<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/lincoln/" rel="tag">Lincoln</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/mercury/" rel="tag">Mercury</a></p><img hspace="0" border="1" align="right" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/09/gyi0060619208opt.jpg" alt="Ford Lincoln Mercury dealer sign" class="right border" />With <a href="http://autoblog.com/make/mercury/">Mercury</a> on the way to the morgue, there are plenty of very nervous <a href="http://autoblog.com/make/lincoln/">Lincoln</a> dealers in the United States. <a href="http://autoblog.com/make/ford/">Ford Motor Company</a> is looking to calm those nerves a bit by inviting dealers to Dearborn, MI on October 4. <em>Automotive News</em> reports that The Blue Oval is going to show dealers its plans for its North American-only luxury arm. <br />
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Ford spokesman Christian Bokich tells AN that the event is all about the future of Lincoln, adding "It's more about giving dealers a look how Ford will now work with Lincoln as an exclusive, luxury brand." There is no word at this time concerning the content being covered, but we're expecting Ford to show <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/02/report-lincoln-mkt-ford-flex-to-be-phased-out-at-the-end-of-20/">future product</a>, along with how the automaker will further differentiate the four-pointed star from the Ford brand in the years to come. Bloomberg is also reporting that Lincoln dealers will be asked to upgrade their showrooms and work on improving customer service. There are currently 264 retail outlets that do not sell Ford product, and at this point many dealers don't know if they will live on as stand-alone Lincoln dealers in the future. <br />
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One interesting byproduct that could result from the meeting will be the likely product leaks that are soon to follow. Among the future vehicles anticipated to be added to the Lincoln brand are a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/focus">Focus</a>-sized C-segment small car inspired by the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/12/detroit-2009-little-bigtime-concept-c-takes-lincoln-in-brand/">Concept C from the 2009 Detroit Auto Show</a> and a similarly proportioned crossover. <br />
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[Source: <a href="http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100909/RETAIL07/309099968/1256">Automotive News</a> - sub. req., <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-09/ford-has-called-its-1-187-lincoln-dealers-to-headquarters.html">Bloomberg</a> | Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/10/report-ford-requests-meeting-with-lincoln-dealers/">Report: Ford requests meeting with Lincoln dealers</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Fri, 10 Sep 2010 10:29:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/10/report-ford-requests-meeting-with-lincoln-dealers/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19627879/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/10/report-ford-requests-meeting-with-lincoln-dealers/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>
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Ford spokesman Christian Bokich tells AN that the event is all about the future of Lincoln, adding "It's more about giving dealers a look how Ford will now work with Lincoln as an exclusive, luxury brand." There is no word at this time concerning the content being covered, but we're expecting Ford to show <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/02/report-lincoln-mkt-ford-flex-to-be-phased-out-at-the-end-of-20/">future product</a>, along with how the automaker will further differentiate the four-pointed star from the Ford brand in the years to come. Bloomberg is also reporting that Lincoln dealers will be asked to upgrade their showrooms and work on improving customer service. There are currently 264 retail outlets that do not sell Ford product, and at this point many dealers don't know if they will live on as stand-alone Lincoln dealers in the future. <br />
<br />
One interesting byproduct that could result from the meeting will be the likely product leaks that are soon to follow. Among the future vehicles anticipated to be added to the Lincoln brand are a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/focus">Focus</a>-sized C-segment small car inspired by the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/12/detroit-2009-little-bigtime-concept-c-takes-lincoln-in-brand/">Concept C from the 2009 Detroit Auto Show</a> and a similarly proportioned crossover. <br />
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[Source: <a href="http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100909/RETAIL07/309099968/1256">Automotive News</a> - sub. req., <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-09/ford-has-called-its-1-187-lincoln-dealers-to-headquarters.html">Bloomberg</a> | Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/10/report-ford-requests-meeting-with-lincoln-dealers/">Report: Ford requests meeting with Lincoln dealers</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Fri, 10 Sep 2010 10:29:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/10/report-ford-requests-meeting-with-lincoln-dealers/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19627879/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/10/report-ford-requests-meeting-with-lincoln-dealers/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>
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