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Ford Focus Fans Await Global Model
The Ford Focus has served the compact market well, providing a competitive, low cost model to enthusiasts in the Canada and the United States since the late 1990s. However, the model sold in North America differs from the Focus sold internationally, with the global version considered to be the more refined and appealing of the two.
One Ford Initiative
Beginning in 2010, Ford will close the Focus gap by rolling out the next generation model for the North American market, a car that will soon be updated and released in Europe first. Instead of building two different cars for the same model name, Ford will be instituting its "One Ford" initiative where select European designed and built models will be sold globally.
Ford's original decision to sell different Focus models seems to be a curious one given the cost of designing, building and marketing separate cars. Indeed, Ford has lost a huge chunk of money with this arrangement, an idea supposedly hatched to save the company money as well as design a vehicle more suitable for American and Canadian drivers. The Wall Street Journal published an article in May 2009, "Ford Brings New Focus to Small-Car Market," whereby the newspaper noted that Ford lost one billion dollars annually on the Focus. Clearly, the old two model strategy was broken and needed to be fixed.
Next Generation Ford Focus
The next generation Ford Focus will follow on the heels of the Ford Fiesta, an even smaller subcompact model that will slot below the Focus. Together, both cars are expected to bolster Ford's position in the subcompact and compact (small car) segments, allowing the automaker to compete against Toyota, Nissan, Honda and others with a strong presence in the market.
Ford says, "The new Ford Focus global small car - which will be introduced in North America, Europe and Asia nearly simultaneously in 2010 - will be the first vehicle to benefit from global coordination. The new Focus' introduction will build on lessons learned from the current launch of the new Fiesta, the company's first global product under its One Ford vision." Three- and five-door hatchbacks and a four door sedan are expected to arrive in the US in late 2010, with an all-electric model following in 2011.
Keeping The Wraps On
Equipment as well as engines and transmissions to be offered have yet to be announced, leading many to speculate that a diesel powerplant as well as 1.6L EcoBoost I4 may be optional. Talk of including a convertible model in the mix has also surface, but Ford is silent about overall content at the moment. Credit the upcoming release of the Ford Fiesta with keeping the next generation Focus clouded in a shroud of secrecy.
What fans can expect is that the aftermarket industry will supply all of the parts and then some that they need to tune and outfit what will prove to be the hottest Focus line ever. And with the Fiesta and the Focus derived C-MAX also in the mix, Ford's commitment to the small car market will be brighter than ever before.
One Ford Initiative
Beginning in 2010, Ford will close the Focus gap by rolling out the next generation model for the North American market, a car that will soon be updated and released in Europe first. Instead of building two different cars for the same model name, Ford will be instituting its "One Ford" initiative where select European designed and built models will be sold globally.
Ford's original decision to sell different Focus models seems to be a curious one given the cost of designing, building and marketing separate cars. Indeed, Ford has lost a huge chunk of money with this arrangement, an idea supposedly hatched to save the company money as well as design a vehicle more suitable for American and Canadian drivers. The Wall Street Journal published an article in May 2009, "Ford Brings New Focus to Small-Car Market," whereby the newspaper noted that Ford lost one billion dollars annually on the Focus. Clearly, the old two model strategy was broken and needed to be fixed.
Next Generation Ford Focus
The next generation Ford Focus will follow on the heels of the Ford Fiesta, an even smaller subcompact model that will slot below the Focus. Together, both cars are expected to bolster Ford's position in the subcompact and compact (small car) segments, allowing the automaker to compete against Toyota, Nissan, Honda and others with a strong presence in the market.
Ford says, "The new Ford Focus global small car - which will be introduced in North America, Europe and Asia nearly simultaneously in 2010 - will be the first vehicle to benefit from global coordination. The new Focus' introduction will build on lessons learned from the current launch of the new Fiesta, the company's first global product under its One Ford vision." Three- and five-door hatchbacks and a four door sedan are expected to arrive in the US in late 2010, with an all-electric model following in 2011.
Keeping The Wraps On
Equipment as well as engines and transmissions to be offered have yet to be announced, leading many to speculate that a diesel powerplant as well as 1.6L EcoBoost I4 may be optional. Talk of including a convertible model in the mix has also surface, but Ford is silent about overall content at the moment. Credit the upcoming release of the Ford Fiesta with keeping the next generation Focus clouded in a shroud of secrecy.
What fans can expect is that the aftermarket industry will supply all of the parts and then some that they need to tune and outfit what will prove to be the hottest Focus line ever. And with the Fiesta and the Focus derived C-MAX also in the mix, Ford's commitment to the small car market will be brighter than ever before.
