Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Ford adds Focus Zetec S model in Europe... they can keep this one]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/24/ford-adds-focus-zetec-s-model-in-europe-they-can-keep-this-on/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/24/ford-adds-focus-zetec-s-model-in-europe-they-can-keep-this-on/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/24/ford-adds-focus-zetec-s-model-in-europe-they-can-keep-this-on/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the Ford Focus Zetec S

We're still ga-ga over the C1 Focus, but this one's moving the needle on the "meh"-o-meter. The Focus Zetec S is badged up and body-kitted, but otherwise a standard-issue Focus Zetec. Actually, while it's no RS, the Zetec and Zetec S are fine little cars offering a wide choice of powertrains in three- or five-door body styles that we'd be plenty pleased to cruise around in. Maybe we'd skip the optional WRC Pack that adds checkered flag decals to the rear quarter panels, but the 18-inch wheels in the Sport Pack might get our dollar...er, Euro. The S package is a pretty good deal, bundling a bunch of optional stuff together for less than half the price of selecting each item separately. While the Focus Zetec S is mostly a poseur, it's a far more attractive option, albeit one we cannot choose, than our solid-but-aged (not to mention strange looking) U.S. Focus. Follow the jump for Ford UK's press release and check out more angles in the gallery below.

Gallery: Ford Focus Zetec S


[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford adds Focus Zetec S model in Europe... they can keep this one

Ford adds Focus Zetec S model in Europe... they can keep this one originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Oct 2008 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>euro focuseuro focus confirmedeuro fordeuro ford focuseuro fordsEuroFocusEuroFocusConfirmedEuroFordEuroFordFocusEuroFordsford euro focusford focusford focus rsford focus zetecford focus zetec sFordEuroFocusFordFocusFordFocusRsFordFocusZetecFordFocusZetecSFri, 24 Oct 2008 10:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Ford investing $75M to switch Michigan Truck plant from trucks to cars]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/26/ford-investing-75m-to-switch-michigan-truck-plant-from-trucks-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/26/ford-investing-75m-to-switch-michigan-truck-plant-from-trucks-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/26/ford-investing-75m-to-switch-michigan-truck-plant-from-trucks-t/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


click above to view more high-res shots of the Euro-Focus

News flash: small cars like the Ford Focus are selling beyond expectations (ours anyway) while trucks and SUVs are sitting on dealer lots much longer than auto manufacturers would like. For this reason, Ford is moving as quickly as possible to switch a few of its truck plants into car plants, including its Michigan Truck plant where behemoth SUVs like the Expedition and Navigator were being built. The switchover is going to cost the automaker since these are not flexible manufacturing facilities, with the first bit of retooling ringing the registers to the tune of $75 million bucks -- and that's just for a new bodyshop. The total cost to retool the plant will be in the hundreds of millions. As they say, it takes money to make money. While the plant is being refurbished, workers will be shuffled to the nearby Wayne plant to build even more Focuses. The best bit of news, though, is that Ford will finally be building its small cars from Europe at its converted truck plant, the ones we've all been asking for since the Euro-Focus got a new platform and we didn't. Not that we're still sour or anything...

Gallery: 2008 Euro Ford Focus


[Source: The Detroit News]

Ford investing $75M to switch Michigan Truck plant from trucks to cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>euro focuseuro fordeuro ford focuseuro fordsEuroFocusEuroFordEuroFordFocusEuroFordseuropean fordeuropean ford focuseuropean fordsEuropeanFordEuropeanFordFocusEuropeanFordsford focusFordFocusmichigan truckMichiganTruckwayne assembly plantwayne plantWayneAssemblyPlantWaynePlantTue, 26 Aug 2008 15:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Mercury rising: Thursday announcement expected to lay out Euro-infused future]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/22/mercury-rising-thursday-announcement-expected-to-lay-out-euro-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/22/mercury-rising-thursday-announcement-expected-to-lay-out-euro-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/22/mercury-rising-thursday-announcement-expected-to-lay-out-euro-i/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Mercury has been languishing over the last several years with badged-engineered products barely distinguishable from their Ford brethren. As the market shifts towards smaller cars with higher fuel efficiency, there may be a golden opportunity for the Mercury brand to actually prove its worth as Ford's outlet for European-designed vehicles for the American market. In a move akin to what General Motors has done with Saturn, importing Opels to the U.S. in an attempt to revive the marque, Ford could bring its highly-desirable Euro-only models to the States badged as Mercurys.

According to unnamed sources, the New York Times is suggesting that Ford will begin manufacturing six Euro-spec models right here in America at plants formerly used to produce F-Series trucks, SUVs and vans. We'll have to wait until this Thursday before any official announcements are made by the Blue Oval, but that gives us some time to speculate on which Kinetic-infused products are on their way. That's what the comments are for -- have at.

[Source: The New York Times]

Mercury rising: Thursday announcement expected to lay out Euro-infused future originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>euro fordeuro fordsEuroFordEuroFordsfordmercuryTue, 22 Jul 2008 12:59:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: This is not how cars are built - Fiesta Love Factory]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/18/video-this-is-not-how-cars-are-built-fiesta-love-factory/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/18/video-this-is-not-how-cars-are-built-fiesta-love-factory/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/18/video-this-is-not-how-cars-are-built-fiesta-love-factory/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



If Willy Wonka made cars, this is what it would look like. The cold, hard reality is that automobiles are ground out like sausages in huge factories that ingest raw materials at one end and spit out shiny metal boxes filled with ticky-tacky at the other end. Marketing's a funny thing, though; building an emotional connection to your product can often lead to sales gold, so Ford's slathering its Fiesta marketing effort in pheromones to make it irresistible to buyers. It's all very trippy and fun, full of primary colors and smiling faces, but the thing is, we already love the Fiesta. They could put Orson Welles out there at his most cantankerous, and that'd be fine. We do dig the creativity, and since it's an entry level car, maybe the target market will be entirely comfortable with the campaign, having just recently graduated from Sesame Street, anyway.

[Source: Fiesta Love Factory via ADRants]

VIDEO: This is not how cars are built - Fiesta Love Factory originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>euro fordEuroFordfiesta love factoryFiestaLoveFactoryford advertisingford fiestaford fiesta advertisingFordAdvertisingFordFiestaFordFiestaAdvertisingFri, 18 Jul 2008 16:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Further proof that future Fords will have Euro flair]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/17/further-proof-that-future-fords-will-have-euro-flair/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/17/further-proof-that-future-fords-will-have-euro-flair/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/17/further-proof-that-future-fords-will-have-euro-flair/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



There has been plenty of support for Ford to bring its rest-of-the-world products to the North American market, and with the truck market doing a Roscoe P. Coltrane E-brake turn away from profitability, the Blue Oval's global efforts are becoming increasingly important for its survival. The plan going forward is to utilize small and medium sized vehicles from Ford's European arsenal globally. In North America, the cars will be spiffy, though Ford will be robbing Peter to pay Paul on that count -- spreading the costs of America's premium cars over the breadth of the entire program's worldwide scope.

According to Automotive News, we're getting a big list of Euro-Ford based cars in the near future. The Fiesta will slot in under the Focus, and will share a new platform with Mazda. Also on the Fiesta's underpinnings could be a small crossover or minivan. The Euro Focus will finally get here in 2011, when the next generation drops. 2012 will bring the C-Max, a Mazda 5-ish people mover. The Fusion moves to the EUCD platform, though we hope it doesn't grow too much, lose its joyous demeanor, or come up short on fuel economy. It looks like Ford's going to try to stack the B, C, and D segments with sedans and MPV-type offerings, as well as seriously tweaking all of its offerings to match the new and looming reality.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub Req]

Further proof that future Fords will have Euro flair originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Jul 2008 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>euro focuseuro fordEuroFocusEuroFordford fiestaford focusford fusionford globalford mondeoford mullalyFordFiestaFordFocusFordFusionFordGlobalFordMondeoFordMullalyglobal platformsGlobalPlatformsThu, 17 Jul 2008 08:27:00 EST