European Ford Focus
Ah, what Ford vehicle do American enthusiasts scream for more? None other than the European Focus that shares its platform with our Mazda3 and Volvo S40/V50. While the spicy ST variant has already been shown, here is an up close look at a Ghia-badged 5-door Focus. The first thing you notice is how upscale this Focus is. The previous Focus was a great car, but no one would dare consider it real competition to more upscale compacts. If this Focus was sold in the US, it would have to retail for more than the Mazda3, probably splitting the difference between the Volvo and it's Asian cousin. The Focus would even cut into Fusion's territory, it is that nice. You can clearly see why it is so popular in Europe and why American consumers will have to get their C1-platform jollies in the Japanese and Swedish flavors. In Germany, the Ford Focus starts at 14,500 euro ($17,980) with the Ford Focus Ghia being the most expensive at 19,575 euro or $24,273. That is VW Golf/Jetta territory and it's easy to see why the European Focus is not sold here. If you want to own one, it seems like you need to move to Europe.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Lawrence 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
That's exactly why. The EuroFocus would cannibalize sales of the Fusion, Mazda3, Mazda6, possibly even the Five Hundred and lame-duck Freestyle too. Tsk, and this one is so pretty. That blue color. Those wheels. And a stick shift. Thanks but no thanks, Ford.
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Lawrence 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
I meant thanks but no thanks for the ageing current model. heh. genius. sorry
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Jones 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
Funny thing about this Focus is that Ford Philippines think they have a market in the country. Trying to fill in the void that was the Ford Lynx (Laser in the States), they think that this'll sell.
I'm skeptical about this Focus. But if it was the Focus "Rally Car" hatch thingy, I'd probably get one.
PS. The Mazda3 still pretty much owns the competition here.
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John 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
Ford will eventually have to bring the Focus over here. The difference will be that it will be watered down to lower prices. If the Focus is to sell as it is in Euro trim, Ford must bring the Fiesta over in order to compete with the increasingly popular affordable sub-compact market.
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jojo 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
I would love to see this in the US. I am a current small Volvo wagon driver, and would consider a more upscale Focus or Mercury badged vehicle next time around. Especially as it seems that Volvo is being pushed further upscale. The Mazda 3 is nice, but it has no full wagon, and the hatchback's all black and metal interior doesn't suit all tastes.
It's unfortunate that Ford might feel their passenger car line-up has to scale by cost in proportion to a vehicle's size. Consumers in urban markets where parking locations are competitive appreciate a smaller vehicle. If Ford feels an upscale compact will hinder sales of it's larger vehicles, then perhaps it should consider a compact addition to it supposedly premium domestic nameplates.
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Garris 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
Devil's Advocate here...
Why *can't* Ford sell it for that price here if it's that good? If the Jetta can sell for VW at that price, so can the Euro Focus. They can bring the Fiesta over to fill the lower niche of the old Focus, call it "Focus" and call the Euro Focus something else entirely. That would be a pretty nice, almost Toyota-esque sedan lineup...
Euro Fiesta
Euro Focus
Fusion
Five Hundred
But not doing logical things like this is the reason Ford's in the situation they are... No, better to sell the ancient current Focus and nothing at all in the Fiesta niche, leaving it to the Koreans and the Echo (sigh)...
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Sparkdog 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
Are fords as bad in europe. I mean they suck big here.
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RvD 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
You are comparing/converting apples and oranges. Remember, prices in Europe are always including tax.
For example, in Holland, before tax, Focus starts at 12214 euro, not 14000
Top of the line Ghia model is 18030 euro
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Dave 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
I drove one of these in Finland for a couple hours. It actually a very very nice car. Didn't feel like a Ford at all.
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Bill 10:45PM (12/18/2005)
Well... Ford's decision of the Focus represents the old school thinking that has consistently causing American Automakers to loose market share in the car market to the Asians and Europeans for more than 20 years. In this world view the only people who buy small cars are those who can't afford big cars. Therefore premium small cars don't make any sense. I will say though that at least when Ford made the Countour they did at least try to buck that thinking... but it never did as well as it deserved and now Ford is reluctant to get bitten again.
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