Perhaps I'm outside the target demographic, but even with the changes, it still looks like a boring car to me.

still awfull. Those handles really make a difference. Yeah, those handles were awfull.....What nonsence.

What kinetic design? That only applies to the rest of the world. Not 'under' the Ford tower? No discipline in any creation department. Sell your shares!!

Cant you just boycott the car? Or sent letters to Ford that you want decent stuff?

geez that car looks awful. Why can't ford get anything right.
If they want people to buy the focus all they have to do is import the european version.

sorry to bash ford but, it looks like a vauxhall vectra from the rear, and some sort of saturn from the front, yes they all copy designs but these styles are getting pretty old now.

the european focus looks unique, with some great engine choices available - why are ford wasting money on developing two versions when they are loosing money?

This version fully tarted fully up at launch - how are they going to give it the midlife lift treatment if the alloys, fog lamps, shiny bits are already done?

All this shit simply because US Ford is embarrased to use the European Focus which is a solid car. This POS needs an entirely new design not handles.

Wow, what a strategy. Trying to make a car look less ugly moments before launch instead of using a great and proven design like the Euro Focus.

Why oh why did they not go with the European design is beyond me?

R.

Starting to revert to the ZX2 look, which I personally preferred anyways, it was just a little anemic under the hood.

A step in the right direction, but such a baby-step that it's almost unnoticed.

Umm,

not sure if you guys are aware, those are the same pictures as before, those are not the updated pictures.

I don't think someone will chastise you for reserving judgment until we get some updated pictures of the vehicle.

Reminds me of the old Falcons.... Speaking of Falcon, bring us a low tech, low to mid perforance 4 door. Cut the electronic crap and give us a reliable easy to fix automobile...
And I am not talking about stupid stuff. I want to be able to change the oil without having special tools or a floor lift. I want to be able to change brakes, filters, washer motors heater motors etc etc without a 2 year Tech degree...

Simple cars that perform well. I'm not needing a Ferrari..., and I sure don't need a car the tells me my weight an can direct me to the nearest fat farm....

What is so wrong about bringing the Euro Focus to the US?

It's what everyone wants, why won't they listen?!

that side view looks just like the 98 civic coupe....

I just sent Ford a message deriding their efforts to save this car. Why do they think that we here at Torque Report are the only ones bitching about this? Or at least, they seem to think that.

But I just keep telling them, one email at a time: automotive enthusiasts are not the only ones who read that Europe has had a better Focus for years. Everyone reads that. When researching cars, people look to enthusiasts and enthusiast websites and blogs for answers nowadays. If the enthusiast does not like your car, it simply wont sell.

And whats more? The enthusiasts generally do not talk much about Ford, we are looking for vehicles that offer higher degrees of performance and comfort. And when I say that, I mean that enthusiasts are looking at BMW, Mercedes, and Audi for sport and luxury.

So when the few words enthusiasts have to say about Ford are bad all around, what do they expect?

Ford: Fire your American Executives. Take some of those people from Europe and put them in charge over here.

And one more thing: I think what Ford did when they decided to just redesign the old Focus was "hey, people are not aware of what an automotive platform is, except for the enthusiasts."

But the enthusiasts noticed almost immediately didnt they? And now they hate Ford dont they? Yep.

"I want to be able to change the oil without having special tools or a floor lift. I want to be able to change brakes, filters, washer motors heater motors etc etc without a 2 year Tech degree..."

Then you want a new Silverado Rudyman. Pop the hood next time you get a chance. It's like a trip back in time. Other manufacturers should use it as a template. The new 2008 Super Duty with twin turbos is the complete opposite. You need to see a belt to be able to change it.

Speaking of. One of my badges is being an audio/visual/navigation consultant to dealerships for Ford. It pains me to see these boring boxes that get released here every year. The Euro Focus would make a great cousin to the Mazda 3.
GM is just as guilty. They have Holdens and Opels that would certainly sell better than Impala. That car is a real sleeper. No, i mean that literally. I fell asleep shortly after sitting in its bland, flat seat. Zzzzzz.

I am glad that the car will now have black door handles instead of chrome.
This was of major concern to me.
I will now go down to the car dealer and order one in advance as it will look much better.

My God that's hideous. Does anyone know why you yanks have to put up with that instead of the focus everybody else gets?

Ford will not bring the euro spec version of the Focus because it would be prohibitively expensive in the US market. (That is Ford speak, not mine!) However, GM essentially brings a Vauxhall (manufactured in Belgium) to the US, changes the emblems and low and behold the New Saturn Astra. A model that obliterates the previous ION in terms of quality, styling, and european road feel.

I befuddles me that a large company like GM can pull from their european (Opel)) branch for quality cars (in a compact market no less), whereas Ford will soldier on with the US spec Focus.(A good platform at the time, but over 5-6 years old by now). Somehow, Ford has always relegated the US with substandard compacts, while Euro spec Ford compacts (Escorts, Focus, Etc) were groundbreaking in design and performance.

GM is realizing that people will pay for quality regardless of the market segment. To that end, they are using proven platforms from other divisions to make quality cars (a long time coming). In that end, Saturn is transforming into the test bed for this thinking.

correction to earlier statement. GM's euro division is Opel. Vauxhall is the UK division. My bad

Just one last comment. I do not necessary think that the "new" Focus looks that bad, but it is 5 years behind the times from the market segment in terms of content,style, and quality.

Ford should look at forums to this or similiar forums. This is representative of the general malaise of their current lineup. Changing door handles or added the obligatory brushed aluminum trim does not constitute a long term fix. The compact market typically does not make alot of money for the automakers. However, buyers demand quality, performance, and efficiency. They do not want to feel like they are driving a penalty box, because they cannot afford to pay over $15k-17K for a vehicle. Especially, when other automakers have vehicles in the same price range that are far more appealing.

Put those two types of Focus on the web, euro and american version, let people from all over the world decide on a survey.
Build the winner!!!! Easy. (Thats to Ford Management)

and the ford and gm facturies are, what, 30km apart (in Belgium)...

By the way, the 'new' us ford is a reskin of the old Europe Focus.

Ford is bullshitting everyone when they say the Euro Focus would be prohibitively expensive. Currently the Euro is what, $1.40?

The cheapest Ford Focus in the UK goes for 11,695 Euro. In US dollars that is $16,373. The most expensive is 17,995 Euro, or $25,193. This is not ridiculous, considering the most expensive Civic starts at $21,110 without options and that there is a NGV version for $24,000!

Plus, if you made it here, you'd not incur the costs of European taxation or labor costs. That'd bring down the price several thousand by itself.

And don't tell me its too expensive when that same car is sold throughout Europe, even in places where the economy is not a tenth as good as France, Britain or Germany (and those themselves do not have the GDP of the US put together). And in 2011 Ford plans to recombine the foreign and North American offerings with one car anyway. But isn't it supposed to be to expensive? I guess not in 2011 for some reason.

And also, Volkswagen has had more expensive vehicles without the reliability reputation of Toyota or Honda, and those cars sell out all the time! Why? Good styling a reputation for delivering a product with nice features and they are incredibly fun to drive.

And they are definitely more expensive than Toyota and Honda, Volkswagen advertises "Three V-dubs under $17,000!" like that is cheap.

geez come on you call that changes? For the Carol Shelby's sake, that shift know style has been around for ages....o yea the rest of the car needs to be replaced by its European bro....