REPORT: 10 Ford Focus variants coming to the U.S.
Ford C-Max – Click above for high-res image gallery
While the first-generation Ford Focus certainly had its faults, it was also ahead of its time, with engaging driving dynamics and a ton of different variations. You could get a Focus sedan, a three- or five-door hatch and even a wagon. For a few years there was even a high-revving SVT Focus (those were the days). While the current Focus is relegated to only sedan and coupe variants, the 2011 Focus will reportedly have a lot more options from which to choose.
Car and Driver recently sat down with Ford marketing chief Jim Farley, and when the subject of the Blue Oval's long awaited next-gen global Focus came up, Black Sheep's first cousin came up with the number 10. That's 10 as in the number of Focus variants we might expect here in the U.S. While Farley didn't go too far into which Focus variants will be available here, the list isn't difficult to guess.
One vehicle that we know has been given the green light for sale here in the U.S. is the Focus C-Max and Grand C-Max minivan, which will come in five- and seven-seat variations. Then there's the sedan and coupe, three- and five-door hatch, the promised Electric Focus, the Kuga crossover and possibly Lincoln and Mercury versions that will utilize Ford's global C-Segment platform. The next couple of years will be pretty interesting for Ford as it finally gets serious about small cars here in the U.S. With 10 Focus-based vehicles and an excellent new Fiesta, customers will finally have some solid small car choices from which to choose. The new Focus we've all been waiting for should make its global debut at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show in January, so stay tuned.
Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Ford C-Max
[Source: Car and Driver]
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
P.V. 12:51PM (11/14/2009)
Awesome. This means that Ford really is committed to the small-car market in the US.
Reply
AutoCritical 2:08AM (11/15/2009)
Not just being committed to their small car market, but having a great design too - or at least acknowledging that it is very important, will help Ford with variants coming to the US in the future.... On the C-Max specifically, it would have been nice if a similar drama in the Fiesta would have come through in this model - I managed to quickly outline some details here http://bit.ly/33Vedq
Lucas 12:51PM (11/14/2009)
AWD badass 3 and 5 door hatch, please.
Reply
Bobcat 2:51PM (11/14/2009)
+1
Chibi Chaingun - blackhivemedia.com 3:42PM (11/14/2009)
Give. Me. 2. Doors.
fmwso 7:02PM (11/14/2009)
Amen. I'd take the 3 door hatch.
RockStoneSteel 12:54PM (11/14/2009)
Does this perhaps mean that Ford will step into the 21st century and offer 4 wheel disc brakes on the Focus? With any luck in the next decade or so, the Escape will be offered with four discs.
Reply
That One Person 2:00PM (11/14/2009)
Even as a Ford fan I find that to be pretty funny. I'm glad I bought my 05 ST (N/A version)...no freaking drums on that thing.
Heck, Ford did offer disc brakes on the Escape (even the non hybrid versions) at one point.
Arkz 1:39PM (11/14/2009)
Are you serious? Some cars still don't have disc brakes on all four wheels? I mean, I bought a third-hand Audi A4 (2004) which had four disc brakes, so I assumed that by now, all cars would have them. I think it should be made into a law to have disc brakes on all wheels. (Sorry if I seem a little lacking in my vocabulary department, I just had a little TOO much to drink)
Dan Mosqueda 1:50PM (11/14/2009)
My 2006 Focus ZX4 ST has 4 wheel disc brakes. I think my past ZTS had them too, as did my 1991 Escort GT.
That One Person 2:01PM (11/14/2009)
Dan...the only American Focii that had disc brakes were the SVT and ST (love mine). But I find it funny that the lowly ESCORT had them at one point.
EXP Jawa 2:02PM (11/14/2009)
Actually, the Focus SVT & ST, the 2nd gen Escort GT and the ZX2 S/R are the only small (North American) Fords ever to have actually come with rear discs. None of the mainstream versions of the Escort or Focus has had them here to date.
fixitfixitstop 2:06PM (11/14/2009)
Many Toyotas have rear drums.
nardvark 2:06PM (11/14/2009)
Not the only cars that have drums on the rear. It's light enough that it doesn't need 4 discs. Most of the brake force is on the front wheels. They have to put a drum assembly on the rear wheels anyways for the parking brake, so if you can save your customers in this cost-sensitive segment money, I don't see a problem with it. It's not a safety issue.
Dan Mosqueda 5:56PM (11/14/2009)
I was lucky to have the only small Fords with 4-wheel disc brakes!
Judy Zik 10:46PM (11/14/2009)
What are you talking about? Except for the top trims Honda Civics, Hyundai Elantras and Toyota Corollas all have rear drums. These are small cars. They don't need 4 wheel discs to stop them.
Matt (that likes ford) 11:00PM (11/14/2009)
The 2009 Silverado 1500 doesn't even have 4-wheel disc brakes standard either. On the other hand, Ford has had 4-wheel disc on eery F-150 since 1998... Juust some food for thought.
Michael 11:21PM (11/14/2009)
I had a 2001 ZX3 Power Premium that had AdvanceTrak traction control... it was fully loaded with the exception being I had a manual transmission... oh and it had four wheel disc brakes standard. It was rare, but do some research, there were four wheel disc brakes available on the ZX3 (not sure of others) before the SVT came out.
RockStoneSteel 8:26PM (11/15/2009)
Wow, I'm surprised at how many replies my post received. And my intention wasn't to simply pick on Ford for its dereliction in duty, because yes, I know many other brands, including Toyota and Honda also still use drum brakes. Interesting how we look to the Japanese brands as standard bearers. Just imagine the bragging rights any company could have if they were the first to use 4 wheel discs, or perhaps even fully independent suspensions on ALL of their "non-premium" vehicles. Yes, one can argue that drum brakes are "adequate" on the back, but likewise, you could argue they are similarly adequate on front, as was the case not so many decades ago. The suspension and braking refinements should continue across all sizes of vehicles. Discs are simply easier to work on, more effective, easier to inspect, better fade resistance, etc. Fact is, I won't buy a car of any size, if it doesn't have 4 wheel discs, ABS, and a fully independent suspension. And yes, that rules out most of the small Fords, Chevy's, Fiats, Toyotas, and even the Honda Fit and Insight. I want refinement more than I want "cheap".
Praeliber 12:55PM (11/14/2009)
Lets hope american buyers will see the car it will actually be and buy it. The first gen was awesome, but low sale figures in the great US of A land us the slopy second gen we have right now. I'm sure canadian buyers will buy even more of hem than the first gen thought!
Reply