class people think they need to buy a new vehicle instead of say, a one to two year old example with 10-20k miles on it for a good 35-40% less cash?
Posted by Noya | November 2, 2009 11:57 AM
Posted on November 2, 2009 11:57
it would be replacing the Escape, sure, but it would be taking the Escape nameplate for Ford here in America so it is a good move in my opinion!
Posted by Phil | November 2, 2009 1:00 PM
Posted on November 2, 2009 13:00
it would be replacing the Escape, sure, but it would be taking the Escape nameplate for Ford here in America so it is a good move in my opinion! I think i read that here on torque report a couple weeks ago, but maybe it was on Motor Trend or something, either way it will be called the Escape here, and who knows, maybe they will call the Mercury Version the Kuga here in the States, that would work out well i bet!
Posted by Phil | November 2, 2009 1:02 PM
Posted on November 2, 2009 13:02
Before Ford replaces Escape with KUGA..........
Hyundai will replace Tuscon with Kuga copy(only better looking). Now Lincoln won't match Hyundai in price/warranty which wud be main reason someone wud want a smaller 2.0/2.4 L suv, if ford keeps thinking, I m afraid Hyundai will have the cake and......
Posted by Andy | November 2, 2009 3:42 PM
Posted on November 2, 2009 15:42
@Noya
Because people have a tendency to be lazy, and do things like not change the oil for 10k miles. Or dog the shit out of it. (Say a Mustang GT, perhaps). If you're buying for a specific time period, say a coupe of years. Go for it. Or if you are good as a mechanic, alright then possibly.
But if you don't know shit about cars, need a decent warranty, and have been driving the same aging POS for 8+ years. Then yeah sometimes you buy a new car.
Posted by Brian | November 3, 2009 2:48 PM
Posted on November 3, 2009 14:48
I don't see it replacing the Escape nameplate in the U.S. Ford has put a lot of money marketing the Escape over the years in the U.S. They won't make the same mistake twice like they did with the Ford 500 when they tried to use the 500 name as a plaform to replace the Taurus.
Posted by SteelCity1981 | November 4, 2009 2:22 AM
Posted on November 4, 2009 02:22
This one looks very similar to a Toyota Rav4.
Posted by SmithAndWeson | November 4, 2009 10:56 AM
Posted on November 4, 2009 10:56