The new Focus, which we don't get here, except as a Mazda or Volvo. For 2005, the world got a new Ford Focus and platform called C-1, the world that is except the United States(North American market) and it was rumored China. The most common reason I had heard for the exception in the US market, was cost. It was said in order to keep the US Focus profitable they would just freshen the Focus sheetmetal and dashboard. I like many accepted this explination.
But over the last few months I've been bombarded with news of how great the new Focus is and how well recieved it is in Europe. Now the Focus is a big deal for Ford around the world. Here it is seen as a compact car, Ford's entry level vehicle. But elsewhere, this is Ford's bread and butter.
Now it should not be news to anyone who reads the automotive press and various web sources for automotive news, that the new platform C-1 is shared with Ford partners including Volvo and Mazda. That is currently the only way to experience the C-1 platform in the US. As the Volvo S-40/V-50 and Mazda 3. This platform is considered so good in fact that a stretched version called C-Plus will underpin more Ford and partner vehicles in Europe, these partners shunning the already larger CD-3 platform that is the basis for the Mazda 6 and it's clones (Fusion, Milan, Zephyr, CrosSport, Aviator and possibly Fairlane) in favor of the C-Plus.
The C-Plus will be expanded into Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles over the next few years.
The Mazda 3 and Volvo S-40/V-50 have recieved praise for their new chassis and are selling well in their respective market segment.
And now with news that Ford will sell the all new Focus in China (building a plant there for the purpose) I can no longer accept this hollow excuse for Ford not bringing this chassis to the US (North American) market.
Ford's own press releases for the Fusion, speak of how important that car is, saying that they loose 10,000 Focus buyers to foreign competitors because they don't have the propper Mid-size car for them to move up to. While this may be true, I wonder how many people are not buying the Focus because it has become stale?
The Mazda 3 is selling well and is not upmarket from a Focus, how can Ford sell this at a profit and not a new Focus? I'm not buying the excuse any longer.
Ford doesn't seem to be trying in some of their segments. I've talked before about how they have abandoned the Ranger and it's lucrative compact/mid-size market. They let the Taurus become so bland and unappealing to the point that they needed two replacements for it and had to retire the name. Could the same thing happen to the Focus here?
Ford needs to wake up and smell the coffee, it's not just trucks and SUVs that keep a company going. The Focus had done a great deal for Ford around the world. And with the new Chevy Cobalt and a new Honda Civic coming soon, is Ford going to throw in the towel in the compact market like they have in the compact truck and how they unintentionally did in the mid-size sedan market?
The Fusion is a make or break car for them this is true, but they need to work across the brand to have inovative fresh product. This new Focus should be available in the US as a Ford.
It's bad enough that the new Ford Focus Vignale will only come here as the new Volvo C-40. What is Ford thinking?
And now with the demise of the SVT Focus, Ford has abandoned the "Hot Hatch" segment. GM has the new Cobalt SS Superchared and Saturn Ion Redline, Honda of course has the Civic Si and a rumored Coupe version on the way. The Dodge SRT/4 is coming to the end of it's life, but I'm sure Dodge will have a high performance version of it's replacement the Caliber. Ford's best performer is the 150 hp Focus going against 170 for the Civic, 205 For the Chevy and Saturn and 230 for the dodge. I almost forgot the 227 hp Subaru WRX and it's 300hp STI variant.
The Focus even without the SVT was the darling of the Tuner world. Now it is overshadowed by many especially GM's Cobalt/Ion twins. In Europe there is speculation of an all wheel drive 320 hp Focus RS coming soon. That car could spank the WRS STI and the Mitsu Evo. Why can't we get this? Price, the WRX and EVO are over $30,000 each so the RS could be priced in a profitable range. Is it because Ford doesn't want a Focus with more power than the Mustang GT? Give the Mustang more power.
Ford could dominate the Compact segment with this new C-1 Focus. Bring it here now!!!!!
5 comments:
If you get it here as a Mazda or Volvo, then don't you get it here?
Yes, but not as a Ford, which had a larger share of the market. Mazda did not sell as many 323/Protoges as Ford sold Focus.
The Focus was a promising car and sold well. Did a lot to help us forget the Escort.
Ford needs the boost in this market segment, that selling the new Focus could give it. And the halo effect of an SVT or RS Focus with 320 hp wouldn't hurt either.
I suspect the problem is cost--the Focus is a family car in Europe, not a n entry level car like in the U.S. Priced as a Volvo or a Mazda3, it may be profitable, but priced as a Ford, and built in the US, (Hermisillo is now building Fusion, all Focuses are built in MI) it may not be easy to do.
I only hope that Ford does not think of importing Focus from China or Russia. That would be a tough one for the consumers to swallow.
Isn't the Mazda 3 priced below a Focus?
mazda 3 4 dr stripper is apx 1200 above base for focus. Mazda has more standard features and style.
Ford should bring the "new" Focus to the US . I agree that Ford seems to have given up on many fronts. I am still hopeful that there is Hope around the corner. Maybe, dare I say , A real RWD sedan that can compete with the european and japanese import Mid Lux sedans. and give Chrysler some competition for The LX platform. Just keeping hope alive.
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