Ford to Kill Mammoth Excursion Next Year
By Poornima Gupta (Reuters)
DETROIT - Ford Motor Co. will kill off the Ford Excursion, its largest sport utility vehicle and a lightning rod for criticism from environmental groups, next year, a source familiar with the plan said on Monday.
The mammoth vehicle will stop rolling off the assembly line in September, as Ford moves to free up production capacity for the refreshed Super Duty pickup truck, said the source, on condition of anonymity.
The Excursion and Ford Super Duty F-Series pickups are assembled at the automaker's Louisville, Kentucky, truck plant.
A Ford spokesman declined to comment on the product plan.
Ford sources had said in 2002 that the company would discontinue the 19-foot Excursion, but it wound up getting an extended lease on life.
The second-largest U.S. automaker is planning to fill the gap in its full-size product lineup with an extended version of its Expedition SUV, the source said.
U.S. sales of the Excursion, which was launched in 1999, are down 25 percent so far this year. The Sierra Club, which dubbed the Excursion the "Ford Valdez" after the infamous Alaskan oil spill, called it an environmental disaster because of its poor fuel economy rating.
Official gas mileage figures are not available from Ford or the Environmental Protection Agency, but a review on Kelly Blue Book's Web site says the Excursion gets about 14 miles per gallon on the highway and 10 miles per gallon in the city.
Apart from the Excursion, a mid-size SUV from Ford's lineup will also be killed.
Lincoln Aviator, which made its debut in 2001, will be replaced with a car-based SUV in 2006, said Lincoln spokeswoman Sara Tatchio. She declined to say exactly when production of the Aviator will stop.
U.S. sales of the Aviator are down 20.3 percent year-to-date.
Ford Valdez Extinction Story
Full Version: Ford to Kill Mammoth Excursion Next Year
Common Ground Common Sense > Issues that Affect Our Lives > Energy Independence, Environment, Science and Technology > Energy, Environment, Science and Technology Issues Archive
hip hip hooray!
ty observer
ty observer
Finally the "Blue Oval" is taking the right path. Not only are those massive SUVs gas-hogs, but try to maneuver out of a parking spot when you're flanked by them. Worse yet, try to maintain your lane when some petite femme is maneuvering an Excursion or Navigator beside you, and you're in your MGB! (Look in the direction of the Excursion, and all you see is one huge spinning tire--at head height: that's sure scary!)
Actually, I'd like to see all SUVs off the road, or replaced with AWD station wagons like many Europeans drive. I find them much more user friendly, and much easier to maneuver in traffic.
Actually, I'd like to see all SUVs off the road, or replaced with AWD station wagons like many Europeans drive. I find them much more user friendly, and much easier to maneuver in traffic.
QUOTE(fozzleroy @ Dec 14 2004, 09:14 PM)
Actually, I'd like to see all SUVs off the road, or replaced with AWD station wagons like many Europeans drive. I find them much more user friendly, and much easier to maneuver in traffic.
I agree! SUV's are not safe and use too much gas. I plan to buy a Toyota Prius when I replace my mini-van. I hope more people will start choosing vehicles that are more earth- and people-friendly!
I thought Ford already had, but that was apparently delayed after 2002.
The topic on this thread really confused me because of multiple potential meanings.
Is this a huge excursion that Ford was planning and killed? If so, to where and why?
Or was it an excursion in search of the remains of mammoths?
Alas, it was only a big, gas-guzzling SUV
The topic on this thread really confused me because of multiple potential meanings.
Is this a huge excursion that Ford was planning and killed? If so, to where and why?
Or was it an excursion in search of the remains of mammoths?
Alas, it was only a big, gas-guzzling SUV
Told y'all. quite a while ago! 
I have a Toyota Matrix, and it can do just about everything these gas-guzzling SUV do at about 30 mpg. It looks nicer and has better handling. It also can fit into most compact car parking spaces.
QUOTE(observer @ Dec 14 2004, 12:17 PM)
Ford to Kill Mammoth Excursion Next Year
By Poornima Gupta (Reuters)
DETROIT - Ford Motor Co. will kill off the Ford Excursion, its largest sport utility vehicle and a lightning rod for criticism from environmental groups, next year, a source familiar with the plan said on Monday.
The mammoth vehicle will stop rolling off the assembly line in September, as Ford moves to free up production capacity for the refreshed Super Duty pickup truck, said the source, on condition of anonymity.
The Excursion and Ford Super Duty F-Series pickups are assembled at the automaker's Louisville, Kentucky, truck plant.
A Ford spokesman declined to comment on the product plan.
Ford sources had said in 2002 that the company would discontinue the 19-foot Excursion, but it wound up getting an extended lease on life.
The second-largest U.S. automaker is planning to fill the gap in its full-size product lineup with an extended version of its Expedition SUV, the source said.
U.S. sales of the Excursion, which was launched in 1999, are down 25 percent so far this year. The Sierra Club, which dubbed the Excursion the "Ford Valdez" after the infamous Alaskan oil spill, called it an environmental disaster because of its poor fuel economy rating.
Official gas mileage figures are not available from Ford or the Environmental Protection Agency, but a review on Kelly Blue Book's Web site says the Excursion gets about 14 miles per gallon on the highway and 10 miles per gallon in the city.
Apart from the Excursion, a mid-size SUV from Ford's lineup will also be killed.
Lincoln Aviator, which made its debut in 2001, will be replaced with a car-based SUV in 2006, said Lincoln spokeswoman Sara Tatchio. She declined to say exactly when production of the Aviator will stop.
U.S. sales of the Aviator are down 20.3 percent year-to-date.
Ford Valdez Extinction Story
By Poornima Gupta (Reuters)
DETROIT - Ford Motor Co. will kill off the Ford Excursion, its largest sport utility vehicle and a lightning rod for criticism from environmental groups, next year, a source familiar with the plan said on Monday.
The mammoth vehicle will stop rolling off the assembly line in September, as Ford moves to free up production capacity for the refreshed Super Duty pickup truck, said the source, on condition of anonymity.
The Excursion and Ford Super Duty F-Series pickups are assembled at the automaker's Louisville, Kentucky, truck plant.
A Ford spokesman declined to comment on the product plan.
Ford sources had said in 2002 that the company would discontinue the 19-foot Excursion, but it wound up getting an extended lease on life.
The second-largest U.S. automaker is planning to fill the gap in its full-size product lineup with an extended version of its Expedition SUV, the source said.
U.S. sales of the Excursion, which was launched in 1999, are down 25 percent so far this year. The Sierra Club, which dubbed the Excursion the "Ford Valdez" after the infamous Alaskan oil spill, called it an environmental disaster because of its poor fuel economy rating.
Official gas mileage figures are not available from Ford or the Environmental Protection Agency, but a review on Kelly Blue Book's Web site says the Excursion gets about 14 miles per gallon on the highway and 10 miles per gallon in the city.
Apart from the Excursion, a mid-size SUV from Ford's lineup will also be killed.
Lincoln Aviator, which made its debut in 2001, will be replaced with a car-based SUV in 2006, said Lincoln spokeswoman Sara Tatchio. She declined to say exactly when production of the Aviator will stop.
U.S. sales of the Aviator are down 20.3 percent year-to-date.
Ford Valdez Extinction Story
I have always wondered why someone purchase a car so large.
QUOTE(corgi @ Dec 24 2004, 03:09 PM)
I have always wondered why someone purchase a car so large.
possibly low self-esteem, and a need to make themselves feel superior.
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