Return of the Focus RS

  • Thread starter Thread starter YSSMAN
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STLbarcelona5
Wonderful. Now Ford, an American car company, gives the European Focus twice as much horsepower than the most powerful American Focus.
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Anyone know any sales figures to compare the US Focus market and the EU Focus market?

I'd reckon on Europe being a wider market, plus they sell them for more and would get a wider profit margin per car?
 
I couldn't find offical figures, but I do know that it has been the best-selling American compact for several years in a row. I think in 2000 and 2001, it was the best selling car worldwide. It has been a pretty big success here in the US, and it is dissapointing that Ford doesn't wish to continue that with a new product.
 
Are you sure, because the new RS isn't out yet, far from it. It hasn't even officially been confirmed yet.
 
There's quite a few modded Focuses around as well. I've seen some strange looking ones that I didn't recognise at all until i took a second look.
 
YSSMAN
On the MKII Focus (addressed to European critics, etc.):

...Ford's "excuse" has been that the car is too "expensive" to bring to the United States as a viable option against it's foreign compeditors. My arguement against that is that Ford needs to be willing to spend money to make money. If they aren't going to atleast try the car here in the US, how will they know if it is too expensive? If they have a compeditive product at fairly compeditive prices, why wouldn't it succeed?
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What is it that makes this Focus so "expensive"? Isn't it made in the same manner as the old one? Or is the Mexican factory too busy (and we all know how great Mexican-made cars are)?

It's no wonder Ford is doing worse and worse. They have no concept of what their market wants. They have no idea what got them to where they are now, no idea what got their competition where they are, and are going in the exact opposite direction they should be. Case in point: a new Civic, every 5 years or so.
 
Sureshot
Anyone know any sales figures to compare the US Focus market and the EU Focus market?

I'd reckon on Europe being a wider market, plus they sell them for more and would get a wider profit margin per car?
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WE'd probably sell more focuses (foci?) here too if we weren't still getting the old model...
 
harrytuttle
What is it that makes this Focus so "expensive"? Isn't it made in the same manner as the old one? Or is the Mexican factory too busy (and we all know how great Mexican-made cars are)?
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They say it is too big and too expensive, with higher production costs and lower profit margins. Added to that, it is another gazillion dollars to convert the Mexico plant over to the new model, and I doubt Ford wants to spend the money.

...The outcry Ford had earlier was that they wouldn't be able to dip below $15K to start, and I suppose that could be a problem, but even then, I'd be looking at a Fit or Rabbit at that price...

It's no wonder Ford is doing worse and worse. They have no concept of what their market wants. They have no idea what got them to where they are now, no idea what got their competition where they are, and are going in the exact opposite direction they should be. Case in point: a new Civic, every 5 years or so.
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Exactly! Thats why they lost $5.8 BILLION USD last quarter. People argue that GM can't build cars that compete, I'd argue that Ford is doing much worse.

My suggestion?

Merge American and European model lineups together and sell only the "good."

- Fiesta
- Focus
- Fusion/Mondeo (I'd prefer the Mondeo myself)
- Mustang
- Falcon
- European Fusion (thats debateable)
- Edge
- Explorer
- F-150
 
Replace the Fusion with the C-max or the S-max and it would be good.

You could also add the Ka. But that's the City car, do they exist in the US?
 
YSSMAN
They say it is too big and too expensive, with higher production costs and lower profit margins. Added to that, it is another gazillion dollars to convert the Mexico plant over to the new model, and I doubt Ford wants to spend the money.

...The outcry Ford had earlier was that they wouldn't be able to dip below $15K to start, and I suppose that could be a problem, but even then, I'd be looking at a Fit or Rabbit at that price...
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I could see that. It's a shame, but you kind of hit it right on the head below:



YSSMAN
My suggestion?

Merge American and European model lineups together and sell only the "good."

- Fiesta
- Focus
- Fusion/Mondeo (I'd prefer the Mondeo myself)
- Mustang
- Falcon
- European Fusion (thats debateable)
- Edge
- Explorer
- F-150
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Seriously! Ford seems to be doing the exact opposite of what every successful brand is doing: separate models, same name. Toyota separates the higher-end cars from the regular lineup and calls it "Lexus"; Audi/VAG has a same-platform car at every price point & sub-brand; GM brings over the Monaro from Australia and calls it the GTO...well, I guess it's not always successful.

Separate overseas models by name, not by manufacturing. It's far cheaper to modify the detailing & badging, adjust the marketing plan slightly, and yet it would be essentially the same car underneath. Same factory, same parts, same repair system.... "It's logic, Jim, but not as we know it."
 
In the future, "Logic" will be the key to the success of the American automakers. It is indeed why GM, Ford, and even DaimlerChrysler have been working so hard to make their products on a global scale, having parts interchangeable between American, European, Asian, and Australian models.

...It is in part why Toyota and Honda have been successful, as they sell the same cars worldwide and don't have to worry about the outrageous part variances that Americn automakers go through right now...
 
YSSMAN
In the future, "Logic" will be the key to the success of the American automakers. It is indeed why GM, Ford, and even DaimlerChrysler have been working so hard to make their products on a global scale, having parts interchangeable between American, European, Asian, and Australian models.

...It is in part why Toyota and Honda have been successful, as they sell the same cars worldwide and don't have to worry about the outrageous part variances that Americn automakers go through right now...
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That's kind of what I said, but not in such a concise manner. :) Sometimes my English is cloudy.
 
RE: New Focus disappointing:

I've tried to figure it out myself... driving the new Focus back to back with the Protege and the Mazda3, yes, the Focus feels supple, accomplished and stable, but not very exciting. It's a really heavy, well insulated, upmarket car.

Ford could slap a Volvo badge on it and watch it fly out the dealership doors. :lol:

As it is, people look at it in the showroom, go "wow" at the sound insulation, the germanic "whump" of the doors, the rear airconditioning (still gets me, every time) and the solid feel of the car as you drive down the road...

Then they look at the Mazda3 and Civic, which are both more futuristic looking, faster, and cheaper, and they go out and buy those instead.

But I'm really looking forward to the RS... Ford needs this car.
 
niky
RE: New Focus disappointing:

Ford could slap a Volvo badge on it and watch it fly out the dealership doors. :lol:

But I'm really looking forward to the RS... Ford needs this car.
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Funny that you mention it reminding a Volvo.. after all, the engine (atleast in ST and possinbly in RS ) are Volvo units, that got a finishing touch from Ford. And isn't Volvo's new baby, C30, built on same platform? Though, I like C30's styling more than Focus II's.

anyways, a though of Focus RS, in RS Blue and 2 doors, 250bhp and AWD would be a drug to my gasoline soaked brains.
 
^ Yes, the incredible C30 rides on the same C1 platform as the Mazda3 and European Focus, and it too will be a global model. So why then don't we have a Focus again?

...Then I was thinking about it the other day and went down to the local Mazda dealer. They sell the same C1-based Mazda for under $13K when fully-stripped, so why can't Ford do the same with the Focus?

I'm confused...
 
Toronado
Exactly. What better car to emulate than the coolest piece of the 70's ever?
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I think we have different definitions of the word "cool". :D

The Gremlin is definitely a 70's icon, and the V8 version was as good an attempt at humour as the Z3-based M Coupe. I never noticed the C30's similarity to the Gremlin, but I think the Volvo's going to age better than the AMC.
 
that little henhouse had a V8?! :scared: :crazy: okay, I wanna see that thing running against any vtak-monstah.. :dopey: IMO, Gremlin reminds more of Datsun 100A than C30.

dat100ag.jpg


anyways, C30 reminds me more of P1800ES. and I certainly wouldn't mind owning one of both of these.

back to Focus II:

one possible reason for not bringing the european Focus to US is, that it might not be safe enough from Fords point of view. in Europe, we don't have women driving over 3 and half tonne trucks while talking to phone and fixing up their makeup. we have just other compact hatchbacks and sedans, where as in US the roads are crowded pick-ups and other big vehicles that would crush Focus like tincan if there would be a crash.

though, this is only my biased theory :D
 
Nah. The Focus is safe enough.

It's just... I don't know... too heavy? Take that Mazda3 (I've mentioned this before)... give it some more suspension travel, slow the steering a little, and give it more interior amenities... oh, and about 200 pounds of insulation, and voila! You've got a Focus. In terms of build, it's like comparing a Honda Civic with the Canadian Acura CSX version (which is a dolled-up Civic)... and I think the price differences are about the same, too, in regards to Focus - Mazda3 versus CSX - Civic.

I think Ford is just scared that it won't sell in numbers... which it might not. It's a little more upmarket than other compacts, and in power conscious America, the land of the 0-60 and 1320, would it help them to have another car which is more refined, more liveable, yet slower than the competition? (reference: Fusion)
 
you can blame Ford's market researchers then. if I'm not wrong, people want their cars to be comfortable, silent and safe etc.. so, then ford built one, and now minority of potential buyers, AKA performance oriented drivers feel that they've been let down.
 

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