SEMA Preview: Focus will lead a pack of Fords
by John Neff on Oct 17th 2007 at 4:00PM 
click above image to view all of Ford's SEMA vehicles including their upgrades
Ford will arrive in Las Vegas for the SEMA Show later this month with no less than 13 show vehicles in tow. Of those, nine will be based on the 2008 Focus, which underscores A) how important Ford believes small cars are to the tuner and customization market and B) how much Ford wants people to like its little ugly duckling. Of the Foci on hand will be a number with turbos added to their 2.0L inline four-cylinder engines and all with rims ranging from 18 to 20 inches in size. Being SEMA, each is outfitted with a body kit that either enhances or compounds the car's controversial looks. Check out each one in the gallery below along with Ford's description of their upgrades.
Joining the Focus brigade will be two Mustangs, a 350-HP turbo V6 Fusion and a Lincoln MKZ by H&R Special Springs that's pimptastic. Those are also available to view in the gallery.
Of course, we'll be on hand in Sin City with a team of tuner loving Autobloggers to cover the SEMA Show, which begins the week of October 29th. It's a tough job, we know.
[Source: Ford]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
9600baud 4:06PM (10/17/2007)
I'm all for modding but these sketches are quite hideous... which is saying something considering how ugly Ford cars already are.
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howard 11:39AM (10/18/2007)
I guess Ford's keeping the new sister to the FOCUS called BOFUS quiet till the show. I don't blame them!
John P. 4:14PM (10/17/2007)
the focussport orange one looks pretty ok.
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James 4:14PM (10/17/2007)
Is it just me, or does that blue concept sketch look surprisingly like an E46 M3, but with Ford's ugly grille treatment???
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Mark 4:17PM (10/17/2007)
I was thinking the same thing!
04A4 4:32PM (10/17/2007)
I agree, but I don't think even Chris Bangle could produce such a fugly front-end
stefan 4:15PM (10/17/2007)
Now thats what i call a RICER.
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Vivek 4:16PM (10/17/2007)
Just because you put lipstick on a pig doesn't make it a pretty. How could they ruin such an important car with that design? I digress.
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Aki 4:22PM (10/17/2007)
They polish--or rice up--a turd and it's still a turd. Hopefully this car will bomb so they'll learn their lesson and actually bring an all-new Focus.
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That One Person 12:36AM (10/18/2007)
Billy Boy should have done that when the current Euro Focus came out. At this point, Ford really has no choice. The Euro Focus is going to be redesigned by 2010. So why would Ford put themselves in a worse place by designing an all new car just to replace it in 2 years (seeing as we are getting the same Focus as everyone else the next time around)?
But I do agree with you.
rv 1:50AM (10/18/2007)
Nice wedge of cheese for your avatar.
Aki 3:26AM (10/18/2007)
Rv: Not only are you a loser for posting taking the time to bash my miniscule avatar, but you're also an uncreative loser because you say the same old garbage every time.
Oh, and you're happy you got good grades because mommy would've bought you a Civic if you didn't? That only proves you're a spoiled brat. They should do your pampered butt a favor and have you actually buy your own car.
DavidM 4:26PM (10/17/2007)
I like the design, at least these drawings. The real one's nose is ugly though.
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Greek Boy 4:27PM (10/17/2007)
Those Focii look great. I like the 1st blue one with 20" wheels. It really dos not need much more, just something to fill in those big wheel arches.
Way better than a Civic, Corolla or Cobalt.
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Rick 7:08PM (10/17/2007)
Sorry, but not nicer than a Civic.
speedball3 6:03PM (10/17/2007)
Are you serious? We have completely opposite tastes, because w/the cars you listed, the focus is the last one I'd get (I'd go civic, corolla/cobalt tie, focus). The front fender on the focus is so huge and it's only made worse when you fit big wheels into the wheel wells... cuz then it shows you just how large the fenders really are and how disgusting the car is. It looks big and fat while trying to be a small car...like a grossly obese person wearing really tight clothes. No SEMA tuner can fix this one.
rv 1:54AM (10/18/2007)
Anything looks nicer than the wedge-o-cheese McCivic. Hard not to beat the most generic and boring car on the road - but heck, a McCivic was what I would've gotten for high school graduation if I didn't get good grades - anything is an upgrade. Such a boring car, I almost fell asleep during the test drive. Doh!
nissanfreak87 4:39PM (10/17/2007)
not a fan of any of these cars except the MKZ by H&R springs, they're either over or underdone. Seriously, 20s on a Focus? That's just stupid. Maye I'm just jaded, but I hate the new Focus and nothing done to it would ever make me like it.
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Xcountryflyer 4:38PM (10/17/2007)
Lipstick on an ugly pig.
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Tired 4:55PM (10/17/2007)
Hard to do much to the look of the front end, when IMHO, the headlights are the worst part of the new design.
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