DEARBORN - Ford Motor Co., an automaker in need of hot vehicles, says three crucial new models are off to a fast start.
The new Mustang, built in Flat Rock, is off to a blazing start, Lyons said. "The average life expectancy of a Mustang on a dealer lot is two hours."
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Ford will sell 3,000 of its new Five Hundred sedans in October - 20 percent more than expected - and dealers have already taken 50,000 orders for the new family sedan, said Ford Division president Steve Lyons.
The Five Hundred has taken flack from critics for its conservative - some say bland - styling. And Lyons doesn't expect the fast sales start to change that perception.
"You never quiet the critics," he said.
The Ford Freestyle crossover vehicle, which shares Five Hundred's underpinnings and combines the attributes of a minivan and SUV, is also enjoying a strong debut, Lyons said. The automaker has delivered about 1,300 to date and dealers have taken 30,000 orders. To meet rising demand for Freestyle, Ford is tweaking production at its Chicago Assembly Plant to build more of the crossover vehicles.
Ford expects to sell about 100,000 units of each annually.
Patrick '93 Cobra '83 LTD