this is what Ford should be selling in the US ! 2.5L 295 HP

[vlad]

this car is hot, it would be my daily driver no doubt (if they sold it here). Levent just told me a funny story, there is a Ford dealership not far from my shop, he was passing by and saw 2 salesman sleeping at their desks with the show room empty of any customers but filled with huge SUVs :down:

more pics here

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/04/officially-official-2009-ford-focus-rs/

[z31maniac]

Looks mean as hell, too bad about the AWD. 300HP in a FWD would get old pretty quick I'd think.

[vlad]

Looks mean as hell, too bad about the AWD. 300HP in a FWD would get old pretty quick I'd think.

Pop the vented hood on the Focus RS and you'll find a 2.5-liter turbocharged Duratec 5-cylinder tuned to dish out 300 PS (295 hp) and 302 lb-ft (410 Nm). All that juice is directed to the front wheels -- a passport to Torque Steer Hell under normal circumstances. In the case of the RS, however, Ford has developed a front suspension system unique to the car that it dubs,"RevoKnuckle". It works in concert with a Quaife Automatic Torque Biasing limited-slip differential to mitigate the effects of the torque steer enemy. All-wheel-drive was apparently considered, but weight concerns left it off the table.

[JasonC]

too bad about the AWD. 300HP in a FWD would get old pretty quick I'd think.

I allways had fun in my Dodge Daytona with the HP up there around 270+.

But i'm not digging he looks of that Ford.

[rwh11385]

Supposedly only the body is coming over... not the RS, but I've heard rumors otherwise as well

http://www.automobilemag.com/features/news/0807_2009_ford_focus_RS/index.html

Although the European Focus is slated to appear in the U.S. beginning in 2010, we're not expecting the RS to make the trip over.

http://inventorspot.com/articles/ford_focus_rs_coming_north_america_15436

The RS already has plans of hitting American soil.

The "new" focus in America is still a marginally updated 1st gen... whereas they have done several redesigns in Europe, and the rest of the world has the 2nd gen at least. Stupid US market not worth it for them. Hopefully in the future, yes... the lines cans merge so we're on the same page.

[Das Boots]

Aren't they suppose to rump up production for the Focus and leave more here that bring them to Europe sometime next year? But hopefully it will be on this design instead of a dumb down no excitement Focus.......

[uofom3]

Supposedly only the body is coming over... not the RS, but I've heard rumors otherwise as well

http://www.automobilemag.com/features/news/0807_2009_ford_focus_RS/index.html

Although the European Focus is slated to appear in the U.S. beginning in 2010, we're not expecting the RS to make the trip over.

http://inventorspot.com/articles/ford_focus_rs_coming_north_america_15436

The RS already has plans of hitting American soil.

The "new" focus in America is still a marginally updated 1st gen... whereas they have done several redesigns in Europe, and the rest of the world has the 2nd gen at least. Stupid US market not worth it for them. Hopefully in the future, yes... the lines cans merge so we're on the same page.

They might want to bring something like this over, because what they're doing right now clearly isn't working.

[Hartge_H27]

i miss some of the euro fords. hope they bring it over

[CorvallisBMW]

We've been getting screwed by Ford on good small cars for a long time. The newer Focus (pictured above) has been out for like 4 years, and Ford decided that for some retarded reason, instead of bringing it here, they'd just make us keep driving the 10 year old version.

[rwh11385]

We've been getting screwed by Ford on good small cars for a long time. The newer Focus (pictured above) has been out for like 4 years, and Ford decided that for some retarded reason, instead of bringing it here, they'd just make us keep driving the 10 year old version.

people here wouldn't buy it for as much as Ford would have to price it here... so we got the shitty old version of it...

They put more effort into Euro cars because they aren't the same segment over there. US Ford would-be drivers are cheap. I doubt Focus's are considered very profitable here, but rather a means to keep factories running and people employed here.

From the paper I wrote while studying International Business in the UK:

"In the scheme of efficiency worldwide, Ford wants to blend the benefits of national responsiveness with the advantages of global integration. The strategy closest to Ford’s would be transnational. The problem arises when Ford produces a model with two variants, one for Europe and one for America. One example of this is the European Focus and the US market one which had a decade old platform as opposed to the more actively developed for markets like the UK. The European model isn’t marketed for those solely on a budget like in the states, but for people who wanted more features in the key segment. However, the European Focus would prove to be too pricey in America compared to its competition. In this case, it is difficult to make one model fit both markets. The solution Ford hopes to utilize is different specifications and features of the models but the process to be common to both. The car could be adjusted to meet local desires but shared components could lower expenses while one sequence of activity could still provide the manufacturing teams with the benefits of global learning.

Ford is attempting to work against the notion that a world car cannot work with its new midsized Mondeo for Europe and Contour in America. With the same car being built in the UK as in the US, the experience curve can shared between both nations to further reduce costs. Another advantage is Ford can ship excess production between Europe and US. Ford will be purchasing twice the amount of supplies which allows for better bargaining position with suppliers compared to two sets of differentiated needs. Other minor advantages being opened are achieving a global image, sharing marketing knowledge through a world-wide network, and creating a subsiding effect to cover losses in one region with gains in another. To fit with experience-efficient locations of transnational strategy, Ford had the Mondeo designed in Germany and Britain, with assistance from Ford's U.S. units while it will be produced in nations like Belgium to save on labor.

The important thing about the introduction of the world car is the recent shift in both European and American tastes. With Europeans moving towards midsize models rather than super minis and the US wanting more reasonably sized cars, the local markets have a demand that can hopefully be satisfied by a single model. Another factor that allows for a world car is the advancement of communication among marketing, engineering, and production supervisors to keep in touch and work together. Instead of having company managers fly plans across the ocean, they can now email and video conference to work together effectively."

yadda yadda

I also worked in automotive pricing market research over there and Ford isn't an economy brand there (and neither is VW), so they can charge more for a cool newer Focus than they could where Ford has earned a stigma for being a brand you finance for cheap if you can't afford better.

[rwh11385]

The automaker also confirms that sedan and hatchback versions of the third-generation European Focus will be sold in North America for the 2011 model year. While the rest of the world currently sells the second generation of the compact car, North Americans have had to make do with a refreshed version of the original car.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/car_shopping/latest_news_reviews/u_s_to_get_2011_euro_focus_2009_ford_f_150_delayed_car_news

There was no good reason to spend to bring a NEW sub-compact ford here as it was such a small part of the market:

B-cars accounted for only one percent of U.S. sales in 2002, grew to two percent in 2007, and will double again to four percent by 2012, says Beth Donovan, Ford small car product manager. Globally, subcompacts account for about 27 percent of industry sales or about 85 million units. Importantly, Donovan says 32 percent of first-car buyers purchase a B-car, compared with 28 percent who buy the larger C-car.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/car_shopping/latest_news_reviews/2010_ford_fiesta_and_refreshed_2009_focus_to_satisfy_u_s_craving_for_small_cars_car_news

[Aptyp]

I wish

[e34john]

Awesome looking car. I just want a Mondeo.

[Jean]

I would rock it, especially if it came with awd.

[nando]

I still sorta lust over the old Contour SVT. Ford is capable of making neat cars but we tend to get the watered down crap here. :(