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[Diamond Black Geezer]

Car companies are (and have been for a long time) moving away from the traditional 3-box saloon - almost all have rejected this. However as above, the 'market trend' is SUVs and stupid pretend soft-roaders, so either doing that, or morphing the 'mainstay' of the 5 door hatch into said SUV-thing is the next step. Maybe the Focus will just grow upwards, or maybe they'll repeat what they did with the Escort, and scrap the name.

Also sub-brands are everywhere now - Range Rover of course was a (the first?) sub-brand, but now there's SVO as a sub-sub brand, Mini, sub brand to BMW of course, 500 is also a range of cars in its own right, too. Looks like Mustang is next. Mustang MPV next. Yey. 

[Marks DTM Calib]

Modified Focus platform, manufactured in Mexico.

There was a suspicion that Ford were looking to water the Mustang brand down by using it to badge other variants, I guess this is the first.

[Nick W]

According to my son,Ford are on about killing off the Fiesta.Focus,Edge and what they know as Fusion in America at least.I have seen also that they're releasing a new Puma which is a 5 door SUV looking thing that's bigger than a Focus,one of the selling points of which is that you can carry two sets of golf clubs upright in the boot

Killing off the best selling car in the UK? Seems like a plan.

isn't the best selling car in the UK still a 3-series BMW?

[Jimmy944]

But that?? It's marketing in charge, clearly.

Its standard practice these days, gone are the days when M-Division, AMG etc actually meant something, now they are just stick on badges and trim for your 4-pot diesel rep-mobile. I guess its the modern trend for trying to make out that you are doing better than you actually are but personally, I just don't understand the appeal of a car that looks sporty but doesn't have the 'Go'.

TBH I don't see the electric 'Mustang' as any more ridiculous than the way a lot of performance ICE cars are going. Take the Audit S6 for example, a diesel with fake big bore 'exhausts' that plays V8 noise over the radio - what a sad excuse for a performance car.

[STEMO]

But that?? It's marketing in charge, clearly.

Its standard practice these days, gone are the days when M-Division, AMG etc actually meant something, now they are just stick on badges and trim for your 4-pot diesel rep-mobile. I guess its the modern trend for trying to make out that you are doing better than you actually are but personally, I just don't understand the appeal of a car that looks sporty but doesn't have the 'Go'.

TBH I don't see the electric 'Mustang' as any more ridiculous than the way a lot of performance ICE cars are going. Take the Audit S6 for example, a diesel with fake big bore 'exhausts' that plays V8 noise over the radio - what a sad excuse for a performance car.

BMWs shouldn't carry any sort of M badge unless they are the actual M Sport.

[aaronjb]

But that?? It's marketing in charge, clearly.

Its standard practice these days, gone are the days when M-Division, AMG etc actually meant something, now they are just stick on badges and trim for your 4-pot diesel rep-mobile. I guess its the modern trend for trying to make out that you are doing better than you actually are but personally, I just don't understand the appeal of a car that looks sporty but doesn't have the 'Go'.

TBH I don't see the electric 'Mustang' as any more ridiculous than the way a lot of performance ICE cars are going. Take the Audit S6 for example, a diesel with fake big bore 'exhausts' that plays V8 noise over the radio - what a sad excuse for a performance car.

BMWs shouldn't carry any sort of M badge unless they are the actual M Sport.

M Sport = dressed up normal car.. You mean "unless they are a true M-car", I guess.. but then, there are so many of those now - M2, M3, M4, M5, M6..

[STEMO]

But that?? It's marketing in charge, clearly.

Its standard practice these days, gone are the days when M-Division, AMG etc actually meant something, now they are just stick on badges and trim for your 4-pot diesel rep-mobile. I guess its the modern trend for trying to make out that you are doing better than you actually are but personally, I just don't understand the appeal of a car that looks sporty but doesn't have the 'Go'.

TBH I don't see the electric 'Mustang' as any more ridiculous than the way a lot of performance ICE cars are going. Take the Audit S6 for example, a diesel with fake big bore 'exhausts' that plays V8 noise over the radio - what a sad excuse for a performance car.

BMWs shouldn't carry any sort of M badge unless they are the actual M Sport.

M Sport = dressed up normal car.. You mean "unless they are a true M-car", I guess.. but then, there are so many of those now - M2, M3, M4, M5, M6..

Yep, that's what I meant.

[Jimmy944]

but then, there are so many of those now - M2, M3, M4, M5, M6..

Tbh I don't mind how many of those they knock out, given they are still, to a great extent 'proper', although I still think that piping exhaust noise through speakers is rather sad!

Given the choice, I'd much rather have a performance car that looks ordinary, rather than the other way around.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Consider the difference - did you grow up watching The Battle of Britain, Ben Hur, Zulu - where the impressive spectacles, and 'effects' were actually real, and looked huge and impressive because they were huge and impressive... or you grew up with Avatar, Transformers, Inception, everything is CGI, and fake... they're the ones that won't/don't have problem with faked, piped engine noise.

I'm a Millennial, I suppose - but grew up watching the former, I like my entertainment to be real, ta.

[Doctor Gollum]

If you're the sort of person who drives a diesel Audi S Line, then you have bigger issues...

[YZ250]

If you're the sort of person who drives a diesel Audi S Line, then you have bigger issues...

    Oh dear, that'll be me then.     What have I done wrong now.   

[aaronjb]

but then, there are so many of those now - M2, M3, M4, M5, M6..

Tbh I don't mind how many of those they knock out, given they are still, to a great extent 'proper', although I still think that piping exhaust noise through speakers is rather sad!

Given the choice, I'd much rather have a performance car that looks ordinary, rather than the other way around.

True - same here, really.. in fact, I wouldn't say no if someone were to give me a nice M4. A friend (two test-drives everything sideways) told me I'd love it - because the car is constantly on the edge of trying to kill you by swapping ends

If you're the sort of person who drives a diesel Audi S Line, then you have bigger issues...

    Oh dear, that'll be me then.     What have I done wrong now.   

Well .. you own a BMW and an Audi so .. everything? 

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Someone pop round and explain what the lever on the steering column that makes amber lights flash is for...

[YZ250]

If you're the sort of person who drives a diesel Audi S Line, then you have bigger issues...

    Oh dear, that'll be me then.     What have I done wrong now.   

Well .. you own a BMW and an Audi so .. everything? 

Having one (knob car  ) was bad enough, but having both I stand no chance on here do I. 

[YZ250]

Someone pop round and explain what the lever on the steering column that makes amber lights flash is for...

Ah see, that's where you're wrong, as I do know what it's for. It illuminates the two second warning lights, which rather courteously lets other drivers know that I'm pulling out in two seconds ...... whether they like it or not.