Just had a message from a local Ford Main Dealer, Oh dear !

 

Unfortunately, Ford announced 2 days ago that any orders placed after

17th February could not include certain specs. This includes the below

options.........

3-Door

ST-2

1.0L EcoBoost mHEV 155PS

Options: Panoramic Roof & Black Painted Roof

Colours: Beautiful Berry & Boundless Blue

 

So effectively, yes we can take orders for Fiesta

for around a 6 month lead time.

However, none of the above variants/options/colours

can be ordered.

I’m really surprised they have “dropped” the 155ps 1.0 EcoBoost 

13 minutes ago, Aldridge Andy said:

I’m really surprised they have “dropped” the 155ps 1.0 EcoBoost 

Me too.  I wonder if that's all models or just the Fiesta to streamline production.

Ford has promised that every model in its European line-up will be available as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) or electric vehicle (EV) by the middle of 2026,

Ford has committed $1 billion (£719.4 million) to the renovation of its European headquarters in Cologne, Germany. This investment will result in the existing assembly plant - which currently makes the Fiesta - transformed into the Ford Cologne Electrification Centre, which will produce the company’s “first European-built, volume, all-electric passenger vehicle for European customers” in 2023.

So all the petrol versions will soon be gone....

 

6 hours ago, crexcrex said:

This includes the below

options.........

 

ST-2

1.0L EcoBoost mHEV 155PS

Since those are the only Fords I'm currently considering, looks like they won't be getting any more of my business, then!😀

12 hours ago, Tiexen said:

So all the petrol versions will soon be gone....

Not necessarily true.  There is already a 1.0EB PHEV for commercials...surely they'll use that in the Fiesta & Focus with the same 125/155ps options?

13 hours ago, Tiexen said:

Ford has promised that every model in its European line-up will be available as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) or electric vehicle (EV) by the middle of 2026,

Ford has committed $1 billion (£719.4 million) to the renovation of its European headquarters in Cologne, Germany. This investment will result in the existing assembly plant - which currently makes the Fiesta - transformed into the Ford Cologne Electrification Centre, which will produce the company’s “first European-built, volume, all-electric passenger vehicle for European customers” in 2023.

So all the petrol versions will soon be gone....

 

The Ford statement has been reproduced many times in various newspapers/mags/websites. The way I interpret it, It doesn't necessarily mean that every car they sell will be EV or PHEV by 2026, just that each model range will have those options. Most of the Stellantis brands have gone that way already, with ICE, PHEV, and EV options available in most models.

I think the first "mainstream" Ford EV in Europe next year is the one on the VW MEB platform which looks like it will be some sort of SUV/crossover from impressions that have appeared.

But yes, I can't see Ford or anyone else launching all new ICE models in Europe at this stage in the game, so presumably the existing ranges will wither and die as demand for EVs increases towards 2030. 

Whether the various statements coming from dealers at the moment are 100% true is another matter. It's clear from lurking on other forums that manufacturers are at present steering orders towards certain models/versions, usually in a way that makes maximum profit from the limited supplies of chips available. I was reading an article in the financial pages the other day in which Land Rover openly admitted this.

 

4 hours ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

 I can't see Ford or anyone else launching all new ICE models in Europe at this stage in the game

Just to slightly contradict myself 😀 the latest Skoda Fabia is launching without any form of electrification, and the new Toyota Aygo is similar.

Both are using existing powertrains though, but in the case of the Skoda, it would probably be easy to swap the 1.5 TSI option for the mild hybrid version of the same unit already used in other VW Group models.

Are Ford not simply shooting themselves in the foot here. Making the entire ranges less and less attractive can't be a good business plan short or long term.

Personally as it stands we was looking to change our Focus this year but now it seems there not much point at all as most of the specifications have been reduced to a degree that I don't see the point atm. Hopefully this chip shortage is resolved and then we all might see some improvement.

Don't think anyone knows what ford europe intentions are reading the range of car segments there going to participate in. In the us they have pretty much dropped the normal non SUV  passenger car range. Can see that happening over here too. Ford make far more profit out of the commercial side from what I've read. 

Yes,think you're right there Ian, I've seen quite a few articles suggesting they aren't that bothered about the car market compared to commercials, and where they are, it'll be "niche" models putting profitability before volume.

Typical article (from a couple of years back):

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/car-industry-now-could-ford-follow-gm-out-europe

 

 

On 2/19/2022 at 5:24 PM, crexcrex said:

Just had a message from a local Ford Main Dealer, Oh dear !

 

Unfortunately, Ford announced 2 days ago that any orders placed after

17th February could not include certain specs. This includes the below

options.........

3-Door

ST-2

1.0L EcoBoost mHEV 155PS

Options: Panoramic Roof & Black Painted Roof

Colours: Beautiful Berry & Boundless Blue

 

So effectively, yes we can take orders for Fiesta

for around a 6 month lead time.

However, none of the above variants/options/colours

can be ordered.

I presume this does not affect orders already placed? I have a 155PS on order (Since Dec)

My car was in for service/MOT today so I'd intended to check out the position with the sales team at the dealership.

Amazed to find they were still operating in full Covid mode - not a soul about apart from the service advisor hiding behind a perspex screen. All that was missing was tumbleweed blowing across the forecourt.

Hopefully we might see some change after Boris's statement today - do they think we all want to buy on line without test drives, trying seats for size or even just a chat through the options? 

 

I spoke to my dealer, has not affected my order. He said basically the order book is full, he thinks the options will be opened backup again after April. 

9 hours ago, Pittnuma said:

he thinks the options will be opened backup again after April. 

This sounds like standard salesman BS tbh...  But he's right about existing orders not being affected.

3 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

This sounds like standard salesman BS tbh...  

Lol, you can never rule that out😀, but similar things have been happening on other makes. Quite a few options (and whole model versions) have disappeared then reappeared recently on the VW Polo and Audi A1 configurators for example

16 minutes ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

Lol, you can never rule that out😀, but similar things have been happening on other makes. Quite a few options (and whole model versions) have disappeared then reappeared recently on the VW Polo and Audi A1 configurators for example

I was under the impression that the A1 was discontinued or to be pretty soon.

1 minute ago, Wino said:

I was under the impression that the A1 was discontinued or to be pretty soon.

The current generation (only launched 2018) will probably be the last -  I expect it will die off at the same time as it's VW and SEAT siblings on the same platform. Probably about the same time as the Mk 8 Fiesta.

No doubt the effective replacement will be a "posh" version of VWs forthcoming small (approx Fiesta size) EV.

You can’t currently order an M5 BMW and a few others on their website. I think manufacturers are chopping and changing at the moment to streamline production, they may reappear to the detriment of other options at some point.

Not just new vehicles that are in short supply. Electronic parts for vehicles in short supply too. Part just arrived after waiting since aug last year.