Spy Shots of 2007 Focus . . . Ford still too dumb to bring the Euro

[ouikikazz]

u guys make such a big deal out of this as if you didn't see it coming...it has been stated already that we WONT get a euro focus over here...they'll just merge the two to a MKIII in 09 and we'll get it the same time europe gets it. for now they are just probably tweaking the styling to keep it fresh and match the other cars...u NEVER know if they'll up the power in the ST or the regular versions of it until the car comes out...it'll make sense so until solid confirmed details come out everything is a rumor...the test mule is just that, a test mule...maybe they'll decide against it ::shrugg:: every1 hated the 05 redesign when they first saw it then people started to love it...prolly the same thing here...i will have to say though, the newer interior makes me puke.

[Kneel]

We are not the only ones scratching our heads over the 07 Focus - check out the comments here...

http://thehollywoodextra.blogspot.co....html#comments

[EricR]

There is at least a little good Ford related news.

The new Duratec 35 (3.5L V-6) is right on track for release in the 2007 model year. 250HP and 240TQ in its initial form. Oh, and it's the same size as the current 3.0L V-6.

[HotRodWagon]

[Oni]

I think you hit what was lurking in the back of my mind, DrkKnight. The new car is just too American that it loses what sort of makes the Focus so unique (or at least did). If the primary Focus (as in the sport version or upgraded version is the sedan still), then we obviously know any roots of European Focus are being left behind. It'll probably walk the same path the American Escort did, or start down it at least.

Ford has to take risks or it's going to become even more behind. I was hoping for a little more Mazda sort of spirit in the new line-ups, but it looks as though they're going conservative. A three-bar chrome grill isn't going to just change everyone's minds (and I don't just mean the Focus).

[igor]

OK I believe the cryparty ha gone on for a long enough.. there have been several good couner arguments to the cries of "all they will do is do a nosejob"


there is no word on the endines..
they might realy be just testing the nose... the 05 Mustang was spied with the new nose on the old tail, and people were outraged.. remember? Then the release was a big surprise.

Finally... many times we rightly state that we are just the enthusiasts that do not make majority of buyers.. this goes for extreme engine choices .... etc.

Ford is a mass market producer.. they might have little variations on the "mass product" theme tosatisfy some enhusiasts, but they cannot stop using the theme. They tried to go full european... they started producing cars rivaling the looks of VW and Audi and it backfired on them - after all if one wanted an Audi or VW, they went and bought one.

There are 12k members oon this forum... even if we all got up and bought a focus, we just bough A MONTH of sales.. just to illustrate how small of a group we are.

Ford did its research. I am affraid this redesign will be too minor to satisfy us, but I hate hearing unbound hatred for Ford, because they are not doing EU design anymore, because they do not cater to enthusiasts anymore... do not blame Ford.. Blame the market.

After all, Ford is late to the game to producing Compacts built on world platforms, but with sheetmetal specific to EUDM and USDM market... EVERYONE ELSE has been doing it.... once again.. blame the market not Ford.

And Finally.. I know we would like to see HB, Wagon and whatnot.. but look around.. none of the competition except Mazda3 offers a traditional HB - they are all sedans and coupes and most probably for a good reason. (third time is the charm.. blame the market not Ford)

Whether Ford should bring over the like of C-Max to fight Vibe/Caliber/PT/HHR and the like, that is another question.


[/rant]

I apologize for ranting, but there are so many possibilieties of that that car is doing.. what ford is working on with that car, but it gets lost in dooms day prediction.

Watching GM is a comedy, becasue we laugh at every one of their steps.. even if it is a step in right direction.

Somehow we cry over every step of Ford, even if it is in the right direction.

There is no telling of what will come out of this.. and whether it will be in the right direction, but that is it THERE IS NO TELLING.

And finally. There is a reason Ford has Mazda under its wings.. and there is a reason it does not want to go GM on it and nosejob its cars to sell them as Ford and to take away market from it. Mazda is the enthusiasts' car... World models down to the options. Non-US styling, non-US options.... for it being very nicely Japanese, it somehow satisfies the EU cravings of many US buyers. Moroever, the image and the aura of the make sells cars that woud never sell with aFord badge... Mazda3 and MAzda6 are good examples. no one would pay $24k for a 160hp Ford Focus.. even if it was C1 based.

Please keep open mind... I guess that is what I am trying to say.. there are endles possibilities of what this means (despite CD claiming otherwise), and we should know that.. after all we know cars better than most people - or even mags - do.

Igor

[brawls43]

^^
Well said. I agree with everyone b__ching and moaning about no Euro styling, I wish we had the MarkII, but we won't. So we have to get over it. And unfortunately as minority buyers in the market, we aren't catered to anymore. I pray the hatchback doesn't go away, but maybe a coupe wouldn't be so bad. I think the pic in question on page 1 is similar to the Mustang pics where we saw a camo'd Mustang front end on a Lincoln LS. I think they're similar build levels of prototypes.

Regardless, I like my hatchback. Yes I'd trade it in a second for a MarkII ST, but I'll probably have to be picky and choosy depending on what Ford really brings out. Overall I'd say I'm more disappointed about the seeming lack of future SVT product then this whole no Euro Focus. That's the real TRAVISHAMOCKERY!! yes, I used a made up word.

[Kneel]

We bitch and scream because Ford is like a bad child these days, and even after suffering punishment from the marketplace they still don't learn. Are we to just sit back and say ok Ford - we know that you understand what the market wants better than the market does (as their record proves exactly contrary)?

It's called tough love, and it's about the only kind of love we can show these days with Ford.

[igor]

^^^ Kneel.... I am not saying they know market better than market itself...

I am saying 1) Euro deasign does not sell with blue oval on it in NA
2) There are very clear market trends that Ford is following - like ditching HB for a coupe

3) that picture could be anything from testing the Fiest front, to simply testing whether the 2.3DISI would fit in the ST... NO ONE KNOWS..

Igor

[naustin]

Well I wanted a mazda3 in the first place and settled for the Focus because it was so much cheaper. So - I guess I should have just ponied up and bought the mazda... [lol]