http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/ Autoblog Comments for It has a nice personality: Ford boosts Focus production by 30% to meet demand http://www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/Apr 15th 2008 2:05PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/Apr 15th 2008 3:34PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/
I've got to admit.. I love the focus's rear, but think the front is way to "Contour". i never thought this would do well based on design. I was wrong! Nice job Ford... Wow, Ford's on Fire and it's not literally this time! ;)]]>Apr 15th 2008 7:35PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/
While I am not a fan of the car in general (I agree with the garish fender vents and odd front nose), the Focus certainly stands apart from the new Civic and the (ugly) new Corolla.

Lets hope GM does a better job with the next Cobalt and we may see an American small car renaissance (of sorts).]]>Apr 15th 2008 2:08PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/
I think most people would rather go with the mundane Corolla than the Cobalt and Focus mostly because of reliability and because the Corolla's looks don't insult you. So what if Toyota didn't try to be bold? That's not what the Corolla is trying to market to anyway. For what it is, Toyota did a great job with the new Corolla, IMHO.]]>Apr 15th 2008 2:13PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/
In contrast, the 2006 Civic stood out for its unique shape and boldly different, yet stylish design. Rather the 2009 Corolla (which was delayed a year to 'enhance' its design) came out looking like someone shrunk a Camry. What exactly might the Corolla have looked like before this 'enhancement'? It boggles the mind to consider how boring it may be.

And I stand by my 'ugly' Corolla comment. The body and lights oddly protrude, and the XRS model (especially) looks as if Toyota hot-glue-gunned a body kit all around it. This is not to diminish the Corolla's impeccable quality, safety and fuel efficiency. I drove a 2007 Corolla as a rental in October and was highly impressed by the car in general.

With that said, what is stopping Toyota from making damn good-looking, and yet entirely functional automobiles? It seems to me it is their hell-bent drive to merely conquer the global automotive market. Certainly not an unfair proposition, but one that directly denotes the companies 'automotive appliance' reputation.]]>Apr 15th 2008 2:22PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/
Toyota's last vehicle that had any style at all was the last-gen Celica, which ironically borrowed lots of design cues from the "New Edge design" Fords of the time, especially the Cougar and Focus. Since then, it's been appliance after appliance after appliance, each generation getting fatter and softer-looking than the last.

It would be one thing if Toyota's cars were just boring (like the late '90s Corollas and Camrys), but they're now firmly into ugly territory. I honestly believe they don't invest in good styling because they know anything with the oval badge will sell. And I find that insulting to the buying public.

With the gap between automakers narrowing each year in terms of quality and reliability, Toyota will not be able to keep resting on its reputation with no regard to how their products look. Scion looked promising with their first-gen vehicles, but the new xB and xD dashed my hopes that Toyota will ever find an exciting, attractive design language.]]>Apr 15th 2008 5:55PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/
That's in stark contrast to the '06 and '07 model years; as far as Ford PR was concerned, the Focus didn't exist. A shame, since that was when it still drove like a sports sedan (the new one, with its e-throttle, squishier bushings, and softer suspension, doesn't).]]>Apr 16th 2008 3:30PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/Apr 15th 2008 2:10PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/Apr 15th 2008 2:13PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/Apr 15th 2008 4:56PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/Apr 15th 2008 2:15PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/
The sync commercials never really push the focus exclusively, but when someone goes to Ford and says they want a car that has sync, the focus is the most "attractive" option at the almost rock bottom price that is its MSRP.

Coupled with the reactive nature of people to increasing gas prices and dealer incentives and you have a car with a decent personality that is also a cheap date.

Let's just hope that they don't also suffer from the morning after guilt of owning such an ugly car.]]>Apr 15th 2008 2:18PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/
The Interior/Exterior is nowhere near as nice as the 2000-2001 Focus, which is a shame for such a good driving car.]]>Apr 15th 2008 2:20PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/Apr 15th 2008 2:20PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/Apr 15th 2008 2:33PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/
I wouldn't wish a Focus on my worst enemy. ]]>Apr 15th 2008 2:37PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/
Last time I made myself aware, Ford only owns 30% of Mazda.

So Ford wins 30% of the time with Mazda and loses ??% with the Focus? I don't think that's such a hot strategy.]]>Apr 15th 2008 2:57PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/Apr 15th 2008 3:05PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/it-has-a-nice-personality-ford-boosts-focus-production-by-30-t/
Ford is stupid. Selling Jag, Rover, Aston, and probably soon Mazda. I remember doing something similar with alot of my belongings after I lost some money in stocks.

I probably should have kept the stuff and worked at finding an avenue to make more money. Change the thinking... not the circumstances.]]>Apr 15th 2008 6:32PM