Ford Flips to Crossovers, Car Portfolio to Only Consist of Mustang, Focus Active

Ford has confirmed its car portfolio will consist of just the Mustang and the Focus Active by 2022.

Rumors had been swirling that Ford was set to discontinue both the regular Focus and the Fiesta in the United States and it now appears as though they were legitimate. In its quarterly financial report released today, the automaker said it will focus on crossovers, phasing out most of its small passenger cars to focus on more versatile body styles. It will also discontinue the Fusion and Taurus.

“Over the next few years, the Ford car portfolio in North America will transition to two vehicles — the best-selling Mustang and the all-new Focus Active crossover coming out next year,” the company said in a statement.

It added that it is exploring new “white space vehicle silhouettes” that utilize a higher ride height, additional space and extra versatility.

Ford said the decision was spurred on by consumer preferences for crossovers and better profit margins on larger vehicles. It will continue to sell the EcoSport, Escape, Edge, Explorer and will eventually add a new Bronco to its growing crossover and SUV portfolio as well.

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The automaker also said it would focus on new propulsion technologies, alluding to its push to introduce more hybrid and electric vehicles going forward. It promised to have 16 electrified vehicles on sale by 2022, which will include hybrid versions of the Mustang and F-150.

It was previously known the new Fiesta wasn’t going to arrive in North America, but the death of the regular Focus, along with confirmation that nearly all future Fords will be a car/crossover/utility vehicle mix, does come as a bit of a surprise. At the same time, Ford had already toyed with such car-utility vehicle hybrids with the Mach 1 EV – a Mustang inspired electric utility vehicle that it teased at the Detroit auto show earlier this year.

Ford has also doubled down on the Mustang as of late, turning it into a global product sold in both right- and left-hand drive markets in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The Mustang is now sold in over 140 markets worldwide, including the world’s largest – China.

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