This year, Ford has plane to be pushing upscale in Europe with the launches of its Vignale high-end trim line and the all powering Ford Mustang sports car. Jim Farley, who took over as head of Ford’s European operations on January 1, said the brand outperformed the market last year and he expects to build on the momentum. Ford’s debuts this year reflect a “more emotional and upmarket vision” for the automaker in Europe, Farley said in a statement last month.
Ford is currently rolling out its new Mondeo midsize model across Europe. The company says the latest Mondeo is the “most technologically advanced car Ford has ever launched in Europe.” The automaker expects to double annual European sales of the Mondeo to between 90,000 and 100,000. The Mondeo will be the first Ford to offer the Vignale trim line and the brand’s first petrol-electric hybrid in Europe.
Also arriving in showrooms this year are the Galaxy and S-Max large minivans and Edge large SUV. The C-Max and Grand C-Max have just had face-lifts. Evercore ISI’s Ellinghorst said Ford will gain from renewing a large chunk of its compact and midsize ranges, along with the launches of higher-margin cars such as the Edge, which will top its European SUV range when it arrives late this year.
