Ford, rivals betting small is beautiful

• ZWICK 4 PREZ

  

  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34979467/ns/business-autos/
  
  
  Are we really heading to a European way of thinking?
• justincredible

  

  I'll keep my gas guzzling truck.
• gorocks99

  

  As the population shifts to bigger cities and less rural, yes, smaller cars will become more popular.
• ytownfootball

  

  Them counting on fuel costs @ $4/gal. tells the tale really. They don't want to get caught with their pants around their ankles as they did in the mid 70's during the Carter years. The big 3 had zero in the showroom that could compete with the foreign jobs that got better fuel economy. I doubt there will be a complete faze out of the big SUV's and trucks which have proven high profit margins, but they need to have alternatives in place. Smart move I think.
• Con_Alma

  I don't believe small is beautiful to the U.S. car buying market but it may very well become the desired based on economics.
• j_crazy

  

  40% of americans can't fit into those cars. this strategy will fail.
• jordo212000

  

  It's about time. They're a few years late haha
• Curly J

  

  No thank you. I'll keep my poor mileage Wrangler.
• LJ

  

  ZWICK 4 PREZ wrote: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34979467/ns/business-autos/
  
  
  Are we really heading to a European way of thinking?

  No, because the european way of thinking is cluttered cities where everyone lives and the smart cars were built to fit into a parallel spot pulled straight in so you could park 2 in 1 spot. The other small cars were built to maximize fuel efficiency as well as parking efficiency.
• cbus4life

  Smart move.
• Devils Advocate

  

  I think I'm havig dejavu
  
  
  
  
  
  I Think we've been through this before
• tk421

  

  I don't know if I'd even fit in that Ford Focus, let alone it being a "family" sedan. If I had money for a vehicle, it's a truck for me.
• Devils Advocate

  

  I've heard many times that a car is quazi penis. I guess it's OK to have a little penis if it looks sporty
  
  Even better if it goes fast
• GoChiefs

  

  justincredible wrote: I'll keep my gas guzzling truck.

  Exactly what I was thinking.
• gut

  The fuel prices is a factor in Europe. I think a bigger factor is the narrow streets and lack of parking, and parking is only an issue in a handful of major cities (more if you talk just downtown areas).
  
  Americans like their SUV and pick-ups. We like to load up the car and haul stuff. There will always be a market for that, but with many families owning 2 or more cars I think they will have at least 1 fuel efficient vehicle (gone are the days a family would have 3 or 4 trucks).
• End of Line

  

  I'll keep my Ford.
• Sage

  

  thankfully my cherokee GUZZLES NAZI BLOOD AND NAZI BLOOD AINT GON UP SINCE 19 FUCKING 47
• LJ

  

  My truck reads 9.7 MPG currently
• cbus4life

  My Subaru Forrester currently getting 31MPG Highway, which i'm pretty happy with.