Ford's Next U.S. Subcompact Based on Mazda2

The eagerly awaited redesigned Mazda2 subcompact will debut in Geneva next week, but Ford told its employees yesterday that it would build a version of the small car with a Blue Oval badge for the U.S. market. Ford owns a controlling stake in Mazda.

There’s still no word on whether or not the new Mazda2 will come stateside — the current version is sold in Europe and other parts of the world — but because speculation has the Ford version taking another two years to arrive, we’d lean toward the Mazda2 joining the U.S. lineup before then so the company doesn’t give up market share to Nissan, Toyota, Honda, Suzuki and Hyundai. All of those companies already offer new models in the rapidly expanding subcompact category.

[New Subcompact Coming to U.S., The Detroit News]

Comments

lts not forget chevy's aveo when you mention everyone's subcompact...ANYWAY this is yet another great move for ford, another rebadged product with exceptional unreliability...maybe they will name it the pinto for name recognition HAHA

On most studies we see, Mazda is improving in reliability. And the vehicles Ford has based off of Mazda platforms and technology (the Fusion, Edge) are the company's most successful.
The Aveo is an American product and I was comparing the Mazda2 to the other imports so that company wouldn't lose market share. The Aveo would still rank last out of all of them in my mind regardless even though it does sell well.

I think this is the biggest no brainer ford could do considering it is hard to build subcompacts in the U.S. and make a profit. That's why the Aveo is Korean and Chrysler is looking to partner with a Chinese company for theirs. Getting a Mazda/Japanese developed (if not built) is preferable in my mind.

i just hope thay biuld a diesel and bring it to America

A Ford effort based on the Mazda2 will likely do well in Canada(strong appetite for very compact cars) but might be too small to be a success in the US. A Focus based on the Mazda3 shuold have been on the market if the right minds were running Ford. Ford execs(well paid ones) should really focus on the bigger Focus (based on the Mazda3) before they copy the Mazda2 !

I am confused by the previous post about a "bigger" Focus based on the Mazda3. The two cars share the same chassis.

"A Ford effort based on the Mazda2 will likely do well in Canada(strong appetite for very compact cars) but might be too small to be a success in the US. A Focus based on the Mazda3 shuold have been on the market if the right minds were running Ford. Ford execs(well paid ones) should really focus on the bigger Focus (based on the Mazda3) before they copy the Mazda2 !"

This comment makes little sense. The sub-compact market is growing by leaps and bounds, and how can you discount the large urban markets where those cars are doing well. The west coast and northeast combined make up one of the largest markets in the world, easily surpassing Canada's car market. Just selling it in those urban markets would be successful. Hence Nissan's Altima Hybrid decision.

As far as making the Focus bigger...that should not happen. They already have the Fusion which slots nicely between the Focus and "Taurus".

Reminds me of the Ford Fiesta which was a Mazda 121. When i first seen the mazda 121 i was like..... eh.

Not too into the look of the new Mazda 2 like.

Reminds me of the Ford Fiesta which was a Mazda 121. When i first seen the mazda 121 i was like..... eh.

Not too into the look of the new Mazda 2 like.