By AUTOMOTIVE NEWS
Each of the Big 3 promises a product revival in 2004. At the North American International Auto Show, the world will see whether the promises have substance.
Ford Motor Co. is calling 2004 the year of the car. It will unveil the redesigned 2005 Mustang and two new 2005 nameplates: the Freestyle wagon and Five Hundred, a mid-sized sedan with styling influenced by European automakers.
ASTON MARTIN
After wowing the Frankfurt auto show in September with the next-generation DB9 grand-touring sports coupe, Aston Martin will unveil the Volante convertible version of the V-12-powered rocket. The coupe is slated to go on sale here in late summer, with the Volante coming in early 2005.
FORD
The redesigned 2005 Ford Mustang coupe will debut, as will the 2005 Five Hundred sedan and 2005 Freestyle wagon. Also on the floor will be the re-engineered 2005 Focus and mid-engine 2005 Ford GT.
Ford is focusing on cars in 2004.
The Mustang styling is reminiscent of the 1967-69 Mustang. With the European-styled Five Hundred, Ford is hoping to regain momentum in the mid-sized sedan market. The Freestyle, with three rows of seats, will compete against vehicles such as the Chrysler Pacifica. Sales of all three begin in the fall.
Ford will assemble the Five Hundred, Freestyle and related 2005 Mercury Montego sedan at its Chicago assembly plant. The Montego is expected to debut in February at the Chicago show.
Ford also will introduce a small SUV concept and a special-edition F-150 pickup at the Detroit show.
JAGUAR
Jaguar will unveil the 2005 S-Type sedan. The vehicle will use more aluminum in the body panels, a clue perhaps that the next-generation S-Type will use aluminum extensively.
LAND ROVER
Land Rover will show a lightly disguised version of a future production SUV. Called the Range Stormer, the concept hints at the long-rumored Range Rover Sport.
Despite the name, the vehicle has more in common with the next-generation Land Rover Discovery platform than the Range Rover platform.
The Stormer is expected to be a two-door, short-wheelbase model with an aggressively tapered rear window.
It likely would be positioned as a competitor to the Porsche Cayenne.
LINCOLN
Lincoln will show a luxury pickup based on the Ford F-150. The unnamed vehicle will go into production in 2005. A Lincoln sport wagon concept and a two-seat convertible concept also will be shown.
MAZDA
Mazda will unveil a premium small-car concept. The intent is to show that Mini is not the only brand that can fetch a high price for small cars.
MERCURY
Mercury will exhibit the production version of the 2005 Mariner, the brand's version of the Ford Escape sport wagon.
Automotive News Staff Reporters Mary Connelly, Dave Guilford, Kathy Jackson, Ralph Kisiel, Diana T. Kurylko, Mark Rechtin and Amy Wilson and Product Editor Rick Kranz contributed to this report
Each of the Big 3 promises a product revival in 2004. At the North American International Auto Show, the world will see whether the promises have substance.
Ford Motor Co. is calling 2004 the year of the car. It will unveil the redesigned 2005 Mustang and two new 2005 nameplates: the Freestyle wagon and Five Hundred, a mid-sized sedan with styling influenced by European automakers.
ASTON MARTIN
After wowing the Frankfurt auto show in September with the next-generation DB9 grand-touring sports coupe, Aston Martin will unveil the Volante convertible version of the V-12-powered rocket. The coupe is slated to go on sale here in late summer, with the Volante coming in early 2005.
FORD
The redesigned 2005 Ford Mustang coupe will debut, as will the 2005 Five Hundred sedan and 2005 Freestyle wagon. Also on the floor will be the re-engineered 2005 Focus and mid-engine 2005 Ford GT.
Ford is focusing on cars in 2004.
The Mustang styling is reminiscent of the 1967-69 Mustang. With the European-styled Five Hundred, Ford is hoping to regain momentum in the mid-sized sedan market. The Freestyle, with three rows of seats, will compete against vehicles such as the Chrysler Pacifica. Sales of all three begin in the fall.
Ford will assemble the Five Hundred, Freestyle and related 2005 Mercury Montego sedan at its Chicago assembly plant. The Montego is expected to debut in February at the Chicago show.
Ford also will introduce a small SUV concept and a special-edition F-150 pickup at the Detroit show.
JAGUAR
Jaguar will unveil the 2005 S-Type sedan. The vehicle will use more aluminum in the body panels, a clue perhaps that the next-generation S-Type will use aluminum extensively.
LAND ROVER
Land Rover will show a lightly disguised version of a future production SUV. Called the Range Stormer, the concept hints at the long-rumored Range Rover Sport.
Despite the name, the vehicle has more in common with the next-generation Land Rover Discovery platform than the Range Rover platform.
The Stormer is expected to be a two-door, short-wheelbase model with an aggressively tapered rear window.
It likely would be positioned as a competitor to the Porsche Cayenne.
LINCOLN
Lincoln will show a luxury pickup based on the Ford F-150. The unnamed vehicle will go into production in 2005. A Lincoln sport wagon concept and a two-seat convertible concept also will be shown.
MAZDA
Mazda will unveil a premium small-car concept. The intent is to show that Mini is not the only brand that can fetch a high price for small cars.
MERCURY
Mercury will exhibit the production version of the 2005 Mariner, the brand's version of the Ford Escape sport wagon.
Automotive News Staff Reporters Mary Connelly, Dave Guilford, Kathy Jackson, Ralph Kisiel, Diana T. Kurylko, Mark Rechtin and Amy Wilson and Product Editor Rick Kranz contributed to this report