David Schepp BBC News Online's North America Business Reporter

Struggling number two auto maker Ford plans to unveil as many as 20 new or significantly redesigned cars and trucks over the next few years in an effort to return to profitability.

But the new models will not mean more jobs at Ford, as the auto maker is set to cut as many as 20,000 posts, the Financial Times newspaper said.

William Clay Ford during happier times in 1999

Ford executives are feeling the pinch of increased competition from foreign auto makers - as well as domestic rivals General Motors (GM) and Chrysler - not to mention an expensive tire-replacement programme on pre-2002 Ford Explorer sport-utility vehicles (SUV).

Ford, which is expected to announce later in January that it posted its first yearly loss since 1992, has also been wracked with quality control issues, with its smaller Escape SUV recalled several times for production-line glitches.

Other models have been recalled, too.

Painful progress

Ford chief executive William Clay Ford, told a crowd of journalists and employees on Sunday in Detroit that the company is in the middle of a painful transformation.

"We've made some progress already but we're not finished," Mr Ford said on Sunday evening during the first day of the North American International Auto Show.

Ford hopes to compete with GM with its Lincoln Blackwood pickup

"We will be making more announcements later this week."

Ford executives are to meet on Friday with Wall Street analysts to unveil a massive restructuring programme at company headquarters in Dearborn - just west of Detroit.

"There's no doubt about it," Ford spokesman Jim Bright said.

"The coming news does unfortunately cast a shadow over anything here."

And in that shadow stand Ford workers, who have been fearful of further job cuts on top of the thousands announced last year.

Plant closures

Mr Ford has sought a number of times to reassure employees, following the dismissal of Jac Nasser, the tough-talking former chief executive Mr Ford replaced.

Nevertheless, the world's number two car maker is expected to announce more lay-offs on Friday, the Financial Times said.

As part of the restructuring scheme, engineered by Ford chief operating officer Nick Scheele, Ford plans to shed 20% of its white-collar workers, or 8,000 jobs.

Hourly workers - up to 12,000 - could be encouraged to take early retirement or voluntary severance packages, the FT reported.

The restructuring may also mean plant closures and cutbacks.

At risk are factories in New Jersey, St Louis and Atlanta, as well as Ford's Ontario plant in Canada.

Ford is looking to cut up to $5bn (�3.5bn) in costs, a sum Wall Street says is necessary if the car maker is to remain competitive, the FT said.