I don't really care if we get the styling of the European Focus. I want the mechanicals and performance of the European Focus! Ford's been screwing it's home country out of a great little car!

Finally, Ford is making some smart decisions (or at least starting to anyway). They should get rid of Alan Mulally in my opinion!!!

What's sad is Ford could have been producing great cars for years but lacked the vision and moxie to take chances. I hope this signals a new Ford motors.

Just bring the Mondeo to the US! (and no, the Mazda does not count.)

99% of the US doesnt know how great and respected Ford Europe is. If they pulled their heads out of the sand and brought over cars like the Mondeo and the focus Coupe Cabriolet and all the diesel options here (65 mpg!!), Ford would have a huge resurgence here. I know I would be buying them.

And then goods and products $$$ would soar as diesel would cost more if consumers driving diesel powered cars. The future is in hybrids especially bio-electric-hybrids.

This just goes to show how much disdain Ford has for domestic buyers...

"Why should we give them anything decent? We've spent decades getting them used to accepting second-rate goods we'd never even try to foist upon the Europeans."

who would have thaught that was a bad idea i mean come on sand save some damn money for a change, you cant trell me that the styling was so mouch more appealing to one side of the pond and not the other?

FLUCK YEAH!

now announce the arrival of the RS version overseas and me and Ford may be best friends since the SVT Focus... if the rumors about that car are anywhere in the vicinity to the truth, there will be a Focus terrorizing everything from Evos and STis to Mustang GTs and the Z cars...

no seriously, do it... despite the gas prices reaching levels where public transportation is actually thriving, gas in the US is still cheaper than in Europe...

"Ford's new global strategy which also includes the new Ford Fiesta, which will be sold here in 2009, is expected to cut overall engineering costs by 30 percent."

Hopefully the price gets lowered from all the millions Ford is going to save on engineering costs.

Anyways, it's a nice little car. Isn't this the same platform as the Mazda 3 and Vovlo compact concept?

"there will be a Focus terrorizing everything from Evos and STis to Mustang GTs and the Z cars..."

You just explained why it won't happen. Ford won't do anything to hurt more expensive models in their lineup. They might put out a performance version, but it won't be everything you want it to be.

@ Saheed

You have no clue. Allan Mullally is the biggest reason why Ford is globalizing its products.

Allan Mullally is the best thing that's happened to Ford in years. He understands that globlizing platforms not only saves money but everyone shares the same technology regardless of what part of the world it is.

simply put, you can blame the mustang for the reason the focus is a P.O.S. in america. Why would ford build a sport compact that can compete with the evo or sti because that could potentially mean the retirement of the mustang. You know no american wants to see a piece of their communist I mean patriotic history go away because of some fuel efficient 4 cylinder instead. Instead ford distracts its buyers by teaming up with microcrap I mean soft to give you voice activation. If its anything like the voice activation of windows mobile it will not read your voice correctly anyways.

there was only one american car company that had a production sport compact with the balls to compete with some of the euros. That was the dodge(chrystler) srt4.

as long as the american market continues to buy large trucks and suv's to drive around suburban areas ford will put out crappy 4 cylinder vehicles.

it was said to me best by a ford salesman. "Dont buy any ford under 8 cyl, they are built to work for as long as the warranty lasts."

So basically, they're finally putting the Focus on the same platform that the Mazda3 and Volvo S40 have been on for the last 4 years. Will wonders never cease? I guess when you're hemorrhaging money and your sales are in the toilet, you start to try to "go with what works", in the case of Ford, that means taking all the platforms that have proven themselves (the C1, CD3) for their subsidiary "partner" car companies and start making them your own like it's some new development. I hope it works for Ford, because it means that decent engineering will be done for the first time in decades at Ford, even if it's done by a company they own overseas.

Now hold your horses...wasn't the Focus originally supposed to be on a World Car platform...much like the the Ford Contour (Mondeo) and the Escort...all models that didn't keep up with the platform changes in Europe...I'll believe Ford is keeping that promise when I see them build the new version in the US first and the update hits Europe second...not sending the US a model that's been selling overseas for 4-5 years and then not keeping up with the updates...give me a break...

Well if that's the exciting EU stying pictured I'll pass. Oh wait I don't really buy econoboxes anyway.

And please Ford release Mazda from your oppressive bondage. Maybe then they would build another super car.

OK, if the european's are designing all the best cars, why is Ford paying such high salaries to it's American management?

@GRIZZ

That 65mpg diesel Focus is based on Imperial Gallons. (In US gallons it would be about 54mpg).

Also if tested using the same test as used in the US, the results would be in the low 40's at best. Still very good but not 65mpg when measured equivalently. 90hp might feel a little sluggish also.

@ Bill O

"OK, if the european's are designing all the best cars, why is Ford paying such high salaries to it's American management?"

Thats why the American side of their business is sucking right now. Paying people too much who don't produce shit. Thats why Toyota and many other foreign car manufactures are about to knock Ford off its thrown.

Yea, because those turbo 4s in the Evo and STi get great gas mileage Mr why ford will suck in america. Let's look at those numbers, shall we. Evo, 2.0 making 291 hp and 300 ft-lbs, gas mileage 16/22. Not looking so good, are we? But there is still the STi! 2.5L making 305 hp and 290 ft-lbs of torque with 17/23 for mileage? I thought these were fuel efficient? Well, that Mustang must really drink gas then since it has a 4.6L with 300 hp and 320 ft-lbs. What, the mileage is 15/23, how did this happen? Well, the Evo weighs 3345 lbs, the STi 3395 lbs, and the Mustang GT 3540 lbs, so it weighs more and gets the same mileage, this isn't looking so good.

Surely the Evo and STi own in performance. 0-60 in 4.8 and quarter in 13.4 @ 101 for the STi, 0-60 in 5.0 and quarter time in 13.8 @ 97 for the Evo, 0-60 time in 5.1 and quarter time in 13.8 @ 103 for the Mustang GT. So this means the Mustang walks away from both at a roll, what is going on here?

I know, it's the cost. The STi starts at $34,995, the Evo at $32,990, and the Mustang GT at $26,240. Still don't get the comparison yet with two 4 doors costing 7+ grand more to a 2 door.

The Mustang and the Evo/STi are in different leagues going after different crowds, but to say a turbo 4 means better mileage right away, namely the one's in the Evo and STi, is not the best thing to say in the world. I am well aware that the Mustang will get completely humiliated in the corners. At the same time however, not to many twisty highways last time I checked.

BTW, I happen to hate the Mustang, namely this gen with the retro and last gen with all the fake vents.

I hate Avatar with his thick glasses and his pocket protector.

GRIZZ:
99% of the US doesnt know how great and respected Ford Europe is. If they pulled their heads out of the sand and brought over cars like the Mondeo and the focus Coupe Cabriolet and all the diesel options here, Ford would have a huge resurgence here. I know I would be buying them.

Well said.

There is no added value nor relevant competences left here. Close down Ford USA (or make it a agricultural truck-hub).
Yes, the jobs will move 'east', but not all the way :)))

Worse, if Ford keeps on putting that big decision off, Tata WILL buy Ford alltogether and the jobs WILL move east all the way.

Timothy S:
Now hold your horses...wasn't the Focus originally supposed to be on a World Car platform...much like the the Ford Contour (Mondeo) and the Escort...all models that didn't keep up with the platform changes in Europe...I'll believe Ford is keeping that promise when I see them build the new version in the US first and the update hits Europe second...not sending the US a model that's been selling overseas for 4-5 years and then not keeping up with the updates...give me a break...

Well said.

And that is the real problem.

Korea et al Inc renew its small car platforms every 4 years (hottest segment in asia)
Europe renews it every 8 years (with styling update in between)
And USA renews its small cars every 12-16 years, with new bumpers and more cupholders every year.

So, lets see if these US 'managers' are worth their salt, if Balony is really a tough manager and whether the discipline/sense of urgency is back in the company. Poor deployment of the 'kinetic design' tells me to worry.

The mustang is probably what allows Ford to make some profit but have you seen their financials lately.... Even with that "badass" mustang they are sucking.

This is one of the few times I've seen this but Ford got sued recently about resale value. Apparently you can get a $500 voucher if you own a explorer 1999-2001 towards the purchase of a new explorer. Thats the first time ive seen a recall because of sucky resale value. Ford just continues to suck... Their trucks are nice and cheap though...

Sorry, Retro Mustang, I am a Trans Am guy and happen to like my Firehawk and GTO, thanks. The Firehawk still manages to run circles around an '08 Mustang GT despite being 6 years old at this point, what's up with that? And I won't even go to the GTO, completely different class of cars. So yea, not a Ford guy at all. But here I am, defending them.

PS, those glasses happen to be wire framed Oakleys, not very thick now, and I think your confusing my Leatherman with your pocket protector.

When will Ford stop goofing around and just offer what's currently available in Europe? It's what everyone is asking for - why alter it?