Topic: Meet the new Focus, same as the Euro Focus

[Mitlov]

Exterior is truly stunning:





And yes, they're bringing back the five-door for North America:



Mind-blowing interior for the segment:



http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/11/2011-ford-focus-unveiled-u-s-and-euro-models-finally-unite/

Tech specs are like manna from heaven:

One more interesting feature that will be available on the next-gen Focus is Dynamic Cornering Control. While torque vectoring has been increasingly used in high performance all-wheel-drive systems from Acura, BMW and Audi, Ford is applying the concept to the front-wheel-drive Focus. If it delivers, this should help provide even better handling balance with less understeer in the new compact.

American Focus buyers will get one brand new engine and two transmission options at launch early next year. Like other new Fords, six-speed gearboxes are now the norm for Focus with a choice of manual or dual-clutch PowerShift units available. No traditional torque converter automatic will be offered in the Focus, but the PowerShift will get manual shift capability unlike the Fiesta. Unfortunately, the manual control comes by way of a switch on the side of the shift knob – no wheel-mounted shift paddles.

The engine is a new 2.0-liter direct-injected four-cylinder, which will also form the basis of the upcoming 2.0-liter EcoBoost. The normally aspirated unit will be rated at an estimated 155 hp and 145 pound-feet. Both cams are equipped with variable phasing using the same cam-torque actuation system as the Fusion's 2.5-liter and the new 5.0-liter V8 in the Mustang. Thanks to the charge cooling effect of direct injection, the new engine will have a 12:1 compression ratio, which should aid low end torque production. The new engine will also be E85 flex-fuel capable, a first for a DI engine. No one from Ford would confirm the availability of an EcoBoost engine in the Focus, but they did hint that the 1.6-liter GTDI would eventually be an option. Another feature that will be new to the Focus is automatic start-stop functionality that switches off the engine when the car comes to a halt. This will be one of the first such applications in the U.S. market in a non-hybrid vehicle.

Just about everyone (and yes, that includes VW) now looks like they're stuck in the past by a generation or two.   

[vdk]

That Focus Sedan looks like little Mondeo. 


Good job Ford!

[1TSX]

Amazing.

[EV Dan]

Outstanding! Love the looks of the sedan, and it comes with OEM rims I wouldn't want to replace. 155hp + DSG + auto shut off in a Focus ?!!!  

[HeliDriver]

Too bad about the Battlestar Galactica instrument panel, but otherwise it looks like a top-notch effort. 

[EV Dan]

I can see some leather stitching on top of the dash    Not sure about the manual gear "switch"  - switching gears with a thumb?

[Mitlov]

Too bad about the Battlestar Galactica instrument panel, but otherwise it looks like a top-notch effort. 

I love it.  It's rare I love a futuristic dash *cough*Civic*cough*, but this pulls it off beautifully in my opinion.

[PJungnitsch]

Not sure about the manual gear "switch"  - switching gears with a thumb?

Pretty common on heavy equipment nowadays, which have had extremely advanced transmissions for some time now. Fairly easy to get used to.

That is quite the interior:

[Snowdog]

95% likely this is my next car. It has everything I want: Fun/performance, practicality(hatch), economy (DI + 6spd) and blissfully quiet on the highway (quieter than a Camry at 80MPH).  

I will get the Hatch version for the extra practicality, but they are going to sell a lot more sedans as it is a fair bit better looking. Too bad they just didn't make a lift back out of that and kept the same looks.

Just need to keep my old 1999 running till I can get one of these.

[PJungnitsch]

Just need to keep my old 1999 running till I can get one of these.

Oh, poor baby. I've got an '87 I've just learned I have to nurse along another year. Maybe by kicking out the floorboards and pedaling.

Damn you ever improving vehicles!

[Leviathan]

Exterior is truly stunning:

Definitely a looker 

[tpl]

"While there are currently no plans for an RS model here in the U.S."

Just put the 2.0 Ecoboost engine in and some transmission paddles and you have an RS or close to it.

Definitely on my list for 2012.

[Greg B.]

Too bad about the Battlestar Galactica instrument panel, but otherwise it looks like a top-notch effort. 

Agreed. Ford needs to find somebody who knows how to design an instrument panel. All of their recent efforts have been very poor.

[Turbo Bob]

Not bad.  I'll save words like "mind-blowing", "stunning" and "heaven" for when I see it in the flesh.

NA still needs the flagship RS & ST models though.  I'd love to see what time the RS could get in that car and driver test on another thread, I bet it would be close to the Cobalt SS or even better.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Wow. Just "Woooooooow". Blow everything out of the water.

Interesting how they integrated the gas flap on the hatch.

Interior is impressive and better than Ford's recent interiors which I haven't cared for, although the gear shift looks a tad large and too far forward getting in the way of buttons.

At the price they're going to sell for (tad premium, but not VW premium... with incentives sometimes), it will be the best all-around package available. By far.

With the Focus family variants, and the rest of the full line-up, predicting Ford will become and remain Canada's #1 selling manufactuer for awhile.

[Wolverine]

Taillights on the hatch look awkward, other than that it looks amazing. The interior is AWESOME.

[carcrazy]

With the Focus family variants, and the rest of the full line-up, predicting Ford will become and remain Canada's #1 selling manufactuer for awhile.[/color]

I'm pretty sure that by 2012, Ford will be #1 brand in the US as well and most importantly profitable.


I was anxiously waiting for this car as I see it as a replacement for my Mazda3 in 2012. I have to say that it look great overall in both sedan and hatch form.
I'm a bit disappointed by the front clip - lower grill to be exact. I wish they kept the "Kinetic v1.0" grill, like the one on the new C-Max.
The interior looks good, with one remark - I hope the black gloss trim on the center console is an upgrade on the highest trim. All-black plastic console would work best for me.
The drivetrain is fine although I'm not crazy about the switch manual function on the auto tranny. I much prefer to move the gear shifter myself.

Overall, Ford gets the thumb up from me on this one. Now, let’s see the pricing, but I’m not too concerned about it as I’m sure it will be right where it should – in the same ballpark as the Mazda3 and Golf.

[Mitlov]

Very very likely that this will be my next car.  Price range is better for my family than a lot of the Audis and Bimmers and the like that I like (or a higher-end Regal), and if the handing and interior fit-and-finish are as unimpeachable as the current Euro Focus, it's a clear winner.  And the sedan's aesthetic design is truly stunning.

[Snowdog]

I'm pretty sure that by 2012, Ford will be #1 brand in the US as well and most importantly profitable.

I was anxiously waiting for this car as I see it as a replacement for my Mazda3 in 2012. I have to say that it look great overall in both sedan and hatch form.

The Mazda 3 was a leading contender for my next car, but this blows it out of the water, better in every way if it lives up to the description, not to mention the big bonus of not having that hideous goofball new Mazda3 front end.

As I have already stated. Pretty sure this will be my next car as well. It is the complete package I am looking for.

[carcrazy]

I'm not concerned one bit about the powertrain, driving dynamics, performance, interior quality and features availability on the new Focus since I'm confident that they will be top notch. Going by the Fiesta pricing in Canada at least, I think Ford has the right pricing strategy here so another concern is almost removed.
However, I have to wait an see it in person as the exterior design didn't have me at "hello" based on the pictures as I had hopped for.