2009 could be a make or break year for the Ford Motor Company. Without the benefit of federal intervention, Ford could find that the going might be rougher than expected.

2009 will most certainly be the turning point for two automakers,
General Motors and Chrysler, as they make use of billions of dollars of
federal loan money, funds which could help each company compete in the
months ahead.

A third automaker, Ford, isn’t receiving federal
funding but that doesn’t mean that the Ford Motor Company isn’t without
its own challenges in 2009. In fact, with several new models on their
way, Ford’s position in the global automotive market could hinge on its
newest releases.

Let’s take a look at what Ford has planned for 2009 including which current new models could also bolster Ford’s fortunes:

Midsize
Triplets – The Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan are nearly identical
midsize models sold by Ford, popular sedans first introduced in 2005.
An upscale platform mate, the Lincoln MKZ, shares many of the same
components with its siblings, but that car is geared to a much more
limited market. Clearly, the Fusion and Milan are the bread and butter
cars for Ford. In Spring 2009, the next generation Fusion and Milan
will be released, new models which will include hybrid gas-electric
cars in the mix, vehicles which will deliver an astounding 41 mpg in
city fuel economy.

New Full Size Models – The Ford Taurus and
Mercury Sable are finally receiving the overhaul needed to make these
now full sized models that cars that Ford needs to burnish each brand’s
image. Though Ford hasn’t released a pre-production mock up version
just yet, the information about these two cars being shared suggest
that both models will play an important part in bringing customers in.
First introduced in 1986, the Taurus has had its ups and downs
throughout the years, with the all new 2010 model expected to be the
biggest “upper” in quite some time.

Ford Mustang – America’s top
selling pony car once again has some competition in the form of the
Dodge Challenger and the Chevrolet Camaro. But, Ford isn’t resting on
its laurels with its hot coupe, bringing a redesigned 2010 Mustang to
the market in Spring 2009. Expect the Mustang to continue to dominate
the niche pony car segment, but not without a strong challenge from
either GM and Chrysler.

Ford F-150 – Introduced in Fall 2008 as a
2009 model, the F Series pickup trucks are some of the most profitable
vehicles sold by the automaker. Fortunately, gas prices have plummeted
over the past several months, stoking demand for the perennial pickup
truck segment favorite. Expect the award winning F-150 to continue to
sell well as long as gas prices remain low.

Lincoln MKT – Just a
few years ago, the Lincoln brand was basically dead in the water. At
one time Lincoln competed with Cadillac for luxury car supremacy, but
Ford neglected the brand in favor of its many foreign luxury makes
including Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo. With only Volvo
still around (and on the auction block) Ford has been pouring resources
into Lincoln and has introduced several worthy models including the MKZ
and its big MKS sedan. This summer, the MKT crossover will find its way
to Lincoln, a state of the art beauty that will help the bolster the
brand’s image once again just the right vehicle to compete against the
Cadillac SRX.

A wild card in Ford’s recovery effort for 2009 are
the fortunes of General Motors and Chrysler. Should either automaker
file for bankruptcy, that move could impact suppliers, the same
companies who provide key parts for Ford. The best laid plans of Ford
could be scuttled should its competitors fail , something Ford doesn’t
want to see especially under these circumstances.

About the author

Matthew C. Keegan is a freelance writer who resides in Cary, North Carolina. Matt is a contributing writer for Andy’s Auto Sport an aftermarket supplier of quality parts including camshafts and side steps.

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