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BlueOvalNews.com |
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CONTOUR - MYSTIQUE DEATH'S SCHEDULED |
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EVERYONE knows that the Contour and Mystique are going to be discontinued, but nobody knows just when. The media has been speculating and has tried to pinpoint an approximate date, but it has all been based on speculation.
The long wait has finally ended today as BlueOvalNews has finally obtained several internal documents that clear up the entire Contour drama before it beings to unfold.
The Contour is part of the CD162 program which also includes the Contour SVT, Mystique and Mondeo models. The CD162 program was originally scheduled to end shortly after the 2000 CALENDAR year.
The CD162's program replacement is the CD132, which is scheduled to be a European model (Mondeo) only. This should now alert you to the fact that the Contour/Mystique are dead and the Mondeo will not replace it within North America. The European Mondeo (CD132) has a JOB1 launch date of 22 April 2001.
We've seen a few different reports on the Contour's fate. One report has it being on the product line up well into the first decade of 2000 while another shows it dead after 2001. Either Ford was clever enough to put out some false signals or changed their mind.
Unfortunately, the later of the two tales is the correct one. Ford will kill off the Contour/Mystique in three stages through 2000-2001.
Stage1: The Contour/Mystique/SVT will be cut from ALL production at the Kansas City Assembly Plant on 22 March 2000. All Contour, SVT and Mystique production will then be transferred to the Cuautitlan Assembly Plant (CUAP) in Mexico.
Stage2: The Cuautitlan Assembly Plant will be the sole source of all Contour, Mystique and SVT production after Kansas City ceases producing them in early 2000. CUAP's production will run from March of 2000 through to 01 January 2001 at which point Contour and Mystique production will officially end. CUAP will; however, continue to make the Contour SVT until stage 3 ends.
Stage3: Based on internal information obtained by BlueOvalNews, Ford and SVT have agreed to extend the SVT Contour's production at CUAP through mid 2001 or until the Contour SVT's replacement is ready to launch.
Their has been a lot of debate inside Ford Motor Company and around the Ford enthusiast's community as to which model would replace the Contour SVT. There were three proposed options: Cougar, Taurus and Focus.
Our source at SVT has confirmed that the Focus sedan has been given the green light to replace the Contour SVT. Like the production Focus, the Focus SVT will continue to use the 2.0 engine, rather than a six cylinder engine as had been speculated. In a series of documents given to BlueOvalNews, the Focus SVT will be enhanced to produce 170+ horsepower. You should see the Focus SVT in mid to late 2001 <more of that in a follow up article>.
We're hopeful that the Focus SVT will be a great car, but it will be tough to match the performance attributes that have made the Contour SVT a finely tuned sedan. Those who have driven a Contour SVT or own one can relate to what a fine machine it really is. COPYRIGHT 1999 WARNER PUBLICATIONS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BlueOvalNews.com |
SUMMARY * The last U.S. made Contour and Mystique models will occur on or about 22 March 2000. - all Contour/Mystique production then transfers to Mexico. * The last Contour (except SVT) and Mystique models to be made for the North American market will be on or about 01 January 2001. - Contour SVT will continue to be made in Mexico until mid 2001. * The European Mondeo will has a JOB1 date of 22 April 2001.
BlueOvalNews.com |
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