Autoblog

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2008 Ford Focus SES Coupe

We'll admit it. We didn't think sales of the 2008 Ford Focus would take off like they have, even after we had a 2008 Focus SES Coupe in the Autoblog Garage and for the most part liked it. The redesign for 2008 just left a bad taste in our mouths, and we didn't think anyone would fall for those garish fender vents. For whatever reason, be it the car's smooth ride, competitive pricing or exclusive availability of the SYNC system, the 2008 Focus is selling like crazy. Ford says that it sold 49,070 Focuses this year through March alone, which is up 23 percent compared to last year. More importantly, all of those additional Focus sales were to retail customers, not fleets. Last year the Blue Oval built 191,000 Focuses, but today it has announced that production will be ramped up at its Wayne Stamping and Assembly Plant so that 245,000 units can be built in 2008.

For comparison's sake, Toyota sold 371,390 Corollas in 2007, while Honda sold 331,095 Civics and Chevy sold 200,620 Cobalts. The Corolla and Civic are both handily outselling their domestic competition so far this year, but the Focus is now slightly ahead of the Cobalt, which sold 48,024 units through March.


[Source: Ford]

Autocar claims to have the skinny on Ford's new Focus RS that may debut as soon as this summer's London Motor Show. The new Focus RS will get all the updates seen on the 2008 Ford Focus in Europe, which means it will combine the standard car's new Kinetic Design styling cues with big intakes, flares and a serious dose of attitude as seen above in the teaser image released last month. Autocar claims the new RS will be powered by the same 2.5L five-cylinder turbo from the Focus ST, but with modified pistons, cams and valve springs, a bigger turbo and a larger intercooler, all of which will bump power up from 222bhp to an impressive 280bhp. Autocar has also confirmed that power will be sent to the front wheels alone, but claims Ford has a new electronic front differential to keep the car steady under power. What transmission will be offered is still up in the air, with Volvo's new six-speed PowerShift dual-clutch gearbox still being considered.

The new Focus RS should be able to reach 60 mph in under six seconds without breaking a sweat, but its top speed will likely be governed to 155 mph. Projected pricing of around £25,000 is aimed squarely at the Volkswagen R32 in Europe, though the new Mitsubishi EVO X and Subaru Impreza STI are also in the car's crosshairs. We're happy for our European brethren that the new Focus RS sounds every bit as good as advertised, and continue to patiently wait until Ford's plan of integrating platforms on a global scale delivers unto us a worthy successor to the late, great Focus SVT.

[Source: Autocar]

click above image to view high-res gallery of the 2008 Ford Focus SES Coupe

A car's design is simply a composite of curves, creases and kinks. A good design will elicit an emotion that urges people to buy the car. The affected just have to have it, often blind to any faults the car may exhibit by the way it makes them feel. The design of the 2008 Ford Focus makes us feel an emotion, too. Unfortunately, it's pity.

We honestly feel bad for the latest iteration of Ford's small car. We fear that its strengths will go largely unnoticed on account of a few bad design choices. Of course, we're speaking of the redesigned front end and those fauxest of faux fender vents. It isn't fair to judge a book by its cover alone, or in this case a car by its design, but a bad first impression is difficult to overcome. Ford has made a lot of improvements to the Focus for 2008, but will anyone notice? Follow the jump to find out.


Live photos Copyright ©2007 John Neff / Weblogs, Inc.

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]

Click the image above for more shots of the 2008 Ford Focus.

The pure, unadulterated loathing of the redesigned Focus has apparently been heard by FoMoCo execs, and according to Automotive News, a move began in late August that attempted to smooth out the 2008 model's rough edges. The styling revisions include the replacement of the show car's square fog lights with round units; black door handles instead of chrome; aluminum trim on the instrument panel in lieu of shiny inserts; a mesh cover that cured the gaping opening in the grille; white-on-black seats that allow for more contrast and carry over styling cues from the Fusion and Mustang; plus more chrome on the vents and gearshift knob.

This is a highly unusual move by an automaker to garner favor with the public, but considering the outcry heard from both consumers and media alike, it's not much of a surprise. Although we can commend Ford for its efforts (and expenditure), we doubt that these kind of subtle tweaks are going to change public perception about a model in need of much more than a nose job and some botox.

[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]

click above image to view gallery of the 2008 Ford Focus

Styling aside, the 2008 Ford Focus is a better car than the one it replaces, and Ford announced today that its pricing will begin under $15,000. For 2008, the Focus S Coupe will start at $14,695 and the Focus S sedan at $14,995. Up-level models like the Focus SE coupe and sedan will add $1,000 to those base prices, while the top shelf SES models that come with Ford's new SYNC technology standard (normally a $395 option), start at $16,695 and $16,995 for the coupe and sedan, respectively. All of these prices include a $620 destination charge, mind you.

Comparing those prices to the 2007 Focus lineup is difficult, since the less expensive hatchback, which had a base MSRP of $13,715 in 2007 (not including destination), has been replaced by the new coupe body style. The sedan's base price, however, has increased from $14,040 in 2007, or $14,660 including destination charges.

As we said earlier, anyone considering the new Focus will likely need to put its styling aside and focus (ahem) on the car's new strong points. Chief among them is the availability of Ford's new mobile connectivity setup developed with Microsoft called SYNC. The new Focus is also 30 pounds lighter accord to Ford, is 10% quieter and produces 3% more horsepower from its 2.0L Duratec four-cylinder. The interior is also much improved, at least design-wise, over the old car, and now comes available with ambient lighting. Is it all enough to overcome the new car's oddball design, fake fender vents and all? We're waiting to get one in the Autoblog Garage to answer just that.

[Source: Ford]

click above image to view full high-res gallery of the new European Ford Focus

Ford of Europe's Executive Designerer Martin Smith has seen his "Kinetic" design language sweep across the company's product line ever since it debuted on the Iosis Concept two years ago in this very city. That design has finally reached the Focus, which will soon be wearing new "Kinetic" design cues like its siblings the Mondeo, S-Max and many others. What this means is a new front end with Iosis-inspired headlights, a larger lower air intake and more sculpted hood. From our perspective on the show floor, it looks fantastic. Normally you can tell when a car receives a mid-cycle enhancement; it's just obvious the new design cues weren't part of the original plan. The new Focus, however, looks whole, like it was meant to look this way from Day 1.

The Focus also gets a new interior that appears significantly upgraded in both design and the materials used to make it. But that's not all, just like with the Dodge Journey, the new Euro Ford Focus will also be available with a six-speed double-clutch transmission when ordered with the 2.0L Duratorq TDCi diesel engine that produces 134 HP.

Finally, Ford also revealed the Focus Econetic (it's the blue Focus in the gallery), which is basically for customers who want a Focus but also desire driving a greener car. Using off-the-shelf technology, Ford has managed to engineer the Focus Econetic to emit 115 grams/kilometer of CO2. It's powered by a squeaky clean 1.6L Duratorq TDCi diesel producing 107 HP and exhaling through a diesel particulate filter.

We would rather be tasked with reversing the downward tug of gravity than take on the ad account for the 2008 Ford Focus. The Blue Oval has announced that the account may not be handled by its usual agency, JWT Detroit, and that it's searching for a brave new agency to take on the daunting task of selling the redesigned Focus. JWT Detroit will bid for the account, but sources say Ford would like at least two outside agencies with fresh ideas to also compete for the job.

We were harsh on the 2008 Ford Focus mainly because the car's new styling leaves a lot to be desired. To be blunt, the designers turned the attractive styling of the original Focus that had survived a couple evolutions into a mess of creases, curves and fake vender vents the likes of which we haven't seen since the Saturn ION first arrived. Nevertheless, the new Focus will be significantly lighter than the outgoing model, which should help handling and fuel ecomony; the new SYNC interface developed with Microsoft is supposedly a serious piece of tech; and a coupe body style is being offered in place of the three- and five-door hatchback.

So the 2008 Ford Focus does have positive attributes on which an ad agency can focus its campaign. Nevertheless, it still looks the way it does, which any ad agency worth its weight in pop up ads knows will be extremely difficult to sell.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]