Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 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 http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1351308/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/10/24/ford-adds-focus-zetec-s-model-in-europe-they-can-keep-this-on/1351308/article-detail.xml 1351308 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/10/231008-a-for_opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/10/231008-a-for_opt.jpg <![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 http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1295451/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/08/26/ford-investing-75m-to-switch-michigan-truck-plant-from-trucks-t/1295451/article-detail.xml 1295451 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/09/000_frank_focus2_opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/09/000_frank_focus2_opt.jpg <![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.

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