The US will have to wait longer to see the introduction of some of Europe’s hot sellers because of a weakening in the US dollar against a strong euro. Ford bosses have had to drop plans to import a new European crossover to be sold under its premium Lincoln label because it simply became too expensive. Part of the Blue Oval's turnaround plan is to globalize its product range but Automotive News reports that the crashing dollar has put many of its plans on hold.

The imported Lincoln would have been a re-badged version of a Ford model based on the Iosis X concept (pictured) that was previewed at last year’s Paris Auto Show and is due next year. Ford's Americas chief, Mark Fields, told reporters last week that the Europe-made Lincoln “has to pass the business-case test," and a spokesman has now revealed that the program has not received formal approval.

Another small crossover model based on European designs is still on the table but Ford may have to wait until local production starts in early 2010. General Motors may also have to put on hold some if its plans to expand the Saturn brand with more Euro imports and it too may have to wait until production of these new cars start in the US, such as the next-gen Corsa and possibly the new Aura sedan.

Not all is lost. Ford has created a new global engineering team for development of its next-gen small car with work shared between Europe, North America and Asia. The new models will share between 70 and 85% of parts in common and development savings are estimated at close to 30%.