In terms of building greener cars, Ford is planning the 2007 Mercury Mariner Hybrid (the regular Mariner is a new companion to the regular Escape) and a hybrid midsize sedan that will follow it.

FORBES: Forbes First Drive: The First American Hybrid

The company announced at the Los Angeles Auto Show that the U.S. version of its Mazda 6 midsize sedan, which got a major redesign for the 2014 model year, will offer a new four-cylinder diesel engine, in addition to a conventional four-cylinder gasoline engine.

FORBES: Mazda Bets Big On Diesel With The All-New 2014 Mazda 6

It will be at least two years before the new system bears fruit: The Ford Futura is the first of as many as 10 new Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models to be built off the same underpinning used for the Mazda 6 midsize sedan. (Ford has a controlling stake in Mazda.) In all, Ford's domestic brands plan to introduce 65 new or redesigned vehicles in the next five years.

FORBES: Companies, People, Ideas