Ford debuting new Focus in Detroit
Unfortunately, it's not the C1-based Focus we're all waiting for (though it appears we're closer than ever to that car's arrival on our shores). Still, the current Ford Focus has received only one nip/tuck refreshening since it debuted in North America way back in 2000, so the car unveiled in early January at the Detroit Show will be model's most signficant update yet. Here's what we know for sure: three-bar grille, no wagon, new coupe. The brand's electric razor-like three-bar grille will grafted onto the face of the 2008 Focus (see spy shot here). It will really be the first not all-new vehicle to sport the chrome grille, which may take consumers a bit of time to get used to. The Focus Wagon has reportedly been dropped from the model's lineup, but in its place will be a new coupe not unlike, although hopefully more competent, the old Escort ZX2. It's still a shame Ford doesn't have an all-new C1-based Focus ready to show the North American public at this point, but that money probably went to pay for the innovative stowable bed extender on the new Super Duty. (Ford: we kid because we want it so bad!)
[Source: SmartMoney via LLN]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Cip 8:18PM (12/07/2006)
Hey i just found out Mexico is getting the eruo, Focus st and the entire C1 focus lineup, so why cant we? i really think ford should really drop the mazdaspeed3 engine to the refreshed focus in their new coupe.
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Blech! 8:19PM (12/07/2006)
Ford doesn't get it, do they?
Doesn't appear so!
If I want a 2 door Coupe(well, really 3 doors beat 2!) I'll buy another Scion tC!
Why didn't these geniuses consider a sporty coupe( you have the compact tC, which is selling like mad, you have the upcoming -New-SE-R, dunno how well it will sell, but it's there, the Tiburon,etc, all under 20K MSRP)or 3-door instead?
Too bad.
They showed the cool Refl3x, and now we get what? Probably some boring, 100 year old reworked platofrm and design ideas....
They deserve 4th place(see Nov sales).
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KaRi from TPSradio 8:31AM (12/08/2006)
I logged onto AutoBlog.com when I noticed the URL was taken.
Sure hope all new cars are made with the gas tank on the Driver NOT the passenger side!
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Regal driver 8:40PM (12/07/2006)
We have the c1 focus,,,IT'S CALLED THE MAZDA 3!!!!!
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That One Person 8:58PM (12/07/2006)
I would be happy enough if they just brought the C1 design over here and put it onto the current Focus platform. The platform isnt bad. It is a smooth riding car and handles well. Its just the design thats killing it.
And yea, we have the Mazda3 and S40. If the Focus was brought here from Europe, it would most likely cost more than the Mazda. And that sort of leads into the issue of sales. Enthusiasts may want the C1 but when it comes to the mass market, they dont want to drop a lot of cash for a Focus...which is known to be an entry level car.
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Scott 9:10PM (12/07/2006)
Yes the C1 Focus is somewhat better, but the problem isn't the platform under the Focus, the problem is that a 2007 Focus looks like a 2000 Focus for the most part. No one really cares what platform a vehicle is on except for the auto rags. The Focus has continuously been praised as one of the most fun-to-drive economy cars out there, the platform was never the problem. The problem was that in 2005 it received a nose and tail-job instead of all-new sheetmetal (plus they chintzed out the interior to pieces). We didn't (and don't really) need the C1 for the Focus, it just needs to look "all-new". Similar to how most other car makers update primarily sheetmetal every 5-6 years but don't update their whole platform for much more than that. And besides, the C1 Focus in Europe isn't exactly a killer in the looks department, the Mazda3 and Volvo S40 are more attractive.
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Howard Kerr 9:52PM (12/07/2006)
A "new" coupe. Does this mean that Ford will ditch the current 3 door for a proper 2 door coupe...like Honda's Civic? Sorry to see the wagon go, as it's somewhat unique, but no one buys it....sigh.
I somewhat agree that the looks are what is killing the current Focus. It took awhile, but the crummy engine (engines?) have been put to pasture, the overly odd instrument panel was toosed in the trash, but we still have a car that looks too much like the 2000 model year Focus. Ford...EIGHT YEARS between major model changes for ANY car is TOO LONG. At this end of the market, having an "old car" can kill your potential market. Just as Buick.
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BOB 10:10PM (12/07/2006)
Yes, the Mondeo looked cool in the Bond flick. Has the story all along not been that the Euro models were too costly to build, since the Focus size is a medium car there, but a budget car to us? Add to that the terrible value of the dollar, due to the ego-driven war. _______But them Ford bean counters remember the Merkur disaster, as well as the cool and European-like Contour, which the mags loved, but people did not buy.
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Andy 11:52PM (12/07/2006)
We cna hold our breath that the next Focus will be a good one.
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Shawn704 11:43PM (12/07/2006)
Why even bother trying to bring a C1 based Focus after this refreshing? In 2009, the Mazda3 will be on the C2 platform.
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Drewboy 12:09AM (12/08/2006)
I'm not seeing a 3-bar grille there, I'm seeing a 2-bar grille. I think this was previously reported. A 3-bar brille really wouldn't fit.
I hope this Focus looks nice. I bought a 1st generation Focus for my wife, and I think it looks far better than the last "refresh" they gave it. I think the refresh made it look more like an Escort! Lets hope this 2nd refresh looks better!
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GOT 12:50AM (12/08/2006)
No C1 Focus? Bah!!! I fear that by the time Ford brings over the C1 Focus that everybody will have become too tired from wanting it and Ford will lose (not to mention, as Shawn704 points out, that the Mazda 3 will then be on the C2 platform).
Ridiculous that even Mexico gets the C1 Focus and we don’t. Oh well that's why I left the Ford lot without a purchase.
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Infinihertz 1:41AM (12/08/2006)
#6 - my understanding is that just the ZXW wagon is going to go away. The ZX2 will be new, but the ZX3, ZX4 and ZX5 should stick around, so I don't think Ford will "ditch the current 3 door for a proper 2 door coupe...like Honda's Civic." It'll have both, actually. Which makes sense, because in southeast Michigan, probably 40-50% of the Focuses I see are hatchbacks.
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Infinihertz 1:45AM (12/08/2006)
Also, John Neff should be wary of using the phrase "here's what we know for sure," for somewhat obvious reasons.
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Kendall Tawes 2:09AM (12/08/2006)
The Problems with the Merkur was where it was made not the car itself. Sure people thought it looked a bit odd but the price was the real killer. What they should do is just bring the bits to assemble them over here not import the whole car. As for the Contour I think it was more or less timing and improper marketing. "Let's bring a smart midsize to compact car to America but wait till everyone is buying SUV's and gas is real cheap. Oh but we will have to make the range more complicated by putting it in to replace the Escort but not remove the Escort. Then we can take the styling of the Euro model and remove half of it and replace it with a dodgy American tale end that doesn't seem to quite match up right. Yeah that's a real winner." Look the Contour wasn't a bad car but they should have stayed true to the Mondeo's rear. It looked much better with the front and with the Escort still there in a compactly it just mucked up the works. The car didn't have a chance with the sub-par marketing strategy.
As far as the Focus goes. When the first brought it over here people liked it so why not do it again. People are not going to go snatching up a 7 year-old cars when Toyota, Honda, and Nissan have strong new competitors with better fuel economy to boot. Just bring the moulds and say no more. Get to work.
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iQuack 2:45AM (12/08/2006)
My guess is that the partly new Focus be an improvement over the current Focus, but bland crap compared to the Civic, Mazda 3, Corolla, etc.
Ford is a glaring disappointment in nearly all respects except for trucks. Auto shoppers would be best advised to avoid Ford dealers because they offer absolutely nothing compared with Hondas, Toyotas, Nissans, Mazdas, Subarus, and if you go a notch upscale, the impressive Saturn Aura now.
Screw Ford!
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jannie 5:01AM (12/08/2006)
I dont care what this thing is going to look like, it is still going to be the same basic car that has been on the market way to long. The Focus simply can not compete with cars like the Civic, or hell even Ford company's own Mazda 3.
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Greg A. 5:11AM (12/08/2006)
I'd like to know if the 2008 Focus will offer side curtain airbags.
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Stphane Dumas 7:48AM (12/08/2006)
"As far as the Focus goes. When the first brought it over here people liked it so why not do it again. People are not going to go snatching up a 7 year-old cars when Toyota, Honda, and Nissan have strong new competitors with better fuel economy to boot. Just bring the moulds and say no more. Get to work."
What IF Honda and Toyota had a politic of keeping with the same style for 7 or even 10 years? Critics will said "they don't need some chances and all, looks at how the old VW Beetle",etc..... looks like a case of "positive discrimination"
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Scott 9:03AM (12/08/2006)
Ford has no plans to bring over a C1 Focus, that's why this is a "top-hat" redesign and not a ground up redesign. Ford has basically stated that the ground up redesign is on hold for the C2 platform, to occur when the Euro Focus, Mazda3, and S40/V50 are redesigned. Basically, the 2008 Focus is a very extensive refreshening meant to hold over the market until the C2 arrives because it seems Ford might have finally learned their lesson that Americans also care about their small cars, not just the rest of the world.
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