With the price of gasoline below the $3.00 threshold in many areas, SUVs 
and crossovers have been able to creep out of the shadows of smaller, more efficient vehicles. Because of this some automakers have focused their plans around the SUV and crossover market. Ford is on that list of automakers and has recently revealed its plans to drive SUV sales up 200 percent by the end of 2016, and even higher by the end of the decade.
By the end of this year, updated versions of the 2012 Ford EcoSport and Kuga will hit showrooms, and the 2015 Ford Edge will debut at Frankfurt this week. The most interesting part of Ford’s plans, though, is the release of two new crossovers by 2019. One will likely be a subcompact based on the 2014 Ford Fiesta , and the other a compact or midsize variant of the 2015 Ford Focus . We don’t know any specifics about the two new crossovers, but we will update you as more information is released in the future.
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Why it matters
I recently parked my Acura Legend at a coffee shop. When I turned around to observe the taillights flashing as I locked my doors, I noticed I was parked in the middle of eight different SUVs and crossovers. It was at that moment it hit me – SUVs and crossovers have flooded the market. Once gas prices dropped to an affordable level, consumers started trading off Honda Civics and Toyota Camrys for vehicles that have more space and towing capacity than they need. What is going to happen when gas prices soar again, or the fad of owning a glorified and reshaped minivan wears off?
I think there will be an overabundance of SUVs and crossovers for sale as consumers scramble to buy more fuel-efficient vehicles again. Ford obviously isn’t worried, as it continues to contribute to the flooding of the market by releasing new SUVs and crossovers. I think they should be. At some point, public opinion and desires will change. What do you think? Is Ford focusing too much on a market segment that may change drastically depending on the world economy? I would like to hear your thoughts.
2015 Ford Ecosport S
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