HAHAHAHAHAHA what i have been saying for a year :D: :D: :D:

first thing i found today was this blurb at just auto http://www.just-auto.com/article.aspx?id=90606

US: Ford plans Mazda 2 spin-off for US

2 March 2007 | Source: just-auto.com editorial team


Article summary:
Ford is apparently going after the likes of Honda's Fit (Jazz), the Daewoo-built Chevrolet Aveo and Toyota Yaris with a new subcompact spun off the redesigned Mazda 2, according to a US newspaper.

then i started googling and found more

at jalopnik
http://jalopnik.com/cars/news/will-the-mazda2-be-the-ford2-240752.php

the current schedule for the b-segment micro-car, as you read first here, is a 2010 model year set to be released in calendar year 2009. It looks as though to either meet or exceed that deadline the Dearborn-based automaker's going to need to call in some help from the Japanese side of the globe-spanning silo-structured corporation. According to a webcast broadcast yesterday to Ford employees, the mane man for Ford NorAm, Mark "Movie Star" Fields, revealed that the subcompact will be based on the new Mazda2 that'll be revealed in Geneva over this next week.

this full article over at detroit news is a good read
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070301/AUTO01/703010381/1148

talks about the possibility of them moving production from brazil to mexico

A Ford source familiar with the project said the company plans to build the car in Brazil, but said that may change. Ford had planned to expand one of its Mexican plants to accommodate the new model, but can no longer afford such a major expense.

Ford is increasing relying on Mazda engineering to bolster its passenger car lineup.

Ford previously used the mid-sized Mazda6 vehicle architecture to develop the Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ sedans, and the Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX crossovers.


which brillo and myself have talked about previously. with this new plan to let mexican trucks cross over the border and deliver goods to all 50 states i bet they do.

of course i would be remiss if i did not link to my boys at Autoblog.com

http://detroit-auto-show.autoblog.com/2007/03/02/ford-confirms-internally-that-blue-oval-b-car-will-be-built-on-m/

Since Mazda has a reputation for great-handling vehicles and quick development time, they're fast becoming the defacto platform creators for much of the Ford world and the Mazda 2 platform is merely the latest example. We've been looking forward to a Ford B car for some time, but it looks like it's still two years away. Hopefully, we'll be able to enjoy the Mazda 2 way earlier than that.


so here it comes in one form or other:)

haha, now you can play the "I told you so" card to all the nay-sayers. very cool news.

The worrisome thing though, is that it's going to be a Ford rather than simply bringing the Mazda2 over as-is.

Really they should just hand this project over to Ford Europe and just go with whatever those guys come up with.

The worrisome thing though, is that it's going to be a Ford rather than simply bringing the Mazda2 over as-is.

Really they should just hand this project over to Ford Europe and just go with whatever those guys come up with.
I think it will be brought over as a Mazda product, but may be rebadged for Ford?

The Mazda2 will defnitely beat its competitors in a beauty contest hands down.

For some reason, I really like that bright green color in the press pictures.

Gawd Blimey (Aussie Slang...like Crikey) you guys get excited about nothing... ;) ;)

It will probably be called the Ford FIESTA...or it's the Fiesta with another name to suit the US market, based on the new Mazda 2 platform which is going to Europe and Australia...but, we all knew that right... :)

Gee Charlie you need to take those heart pills mate...!!

:jump: BTW we get the new Mazda 2 here later this year.... :rock:

life it amazing, who would have belive 10 years ago that mazda was going to be responsable for saving Ford?

I think Ford should not mess with the look of the car that much

It will be a battle between the Honda Fit and Mazda 2 for king of the subcompacts. All the others are losers.