The car business is not one for the faint of heart. Car companies chase that tasty profit, and often, that involves selling cars that people will actually want to buy. Enthusiasts sometimes get the short end of the stick, and sometimes, other automakers do, too.
Ford once penned a deal with Volkswagen to make EVs on the latter’s MEB platform, a deal that has had a tepid response in the market. Now, the Blue Oval is darkening the doors of Renault. I feel embarrassed on behalf of Volkswagen. V10omous:
Hard knowing what’s the bigger slap in the face, that your quality is below Ford’s standards, or that it’s so bad they had to turn to the French in hopes of doing better. Yikes.
Alexk98 has some delicious snark:
Nothing says “Quality is Job Number 1” like rebadging Renaults! Because that collaboration went sooooo well for Nissan’s quality and brand image.
Ricardo M seems to make a reference to Nissan’s new rebadged Mitsubishi:
Ford’s new badge-engineered cars should be extremely lazy, just slap some blue ovals over the indent that’s still present for the Renault badge, throw a strip of chrome across the top of the grille, and maybe, if we’re feeling frisky, add some Ford-exclusive paint options. Like Ford Black, or Ford Black.
Stellantis has confirmed that it’s going to bring the Fiat Topolino to America, which seems like a good deal if you live in a retirement community. Arch Duke Maxyenko has the best idea:
SCCA Spec Topolino Class, let’s go!
Yes! I want to see some Topolinos rule go-kart tracks. Have a great evening, everyone.
Top graphic image: Ford
You know what’s the weird part. Renaults are better than their Nissan counterparts somehow. At least they don’t share the PSA wet belt engine that got spooned into every smal or medium sized european model from stellantis for over 10 years.
No notes on Brian’s horrible parking article, maybe a rebuttle is in the works? Or flogging?
Yes, bring me Topolino races with the Benny Hill theme dubbed over.
It’s a complicated business, people. Strange times mean strange partners.
That collaboration with Renault was an era of tremendous success for Nissan IIRC.
Ford should work with Honda instead:
https://opposite-lock.com/topic/82268/how-ford-can-fix-their-quality-issues/1
I think that’s a Nissan fever-induced dream right now.
Is this the same Ford that killed off all passenger car offering and is now talking about bringing back the large RWD sedan? Or the one that thought running a timing belt through the sump was a great idea.
Though to be fair, VWs EV offerings have been mainly bland and uncompetitive which is disappointing from one of the largest manufacturers.
I’d rather Ford correct course and make a big RWD sedan, and not get clowned on, and then have them say “nobody wants it, so we wont build it.”
The timing belt bullshit will never be forgotten though.
Maybe VW ought to get ride of the “id” range and introduce the “ego” or “superego” ranges that might be a little more self assured.