Yes exactly what the title says. I read an article in Newsday on sunday and there was an interesting article about new design and such, specifically from ford. They talked about the new fusion and the new SUV, starts with an E i dont remeber lol, and how they have the new 3bar chrome girll, a new design going to be taken by Ford. I dont remeber who said it but one of the Ford representatives said that Ford of America is having a design crisis and they really need to focus on it, but they want to make Ford of America to have more of its own unique american design, not a european. They referred to the Ford 500, and its supposly euro styling and how it failed so they want to steer away from it and said, "no more european." So i dont know it kinda saddens me b/c this makes us getting cool euro cars from ford shipped over to these shores, and possibly never seeing the MkII focus here either, and honesltly whats going to happen to the focus if Ford of America decides to go on a euro boycott. The focus is a european car, so most likly it will continue on teh 05+ styling track. So anyway ford is supposly going to come up with its own unique american styling for its american cars....so once again we will most likly be cheated outta the cool euro cars once again for who knows how long....i really thought we were going to go towards a euro direction since the import companys are bringing over small cars, so i thought that maybe ford would too and bring some more euro styling over here....but i guess not.

Dude don't fret look at the rear end on the Mk2 and you will be happy that you are stuck on the US shores. As new production techniques like (water forming or something) used on the Solstice to give it those nice curves, American cars will see much cooler designs in the near future. Plus just because one car failed doesn't mean euro styling can't still become more accepted. Business is about adapting and if the market wants it, it will come.

^^^^i actually think the MK2 focus is amazing, yea the rear takes some getting used too but it makes up for it everwhere else, such as the front and the gorgeous above average in its class interior. Not to mention, i dont think all cars look good with chrome, i just cant see a ford focus with three huge bars going across its face.

I do not think the future is so bad ....

Yeah the failure of Fivehundred did put the final nail in the 2000 euro-design move in Ford NA... The honeucomb grille, simple lines, understated - basic design...

I liked all those fords, but US of A didn't.. the new design direction seems to be well thought out for the cars that are out with it: the Fusion, Edge, Explorer, Superduty and Expedition.... I think it fits well.. it wil be hard to fit on a Focus though.

However if we think about more distant future, the fact that Focus will LOOK and FEEL different in the US does not mean it will be worse. The only reason the non-euro = crap equation works rigth now is because of other factors, not because it actually holds true. World cars are coming to an end for mainstream manufacturers - the markets are too different.. but if that lets Ford make more profit and build better cars (although US styled) I am all for it... after all design is only skin deep... Ford has been very good in keeping the engineering intact between markets... and that is what maters to me.

Igor

hmmm...an all american styled focus..this should be interesting...oh and about the mkII, it has to grow on you, but its what they put in the beast that makes it so awsome...which is where ford's brains seem to stop on the na focus...

i doubt it was the styling that got the gt...i think peopel were expecting more from the engine, it barely passes the viper but costs around 45k more and isnt much of a friendly ride, the styling is good but like i said, i doubt that was the reason it didnt sell well... i would think a more euro style focus would sell better, it would make it much much more unique but it is a huge risk for ford to make...stopping the euro look is just a safe way to go for ford at this point

Originally posted by igor
I do not think the future is so bad ....
Igor

LMAO

Quotable quote

focuszx3
Well none of the other manufaturers are doing it (except for Mazda) so Ford would be putting itself in disadvantage by trying to push other market's preference on the USA...neither the Civic, nor the Corolla or Sentra or Cobalt are identical across the pond. They are all built on world platform, and much of hte interior is same/similar, but the exteriors are styled for the US market. Ford is just eliminating any hindrances to profit at this pont..

Igor

Originally posted by Hillyard
LMAO

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HEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
















no but really I am optimistic about the future of FoMoCo... With the new power trio in charge of Ford NA with Bill giving them complete freedom and even restraining the board, I think there is reasonable hope in the future for lots of changes and not for the worse...

Igor

its fokuzx3 [bootyshak jk...i understand why they did it...but with the focus inpeticular i think the euro desining would catch on for over here..hell, what does every focus owner dream of gettin? a 98 rs collections front bumper...its different for other cars, from what ive seen on the forums, everyone loves the euro focus better..could be different for designs on the cobalt, corolla etc

^^^^hell id be happy if Ford made the euro focus interiour the universal one, its beautiful, yea the outside can be alittle different but bring that pimpin interior over.

yea..that too...the 05+ interior look like cardboard cut outs [rofl] no offense guys

Originally posted by fokuzx3
yea..that too...the 05+ interior look like cardboard cut outs [rofl] no offense guys

Lok at the Volvo s40/v50 etc interior the top of the dash looks the same as the 05+ focus....

Igor

how dare you [slap] ....oh...yea your right

^^^well im so glad at least we americans got the better fusion, that one definitly doesnt look as nice, not to mention those engine options are pretty low horsepower.

the Ford GT barely passes the Viper for $45K more

Sorry man, but the GT is significantly better than the Viper. It's a lot more friendly to drive and useable.

It's painful to admit, but they coudl be right. Enough American's don't really care about cool, understated style. Just like they don't really care about driving dynamics or quality. As long as it's big, cheap, and has a big honkin engine... The American market bugs the crap out of me!

Oh, and the Japanese do bring their european cars here as well. The Acura TSX is the European Accord, among others.

Originally posted by Carrera26
Oh, and the Japanese do bring their european cars here as well. The Acura TSX is the European Accord, among others. [/B]

Yes, that is correct.

But Acura, like Mazda, like Lexus, like Volvo etc are not MASS MAKESo (at least not in my mind).

Ford competes with Toyota and Honda, Nissan, Chevy/Pontiac .... those have abandoned the world car... The previous gen Civic was pretty much a world car. The new gen has completely different nose on the two sides of the atlantic.
Overall, Corolla, Civic and Cobalt (Opel Astra in europe) have a world platform and same interior, but the styling was adjusted for the market...

"Niche" makes like Volvo, Mazda (or any other FoMoCo brand outside F/L/M) are the place for Ford to let the world cars reside.

I would love the Mercury brand be the reincarnation of Merkur and be the "european Ford" Brand for the US, something like Honda does with Acura... but that is not going to happen either.

Igor

Originally posted by Carrera26
It's painful to admit, but they coudl be right. Enough American's don't really care about cool, understated style. Just like they don't really care about driving dynamics or quality. As long as it's big, cheap, and has a big honkin engine... The American market bugs the crap out of me!


i agree with you 100% there


[i]Oh, and the Japanese do bring their european cars here as well. The Acura TSX is the European Accord, among others. [/B]


i didn't know about that! what are some other examples?

Igor - I REALLY like the idea of Mercury being the Euro-Ford. It's not like they would endanger a ton of sales anyway [:p] , it would give Mercury some real brand recognition, allow all of FoMoCo to spread engineering costs even more, and let Mercury be a sort of "test-bed" that they could use without chancing a big mistake for the Ford brand. Brilliantly simple! Hats off to you...

I know that there are more with the Euro-NA japanese makes, but I just have to go back to my last british magazine and connect the dots. The TSX is just what stood out in my mind. at the moment, and I know there are others...

^^^The Acura TSX is pretty much the ojnly one at this point... it was too small to be an Accord over here... like the Contour was too small and the Mazda6 is too small.... US midsizes are larger than EU midsizes.

Toyota outsorced the Japanese products to Scion
I believe Lexus used to be world car and had couple of EU Toyota models, but I think that is not being doe anymore.

The new small cars are all world cars at this point: Accent / Rio , Aveo (Matiz), Fit (Jazz), Yaris...
Igor

I emailed FoMoCo about the Mercury = European Ford in USA idea...

I think if I had a direct link to Mark Fields I could interest him in this. [:)]
but we'll see what the PR response will be.

Igot

And if they do use Merc for the Euro models, they'll more than likely call the Euro Focus a Bobcat. They like to recycle names ato FoMoCo. Many of the car badges they have now were originally trim levels on other models. For example, the Five Hundred was originally a trim level on the old 60's Galaxies.

Eww, I like our Fusion way better than Europe's! (for once)

Good call on Mercury igor, that would be cool.

^^^hmm i actually like the new mecury milan(ford fusion conterpart) alot. Especially when they throw on those nice multi-spoke euro style wheels...looks pretty good.

^^See that is why the Mercury is such a good candidate .. the Euro styling is very Feminine... Mercury styling has been very feminine too.. with soft undestated lines etc...

I think there would not even be a need for much "brand makeover" with European models. However with Milan in place the only car I can think of coming over to the hypothetical "new Mercury" would be Focus... Europe has nothing else to offer... maybe C-Max.. but that's it...

Igor

Oh well I like Milan too, but for the msot part Mercury gets no love.

I mean I prefer Escape to Mariner, and umm... I can't think of any other Mercury models. They're kinda off to the side, existing but not doing much. I can't imagine taking them in a totally "test" direction could really hurt?