Rendered Speculation: Euro Ford Focus makeover
Despite the fact that the new Ford Focus will be revealed in just a few days, we couldn't resist showing you these renderings that show a more dynamic and sporty small car. Ford is doing well enough with the current Focus to not be forced to redesign the car, but with competition increasing in the small car market, a facelift was in order.
Unlike the US market Ford Focus, the Euro version is actually quite upscale for a small car and compares favorably with the Volkswagen Golf and Toyota Auris. It's little wonder, then, that the Focus remains the number two car in its segment and found 192,000 buyers in the first five months of the year. In addition to the visual changes you can expect to see engine upgrades and a refresh of the interior.
Check out the link below for more renderings.
[Source: FoMoCo News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Avinash machado 12:13PM (9/06/2007)
Sell it in the US as the Mercury Tracer.
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Jon C 1:02PM (9/06/2007)
I think Ford is phasing out Mercury.There was an article about it in Autoblog the other day with no response from Ford's PR dept.
B-NOIT 12:15PM (9/06/2007)
I'd actually drive a Ford if it looked like THIS rendered speculation:
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/209134/ford_focus.html
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Stoneman 12:35PM (9/06/2007)
That car in the link is nice looking, but it's only 134 bhp and
FWD only. For a little extra cash, get a Scooby with 173 bhp and AWD.
Imp 2:47PM (9/06/2007)
No Stoneman, your Scobby looks like $#!7. This car looks good.
Alex 12:20PM (9/06/2007)
UGGH... why? Why can't we get Fords like this over here. Stupid US designers suck.
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2004m3driver 10:50PM (9/12/2007)
That rendering looks great. Too bad we likely won't see it here.
Knuckle Dragger 9:18PM (9/06/2007)
I am getting really angry that Ford doesn't understand US customers. This car looks too nice to ignore.
Travis 12:22PM (9/06/2007)
I am a big Ford fan, I would like to see this company to grow back were it belongs to, therefore it bugs me to see sometimes disipointing designs on the US market. I think not only restructuring and cutting cost will help improve this legendary brand, a completly new set of designers should be strongly considered in Detroit - I believe Ford would see great improvements in sales in the US.
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calebe 12:32PM (9/06/2007)
beautiful car.
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John P. 12:25PM (9/06/2007)
Yep, that's a small car worth spending a bit more money on. I think this would compare quite well to the civic, with this one taking the nod in the looks dept. For me anyway.
Now, if we had this, and that new Verve/Fiesta, they'd sell I know it.
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Ryan 12:26PM (9/06/2007)
I think Ford needs to bring all of their European Designers over here to Detroit and let them Design the U.S. cars.
Also this would make a great compact Mercury.
Ford should make MERCURY Ford of Europe.
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John P. 12:35PM (9/06/2007)
I really fear Mercury is dead, which is a shame, as what you said would be a nice fit for them. Euro Fords rather than rebadged American Fords.
I know the whole debate has been beat to death here on Autoblog, but now that Mercury is so tiny as it is, (sales volume) the niche these cars would fill would definitely be larger than what they currently sell.
Ford = economy/trucks/specialty cars/hybrids
Mercury = Euro Fords/Aussie Fords? with some niche/alternative appeal
Volvo = mid-luxury = below lincoln, safe family haulers
Lincoln = go against the resurgent Cadillac/Euros/Lexus on the higher end. No rebadged Fords here. Lincoln at one time really was a design/luxury leader. until sometime around when JFK got shot in one.
Dump Jag, Lincoln should be jag's competition.
Dump Land Rover, the Bronco Concept and Ford Trucks should be where they spend money, not on the Least Reliable make in the world for like,.. well. forever.
Chase 7:19AM (9/07/2007)
I think Detroit makes good designers into bad designers. There is too much political stuff going on there. Good design doesn't count, its a good pitch and good friends that count.
Sam Salemi 12:32PM (9/06/2007)
Drop a diesel in it, sell it in Canada, and relieve me of the anxiety over considering a VW. Whenever I get the urge to squeeze myself in a TDI, I sift through carsurvey.org and VW's abysmal track record reminds me why I haven't picked up a VW yet.
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Cam 12:33PM (9/06/2007)
The most likely reason why the EU version is not sold in the US is that considering Ford Europe has to fight to keep its top spot that means its also a price premium, while in the US you would not in particular fork over $20k for this thing while in Europe many people do
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alexer 11:31PM (9/06/2007)
ohhh he is calling us poor!!!!!!!lol well tha problem is that even if the nipons cars look relly like 5#!t people says that its cool to have one. so ford got tired of these people that just blame america(even when they live in america) mouth publicity really works for follower here!!
ill really will buy this tracer here!!!
calebe 12:40PM (9/06/2007)
I agree 100%. The current designers in the USA should get pink slips. With the exception of the Mustang, they have done a horrible job.
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doug 12:37PM (9/06/2007)
Rebadging Ford of Europe cars as Mercury's makes no sense. Then what, you have to do a seperate design for the Ford US cars? Why not just bring them over as Fords? Mercury no longer makes sense. Ford should beef up the Lincoln lineup and phase out Mercury.
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Kyle 12:51PM (9/06/2007)
It makes perfect since to make MERCURY Ford of Europe or Ford of Australia that way Mercury would be completely different for Ford here in the U.S. just like General Motors did with Saturn.
Ford really needs to sell Jaguar and Land Rover.
And if Ford needs to get rid of any U.S. based Brands then it should be Lincoln not Mercury because even with Lincoln's gain in sales it still doesn't match Mercury's sale numbers and even if Ford did get rid of Mercury that would end up killing Lincoln and take cars like the Grand Marquis and Crown Victoria if Ford stopped making Mercury Ford would have to sell nearly 2 times as many Crown Victoria's to the public market to pick up the slack where the Grand Marquis would leave off and that's just not gonna happen so there's no math for getting rid of Mercury.