Autoblog

Rumormill: Ford Focus Coupe concept on the way

Zach Bowman — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Ford, Rumormill

It sounds like the new Ford Focus lineup is poised to get a little sexier. AutoExpress is reporting that the Blue Oval intends to release a concept coupe version of the newly reworked hatch. Designed to replace the old three-door model elsewhere on the globe, the low-slung ride will take cues from both the Focus ST and ever lust worthy old-school European Capri. The new design is supposedly set to take the stage at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show, meaning that if it makes its way to production, there's a good chance that American buyers will be able to pick one up.

Details are scarce at the moment, but one unnamed insider says that the design is both lower and wider than the Focus that we've seen so far. Otherwise, AutoExpress is speculating that the vehicle will use FoMoCo's powerful 2.0-liter Ecoboost four-cylinder engine with 247 horsepower. If that's true, the car should see 0-60 mph runs in the six-second range. Sounds good to us.

With the 2011 Detroit Auto Show right around the corner, we'll find out soon exactly what Ford has planned for compact fighter.

[Source: AutoExpress]

Rumormill: Ford Focus Coupe concept on the way originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Next Ford Focus to be built exclusively in Europe?

Chris Paukert — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Budget, Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Hatchback, Ford

2009 Ford Iosis Max concept - click above for high-res gallery

Since it first came to the market in 2000, Ford's Focus has been consistently lauded for its crisp "European handling," and thanks to a Ford of Europe press release yesterday, that bromide sounded like it was about to become truer than ever. The release in question announced that the next all-new Focus is to be sourced from a single location - the Blue Oval's Saarlouis Plant in Germany. Quite understandably, that proclamation caused a bit of consternation here in the States, with some news outlets reporting that North American Focus models will also originate from the German facility. Not so.

Autoblog spoke with Lincoln, Mercury communications manager Mark Schirmer this morning (despite his title, Schirmer has been tasked with preparing for the U.S. launch of the 2010 car) and he has re-confirmed that all North American Focus models will originate from a freshly renovated Wayne Assembly Plant in Michigan (something that Ford officials initially promised back in May).

The intention of FoE's confusingly worded statement was to note that Saarlouis is to be the single point of origin for all European Focus models. In addition to Saarlouis and Wayne, Ford will also likely produce the next Focus at a plant somewhere in Asia, but a location announcement has not yet been made.

Gallery: Ford iosis MAX Concept

Next Ford Focus to be built exclusively in Europe? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rendered Speculation: Ford's next Euro Focus to spawn Scirocco-fighting coupe

Noah Joseph — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 15:07:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Hatchback, Ford, Rendered Speculation

Having driven the current European Focus in sporty ST trim and with the even hotter RS version rolling off the assembly line, we can tell you that our friends across the Atlantic have one fine-handling hatchback on their hands. And for the next generation, Ford is planning to give the Focus the styling and rakish profile its chassis deserves.

The next Focus, which we hope will replace the American version as well, will spawn several body-styles. First up to bat will be the C-Max minivan, but while the standard five-door will continue as the mainstay model, a new coupe variant is also in the works. Following the lead of Volkswagen, whose Scirocco cuts a sleeker profile than the Golf/Rabbit on which it's based, and Renault, whose new Megane looks startlingly different in coupe and five-door guises, the Focus coupe will feature a sportier shape while retaining usability. You can bet the design for the new Focus range will follow the cues set down by the Fiesta (which we also drove in Europe), with the coupe adopting more pronounced wheel arches, a higher beltline, angled C-pillars, a sloping tail and sporty aero bits. Inside, the cabin will benefit from a complete redesign, with a central controller that we hope works better than BMW's iDrive. Bank on a lineup of gasoline and diesel engines ranging from 89 horsepower all the way up to 197 ponies. The next-generation ST and RS should up the ante even further. Expect to see the Focus coupe debut later next year, with other variants to follow. We hope and pray Dearborn follows the One Ford plan and brings its best hatchbacks home. Thanks for the tip, Colin!

[Source: Auto Express]

Rendered Speculation: Ford's next Euro Focus to spawn Scirocco-fighting coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 08 Feb 2009 15:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford to retool U.S. plant for European vehicles

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Budget, Sedan, Europe, Plants/Manufacturing, Hatchback, Ford, UK

We wrote about it earlier, just as a rumor, but it looks like an announcement is imminent: the Wall Street Journal says that Ford is going to make European cars on this side of the pond. However, it isn't merely North American plants that will be changed over, but American plants. The Journal doesn't give any further indication of where those plants might be or what those cars might be, only saying that the strategy could be revealed during Ford's Q2 earnings announcement this Thursday. But we'll say again: come on, Mondeo! (And Focus and Focus Coupe and Ka and...)

[Source: Automotive News, sub req'd]

Ford to retool U.S. plant for European vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tweaked 2009 Ford Focus Coupe debuts

John Neff — Tue, 13 May 2008 01:30:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Ford

Click above for high-res gallery of 2009 Ford Focus Coupe

We do not consider ourselves experts on the buying habits of small car shoppers anymore, not after watching the redesigned 2008 Ford Focus streak to extremely strong sales despite sporting what we considered to be deal breaker bad looks. You can credit the car's success to good marketing, exclusive availability of SYNC, a big car ride with small car fuel economy, whatever... regardless, the Focus is selling better than it has since the car first debuted in 2000.

Ford has heard all the criticism thrown at the 2008 Focus for its electric shaver looks, and in a very unusual move has solicited feedback from Focus fans and tweaked only the Coupe for 2009 and not the Sedan. The newish 2009 Focus Coupe features a front end with a larger lower air intake that's supposedly inspired by the new Fiesta, and those garish faux fender vents are now completely gone (hopefully the sedan gets stripped of these, too). The flanking foglamps are also now better integrated into the body and the two-bar grille and other accents feature a dark, almost bronzed look rather than bright chrome. There are also new Dark Chrome 17-inch aluminum wheels and a roof-mounted spoiler, both standard on the top-shelf SES Coupe in addition to electronic stability control and SYNC, that make the Focus look more sporty than before. The overall effect of these changes reminds us of the last-generation SVT Focus Euro package. You can make up your own minds and let us know in the comments.

Though the Focus SVT is surely not returning, Ford did give the new coupe a new freer-breathing exhaust on models equipped with the five-speed manual to free up some horsepower, and also added a new 4.2 final drive ratio to make off-the-line acceleration a bit quicker. The 2009 Ford Focus Coupe will have a base MSRP of $15,920 when it goes on sale in late Summer, and you can check it out later tonight when Ford officially debuts it in a video on American Idol. We want to hear what supercar collector has to say about the new look Focus Coupe. Is it a Clay Aiken or a William Hung?

Gallery: 2009 Ford Focus Coupe

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Tweaked 2009 Ford Focus Coupe debuts

Tweaked 2009 Ford Focus Coupe debuts originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 May 2008 01:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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