Ford: European Focus to return to the US; other future product plans revealed
Yesterday, Ford candidly announced a second-quarter loss of $8.7 billion (ouch), and outlined some of their future product plans -- including the return of the European Focus to the US. For those not familiar, the original (1999) Focus was pretty much identical to the one developed for Europe (unlike its predecessor, the Escort, which was always built in unique versions for Europe and North America). Europe got an all-new Focus in 2005, while we got watered-down styling and then a mostly-new Focus based on the old platform. Ford says that the next-generation Focus, due out in 2010, will be the same on both sides of the Atlantic. And yes, we'll be getting the hatchback as well as the sedan. Other tidbits revealed by the company:
- Updated Ford Fusion, Mercury Mariner and Lincoln MKZ due in early 2009 (as 2010 models)
- Fusion and Milan hybrids due early 2009 (as 2010 models)
- Subcompact Ford Fiesta arrives in early 2010
- New Mustang arrives in early 2009 (presumably as a 2010 model)
- New Ford Taurus scheduled for mid-2009
- Mercury gets a new small car in 2010
- Next-generation Ford Explorer coming in 2010
- A new European-sourced "whitespace" model coming in 2010 (oh please, please, please let it be the S-Max, or at least the C-Max!)
Also coming in 2009: The first application of Ford's EcoBoost V6, a turbocharged direct-injection gasoline engine that will find its way into the Lincoln MKS and Ford Taurus. An Ecoboost 4-cylinder is also on the way. -- Aaron Gold
Related:
Photo © Ford Motor Co.
Comments
Bringing the European Focus here is a terrific idea whose time came years ago. I can only hope that Ford sticks with this plan. Give Americans fun stuff to drive and they’ll wonder why they ever got hooked on big, ponderous trucks and SUV’s.
Having been able to go back and forth to Europe for a couple of decades I’ve been grumbling to myself about this very issue. Why doesn’t Ford and GM bring some of their European products to the States? Ford has a lot of good looking and well selling product in Europe and GM has some as well. Why has it taken so long to do the obvious?
We all knew that the cash cow big vehicles were going to tank at some point and the sales bubble would burst.
The long range corporate planners that the OEM’s use simply had to have seen this coming. If they didn’t they were asleep at the switch.
It’s no long a matter of “it’s about time” when referring to the European model options, it’s overdue at this point.
At least one company is doing something about it.
Nice job Ford. I’m looking forward to seeing the new products on the lots and streets of the U.S.
I thought that Ford brought the EU Focus the the US they just called it the Mazda 3
Yea I would like to see more European style cars in the US but for some reason most people in the US have a problem with hatchbacks.
Agree with comments above. Lets get the euro focus and Mondeo over here and Ford should do very well. I rented a diesel Cmax over there and was a great car to drive
Hey Bob, et al — I’ve had this discussion a lot, and actually Ford has brought European products over here for years — Fiesta, Countour (aka Mondeo), Merkur XR4Ti and Scorpio, Mercury Cougar. Americans just don’t like the same type of car that Europeans do… or at least they didn’t when gas was cheap. Toyota, Nissan, Honda and now Mazda all field different mid-size cars over here than they do over there, and give their small cars different engines. Europeans love small hatchbacks; we love sedans. Then again, maybe all that will change with gas prices where they are…
Aaron: agree with the notion that Ford has fielded European stuff here, sort of. The main difference is that they have a tendency to dumb down the handling and cheap out the interiors when they do so. The Contour and Mystique died just because of this.
This is something I’ve been interested in for a long time. I’ve tried finding out info but it seems hard to do for some reason. Lack of knowing where to look is it I’m sure.
Question #1: Does Europe has stricker safety standards then the U.S.? What has to change to bring a car over here from Europe? What has to change as far as the crash test results and the general physical workings of a car? I’ve heard that safety standards are tougher in the U.S. and I’ve heard that in Germany the attitude towards safety and driver skill level is much greater than it is here in the states. What with the Autoban and all, cars have to be able to withstand general driving at high speed and high impact crashes and drivers have to be able to pass a much more stringent driving test. I don’t think both rumors can be right.
Question #2: Why is the gas mileage better over there? Take the Mondeo for instance, I was looking at them two years ago and marveling at the impressive gas mileage they get vs the models that are sold here. ( http://is.gd/153z ) I just don’t get it. Why have they been able to have midsized cars over there that get an all around mileage of 40mpg for a midsize car with a gas engine and we get what apears to be mostly the same car, size wise, and it gets 25mpg. If you look at the specs, those cars over there also get a top speed over a hundred without any issue. Am I missreading or missunderstanding something?
Aaron, I would find it extreemly interesting if you could take a current European model and follow it’s evolution from being sold in Europe to being sold in the U.S.. Track exactly what changes are made to the weight, physical size and any changes made to the engine and transmission. Which changes are made to conform to U.S. standards and which changes are made just to conform to the taste of U.S. citizens. I think that would be very intersting.
Jimmy –
As far as I know, safety standards in the US are more strict. Also, our emissions standards are tougher. But the Germans (and other European countries) do have a different attitude about safety. Drivers are very well trained and much more disciplined — and it costs a lot of $$ to get your driver’s license. Compared to Europe, driver education in the US is a joke.
Re, gas mileage: British MPG figures will always be higher because they use the imperial gallon, which is larger than the American gallon. Also, their fuel economy figures are (if memory serves) measured for city cycle, constant 50 (55?) miles per hour, and constant 70 MPH figures. (the 50/55 MPH figures are particularly insane.) Also, European cars are generally available with smaller engines. For example, back in the early 90s, we got the Contour with a 2.0 liter engine or a 3.0 V6. But in Europe, it was available with a 1.6, a 1.8, a 2.0 and a turbodiesel, all with manual transmissions. When I worked at _What Car?_ Magazine in the UK, the best selling car in Britain was the Escort, available (if memory serves) with a 1.1, 1.4, 1.6 and hot-rod 1.8 liter gas engines and a (lousy) turbodiesel — and you couldn’t get an automatic.
Oh, I see. By cracky you hit most of my questions with one swoop. Thank you very much. Info like this helps keep things in perspective.
Aaron, the two pictures of the Focuses are somewhat different. The front-end styling is more up to date on the orange one you have next to the story (vs. the blue one). Plus it has much nicer wheels. So is it a picture of the 2010 model? What are some specs on this car? I know I’m asking for a mini review of a car that isn’t even sold yet
but I’m interested in this one because it’s a good looking car and a hatchback–which I like.
Mike, the orange car is the the current European-spec Focus. I can’t focus on it because I haven’t driven it, but you can read all the press material here. — Aaron
Just what we need…more hatchbacks. Am I the only American who likes a sedan or two-door coupe with an actual trunk that has some actual room in it? Sorry, but I haven’t seen a small hatchback car yet that will carry any significant amount of cargo in the rear cargo area with the back seats in the up position. I have two kids who are still in car seats. I need a trunk.
Seems Mustang is going to stay the same. Major change is option of glass roof, available for both 6 & 8 cylinder models.
Thanks Aaron.
Eric, I’d say that there are few hatchback choices precisely because so many Americans see things exactly the way you do. So be at ease. The big boot-ay is alive and well. A few more choices for those of us who like hatchbacks shouldn’t necessarily put a dent in the number of choices available to the ones who don’t.
If you want to take a look at the current Euro Focus go to http://www.ford.com.mx or if you live in southern US go to any Ford dealer in México and ask for a test drive, the latest facelift made the car look very sharp and the RS version is awesome, fully loaded with leather Recaro seats and special turbo engine. Very sleek and drives like a dream.
Dude, that orange Focus is hot as heck. Eric (12), I’m sorry you don’t like hatches, but I find hatches to be the most family friendly design. Even over wagons. If I was a single dude, I’d SO look at the Volvo C30. Another hot hatch.
I remember the Merkurs that Aaron mentioned came here and while I never drove ‘em (too young… as far as you know), their interiors were just cheap feeling.
I’ve got a 2002 Focus ZX3 myself. Great running car. I wish that the new European version was here already.
But, I kinda agree with Ford’s assertion that the new model is too expensive to sell stateside. Go to http://www.ford.co.uk and configure a Focus for yourself. After you do so multiply the price by two….thats the price in US dollars.
I can’t wait for more hatchback choices. I hope that whatever comes in that they’re larger than the Fit, and get better mileage. Why can’t someone make a compact hatchback that will get at least 30 mph in the city, and would not be so small and light that is get jossled on the highway? How do they do it in Europe where they drive much faster? Thank goodness I don’t have to buy a car today; I’m not too thrilled with our choices here in the States. BTW, I’m driving a 1999 Mazda Protege LX with 120,995 miles. My car has a 1.6 l engine, and it’s plenty peppy. While I drive a sedan, I’d love to get back to a hatchback, but it don’t want a car that drives like an econobox-casket on wheels. I’m waiting to at least 2010 before I replace my car.
Ford, bring back the little Ford Norway Electric to the US, and let us have, at least, one all electric car. Yes, I mean the Ford Norway that was banished back to scandinavia when the EV-1s were taken to the desert and chopped up.
Teacher.
Mother.
Detroiter.
I can’t live with my Fusion for two more years! If the Escape’s MPG doesn’t improve, I want my Focus four-door hatchback sooner than 2010. It’s a disappointing timeline.