Ok here is the question.. Is the Focus a european car or not? I know that it first came out in europe but.......just post your opinion on this topic. Have fun

it originated in europe, so you can say it's got it's roots from there. i wouldn't say it's fully european since i've seen the ones they have over there and it's somewhat different, but it's definently influenced by that.

i think the focus is more "european styled" than european....since it's move across the pond, the design has been a little bit Americanized

I agree with revamp

I'd say it is essentially a European animal that has been Americanized. The first time I saw it I knew by its small width and high stance that it was a European design. Europeans have a lot of skinny, twisty roads and so European auto designers often make cars roomy by going high, rather than wide.
German Ford developed the C170 platform as well as the interior and exterior design.
(My understanding is that Ford of Europe actually hired away Dr. Ulrich Eichhorn from VW to head the Focus program in Europe.)

Read what Eichhorn says about the car here. (http://media.ford.com/products/presskit_display.cfm?vehicle_id=6&press_subsection_id=422&make_id=92)

What is different? In Europe the Focus is a mid level car, not an economy car as in the US. Ford had to lower the cost of production so we basically got a stripped down version. The interior materials are not as nice. The Zetec engine is not the same as the Zetec engine in Europe; and I’m not just talking about displacement. The suspension is softer for American consumption. I don’t know everything that is different-wish I did.

The European Focus is either produced in Germany or Spain. The American Foci are made in Mexico (but that is stopping or stopped) and Wayne Michigan. I believe there are a lot of similar parts though. The headlamps and 6 disc CD unit, for example, are made by a Ford subsidiary (who’s name escapes me), for both the European and American markets. The MTX-75 transmission is German and the same as the one in Europe.

So is it European? Not completely but essentially.

Hey, what about the new Ford 500? It rides on a Volvo C80 platform. The new Ford Freestyle rides on a Volvo XC90 platform. Whatever their origin, Ford is making better cars than it did just a few years ago

The Mk I is a bunch closer to its Euro cousin than the Mk II US spec Focus is. I have driven both the MkI euro Focus and own a ZX3 US spec. They are for the most part the same car. The US spec is softer sprung and has the different bumpers. If you drove both back to back you could really apprciate just how true to the euro design that the US one really is. Nothing like the previous "World Car" of the Escort. I would take the Euro suspension (stock) over the US one and I would rather have the 2.3 Duratec vs. any of the 1.? or 2.0s that the Euro versions get.
From what I can remember, the switches and general interior feel are about equal. At one time from what I can tell all Euro Foci came with 4 wheel discs, but last spring when I was in Germany I noticed many Foci with rear drums? So I have no idea now.
Cheers.
Tim

Originally posted by Jake
...Ford is making better cars than it did just a few years ago
Thats essentially true with just about every US car maker. Chrysler has stepped up their quality too since merging with Mercedes. Chevy even makes a good car, well, their styling leaves alot to be desired. Talk about some FUGLY trucks.

And what good chevy car would that be......other then the vette?

Originally posted by revamp
i think the focus is more "european styled" than european....since it's move across the pond, the design has been a little bit Americanized

I agree with this also.

My parents owne a z71 tahoe that is awsome. thats a good chevy

once i said the focus is as european as many VW and now the guys at work just make fun of that...
i say if the car was made in europe and THEN brong to the US is european no matter if the maker is ford....