2008 Focus & 500
1/7/07, 11:15 PM
#44
You know, I just don't like the current Euro Focus' styling. The old RS was about perfect stylistically IMO, with the ST/SVT setup proving an attractive 'GT level' styling upgrade. The new one just doesn't follow up, and tarted up versions of the same don't take on the muscular look the original RS possessed and look a bit tacky to my eye..
1/8/07, 12:24 AM
#46
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1/8/07, 12:30 AM
#47
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The successor to the C1 Focus is in development, and is set to underpin not only the next Euro version, but the next American version, too, I believe. So North America will catch up in one fell swoop, and we will all finally get the same vehicle...at least mechanically.
Meanwhile, we make do with the "new" Focus they just unveiled in Detroit.
1/8/07, 12:38 AM
#48
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Sorry, dunno where I got the '3' designation.
The successor to the C1 Focus is in development, and is set to underpin not only the next Euro version, but the next American version, too, I believe. So North America will catch up in one fell swoop, and we will all finally get the same vehicle...at least mechanically.
Meanwhile, we make do with the "new" Focus they just unveiled in Detroit.
The successor to the C1 Focus is in development, and is set to underpin not only the next Euro version, but the next American version, too, I believe. So North America will catch up in one fell swoop, and we will all finally get the same vehicle...at least mechanically.
Meanwhile, we make do with the "new" Focus they just unveiled in Detroit.
1/8/07, 07:47 AM
#49
I personally think the 500 looks a lot better than the previous car, although overall it is still a little vanilla for my books. The power increase is a step up, but it would have been better had they upped the ante and put the V8 in there. I believe that is being saved for the MKS or whatever its called.
The focus looks ok to me, but I will reserve final judgement until I see the car in person this weekend. I'm personally disappointed that they dropped the hatchback, as I am sure that decklid is pretty useless as it is on the Cobalt coupes
People bash the focus for its rear drum brakes. Just a counterpoint, I consider the Honda Civic to be the benchmark in compact cars, and it comes with rear drums as well, with the exception of the Si.
The focus looks ok to me, but I will reserve final judgement until I see the car in person this weekend. I'm personally disappointed that they dropped the hatchback, as I am sure that decklid is pretty useless as it is on the Cobalt coupes
People bash the focus for its rear drum brakes. Just a counterpoint, I consider the Honda Civic to be the benchmark in compact cars, and it comes with rear drums as well, with the exception of the Si.
1/8/07, 08:08 AM
#50
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1/8/07, 09:17 AM
#51
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The new Focus looks pretty good and totally different than the two previous designs. It's modern and competitive with the other cars in it's class. It makes the Euro Focus look dated, since the Euro Focus looks like a facelift of the first generation Focus.
1/8/07, 09:39 AM
#52
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Ford 500. Nice improvement if still rather bland, styling-wise. But then, they are in a market segment targeting bland cars for bland people (Toyota Avalon, etc.), don't want anything truly interesting here anyway.
Ford Focus. Scary. What a hopeless stylistic mishmash. When I first say the pics, I thought it must be some early stylistic concept that was quickly trashed it was so bad. It's bad enough that they're still using the old chassis, but now it seems they've sent their B-team stylists to try to tart it up by slapping any number of clumsy stylistic tricks. Interesting? Certainly, in a clownish sort of way. Aggressive? Yes, as is a wart hog. Good looking? Not a chance. Hopefully this will be a short lived, stop-gap measure who's own ugliness will hasten it's demise as it's nowhere near the measure of, say, a Mazda 3, Civic, or Sentra.
Ford Focus. Scary. What a hopeless stylistic mishmash. When I first say the pics, I thought it must be some early stylistic concept that was quickly trashed it was so bad. It's bad enough that they're still using the old chassis, but now it seems they've sent their B-team stylists to try to tart it up by slapping any number of clumsy stylistic tricks. Interesting? Certainly, in a clownish sort of way. Aggressive? Yes, as is a wart hog. Good looking? Not a chance. Hopefully this will be a short lived, stop-gap measure who's own ugliness will hasten it's demise as it's nowhere near the measure of, say, a Mazda 3, Civic, or Sentra.
1/8/07, 10:19 AM
#53
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The Five Hundred's new front end looks good. It's solid looking. I didn't think the previous Euro inspired grill was that bad, but I like the new 3-bar grille and headlight treatment much better. It looks like a big American sedan.
Did you guys see the other improvements made to the Five Hundred that aren't cosmetic?
They made quite a few improvements to the car, along with adding the 3.5L; they just didn't take three years to put a new grille on it.
Did you guys see the other improvements made to the Five Hundred that aren't cosmetic?
Ultra-quiet interior and plush ride
For 2008, the Five Hundred’s sound package has been completely revised, helping make it as quiet as many luxury cars. The new sound package includes such technologies as expandable foam pellets in the A-pillars to reduce wind noise and the use of an advanced sound-deadening material called Sonosorb™ in the doors, headliner and pillars. Sonosorb increases sound-deadening efficiency by 20 percent while retaining the same thickness as the material it replaces.
Engineers also reduced road noise by stiffening the area where the rear package shelf meets the floor pan. Even the climate control system was improved by making the system 50 percent quieter than before.
The Five Hundred’s quiet, confident ride starts with an already solid foundation. Upgrades include revised shock towers that help increase front suspension travel by 10 percent, new dampers and springs in both front and rear, and a revised, retuned rear suspension.
One of the most significant changes is how the engine is mounted in the vehicle. Previously, the engine was mounted to the front subframe. On the new model, the engine and transmission are bolted to the body with hydraulic mounts to reduce vibration. By moving the roughly 600-pound powerpack off the subframe, engineers were able to better tune the suspension and, ultimately, create an even better ride.
For 2008, the Five Hundred’s sound package has been completely revised, helping make it as quiet as many luxury cars. The new sound package includes such technologies as expandable foam pellets in the A-pillars to reduce wind noise and the use of an advanced sound-deadening material called Sonosorb™ in the doors, headliner and pillars. Sonosorb increases sound-deadening efficiency by 20 percent while retaining the same thickness as the material it replaces.
Engineers also reduced road noise by stiffening the area where the rear package shelf meets the floor pan. Even the climate control system was improved by making the system 50 percent quieter than before.
The Five Hundred’s quiet, confident ride starts with an already solid foundation. Upgrades include revised shock towers that help increase front suspension travel by 10 percent, new dampers and springs in both front and rear, and a revised, retuned rear suspension.
One of the most significant changes is how the engine is mounted in the vehicle. Previously, the engine was mounted to the front subframe. On the new model, the engine and transmission are bolted to the body with hydraulic mounts to reduce vibration. By moving the roughly 600-pound powerpack off the subframe, engineers were able to better tune the suspension and, ultimately, create an even better ride.
1/8/07, 12:22 PM
#54
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I too have heard we are supposed to get the C2 when it comes out, but then there's been indications that it might not be true at all, so who knows. I know Mullaly discussed bringing some of the Euro Fords over here, and that he wants to stop using different platforms for different continents, so hopefully if they had planned on not bring it here he quickly changed them. It's still long enough away for him to have done so. I think if they don't the Focus will become the next Escort/Taurus...
Anyway, about the new Focus, day and night compared to the current one. I like it very much. Ford needed eyeball for this little car, and they have it IMO.
1/8/07, 01:14 PM
#55
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Like I said Focus isn't my taste, but I think it's fine as something new and different for a couple years until the Next-gen car debuts. It's certainly not boring, lol.
I think the 500's fine for what it is. Still bland, but good looking enough for it's mechanicals to sell it.
I think the 500's fine for what it is. Still bland, but good looking enough for it's mechanicals to sell it.
1/8/07, 02:26 PM
#56
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but I think it's fine as something new and different for a couple years until the Next-gen car debuts.
Ford should have had the N.A. Focus replaced as part of the overall move to the C1 platform of the Euro Focus, Mazda 3, Volvo C30/S40/V50. The argument that the C1 platform would inately be too difficult and costly to engineer to N.A. regs and requirements is belied by the successful, affordable and generally excellent Mazda 3. It’s a shame because the Euro Focus, which I have driven, is an excellent modern car.
Instead, Ford N.A. got fat, happy and stupid feeding in the trough of SUV profits and let pretty much all their car platforms age and whither. So Ford, in its eternal myopia and shallowness, tries to foist this tired old wine in a horrible newish bottle on the American public as something other than a poorly conceived move of desperation.
While someone (P.T. Barnum?) once said something to the effect it being hard to underestimate the taste of the American public, I think Ford does break new ground in that one aspect. This design approaches Pontiac Aztec levels of eye pain. Whatever the design staff was drinking when they came up with this wheeled carbuncle should be bottled and sold at bars across the country as even the homeliest of lasses will appear as Angelina Jolie by last call, heck, by the second shot.
In trade, at least we aren't burdened by the nicer, more powerful 2.3-liter motor anymore and it is supposed to be smoother and quieter, lest it assault those senses too. This last gasp, errr, stop gap Focus will obviously be the subject of well earned and deserved scorn which will hopefully hasten the day of a proper Focus replacement rather than this atrocity.
1/8/07, 04:36 PM
#58
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Can we say massive factory and dealer rebates, 0% financing for the life of the loan, free cookies and kittens from day one...
If pitiable efforts like this are what Ford expects to pull their bacon out of the fire, then their situation is far graver than I thought. This Focus really is just an embarrassment. I literally thought it was a bad joke on someone's part when I saw the first picture.
A coworker of my wife was asking me about investing in Ford stock, figuring they were at the bottom and could only improve - a logical assumption. I will have to tell her heck no, they're still in a flaming nosedive and gaining speed based on this product.
1/8/07, 04:45 PM
#59
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You act like these dealerships are forced to buy huge Focus shipments from Ford. Ford management knows neither the central company nor the dealer network is making money anymore with the the current Focus, but they are saving money by holding off until they can bring the C2 Euro car.
1/8/07, 05:10 PM
#60
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