Official 2008 Ford Focus Pics and Information!

[focaljet-1]

It's not a SOHC. That was a typo.

[rejectZX3]

I still think that the aftermarket touches you guys are invisioning happening for this vehicle have a ice cube's chance in hell of seeing daylight. The car is only going to hae a planned two year production run. We are just now getting some things for the 1.5's, and have yet to see grills, hoods and headlights for them. So I would be really surprised if you see anything to cure the blemishes of this car anytime soon, since it's been made pretty clear that the next version will be all new and that is where the concetration from the aftermarket will be focused (hehe) by year two of this generation's life.

[orionlion82]

i am reconsidering my optimisim about it after a few days.

1. seeing that crooked gap above that foglight in that picture - at an autoshow - really gives me pause. If ford thinks that is good enough for an auto show, it is going to be -well better- than good enough for your new 08 too. you would allmost think my '06 fell off a lift, and had the plastic panels melted a bit before i bought it, so this could only be a really bad sign. again, i dont care what my car LOOKS like, but moreso how well it is put together. it says to me "warning, caution, danger! - mind the gaps!" - maybe its gotten worse in this aspect?

2. i may have got it wrong, but whats up with the suspension changes? its softer, and yet somehow stiffer, and feels HEAVIER?
What? are you kidding?

it is (or is not, depending on who you ask) a FOCUS.
why take a small sporty car and make it feel like a floaty, heavy beastly towncar? it should feel light and quick, not more like a roadmaster.

the only reason i can think of is to make the engine feel more powerful in match to the car - but really, if the car felt softer and heavier, it would be a COMPLETE dealbreaker for me.

thoughts?

[Johnny_P]

^ gotta drive it to see what exactly they mean... as of right now, nobody knows how its going to drive, we can only assume it will be good.

[Ataru]

Originally Posted by focaljet-1

It probably wasn't the best example, granted. But if you realize that Focus never was a single, iconic car. But was a range from the outset, then the idea of a "Coupe" doesn't mean "it's NOT a Focus"..

120 models there. Looking at them, how many are sedans or wagons?

I know this doesn't mean a lot, and probably should be taken tongue in cheek, but when these models were made, there was a reason that the company decided to make the hatchback version and not the sedan or wagon.

While the Focus was a "range" from the outset, when you ask people to describe a Ford Focus, I bet 4 things will come out of their mouths first:

1) Hatchback
2) Taillights up high, next to the rear glass
3) Wheel arches
4) Angled headlights

The Focus is a range, yes, but in a LOT of people's minds it's what I listed above.

[02_smurf]

Originally Posted by Ataru

120 models there. Looking at them, how many are sedans or wagons?

I know this doesn't mean a lot, and probably should be taken tongue in cheek, but when these models were made, there was a reason that the company decided to make the hatchback version and not the sedan or wagon.

While the Focus was a "range" from the outset, when you ask people to describe a Ford Focus, I bet 4 things will come out of their mouths first:

1) Hatchback
2) Taillights up high, next to the rear glass
3) Wheel arches
4) Angled headlights

The Focus is a range, yes, but in a LOT of people's minds it's what I listed above.

Isn't it 121 now?

[R-code]

Originally Posted by DisrupTer911

because i don't want a Mazda...and the 3 only comes in a 5 door hatch.
and if I was gonna get a 3 it'd be the sedan and they don't offer the mazdaspeed version in a sedan.

so it's a no win situation

For you, I guess it is. I doubt Ford or Mazda are very sympathetic, though. Mazda dealers aren't likely to have trouble moving MS3's in it's current configuration. Perhaps if the new Si sedan does well you'll see Mazda try to compete there?

~Mike~

[Ataru]

Originally Posted by 02_smurf

Isn't it 121 now?

126 actually.

[jon_lep]

When I heard they drop the ZX3 & ZX5, I thought I had to look elsewhere but I'm not sure anymore. It's just that I like the practicality of a hatchback but the more I look at not only the look of the car but the improvements, I might buy one in the futur. They finally put 6 air bags, drop the fuel economy, stiffen the body, etc. You have to keep in mind they don't want to make competition to the civic SIR but more to a civic DX ! and who knows if a performance model will come out a few months after this model goes out. The 2 door coupe could compare to the civic coupe, not the SI !
Personnaly, I think the focus coupe looks much better than this...no wait, now I think the civic looks like a Ion ! poor people...

[rpvitiello]

ok so i showed the new car to people at my school (automotive tech school) almost EVERYONE i spoke with said it looked like a saturn. Now about 1/2 said it was disgusting looking (some of which were current focus owners) the other 1/2 said it looks better than it does now (as in looking like a saturn is BETTER than the 05+s look)

I then showed people the mondeo to give people and idea of what euro fords look like. EVERYONE stated the LOVED how the 08 mondeo looked and that it was a 100X better car than what they sell in the states...

I am startign to wonder. Has ford US's previous managment even CONSIDERED showing the euro models in focus groops to see how americans would react to the euro fords? I have to guess they did not because not ONE person that i showed the current mondeo to disliked the car EVERYONE liked it ALLOT and got emotional about it. The US cars are either "its kind of cool" or its "ugly, disgusting."

Just a thought.

(i know the mondeo is a higher class car, but it seamed like where they were trying to get some of there styling direction from)

[MattHarrell]

Damn, I skip checking on the 'Jet for a few days (too busy playing Neverwinter Nights 2 and watching "Magnum PI Season 5" that I got for Christmas) and I miss one of the biggest posts ever. I didn't even know the official pics were released until a coworker mentioned seeing it in his _AutoWeek_.

I'm not sure how I feel about the exterior design. Sometimes I like it and other times not so much; however, I do feel that it will be a big all around improvement for Ford. And I think the interior rocks, although I'll have to wait until I go to NAIAS on the 18th to have more of an opinion about the car.

Regarding the Euro styling, like Ron said, this car was already practically done when the current group of top Ford guys came into power. What I've read recently is that Ford IS working, or at least strongly considering, bringing over European and Australian Fords as a quicker way to liven up the product line. But in the meantime, but gut reaction to this is that it's going to be a good thing for Ford, even if I'm not totally sold on the styling. I'm excited to read about it in the enthusiast magazines to see how they did with NVH reduction and handling.

[Johnny_P]

^^ yeah i remember that from the james bond movie.... when he was driving the Mondeo, people in the theater were like "what is that? is that a Ford?"

it was interesting... I wonder where Ford gets their "market research" from

[CrUziN4L]

Originally Posted by MattHarrell

Regarding the Euro styling, like Ron said, this car was already practically done when the current group of top Ford guys came into power. What I've read recently is that Ford IS working, or at least strongly considering, bringing over European and Australian Fords as a quicker way to liven up the product line. But in the meantime, but gut reaction to this is that it's going to be a good thing for Ford, even if I'm not totally sold on the styling. I'm excited to read about it in the enthusiast magazines to see how they did with NVH reduction and handling.

yep, but just let all the skeptic and nay-sayers to believe wat they want...they'll just be eating their words in a couple years


hopefully we'll have a giant "ha ha i win" smiley by then.

[Johnny_P]

Hey Ron.... can we get a poll? A like it / hate it / unsure poll?

I'd be REALLY interested in seeing what FJ thinks as a community

[focaljet-1]

Originally Posted by Johnny_P

Hey Ron.... can we get a poll? A like it / hate it / unsure poll?

I'd be REALLY interested in seeing what FJ thinks as a community

I plan on doing that... but I was going to wait a few days until people "digest" the car a bit more.

[eff]

C&D are impressed http://www.caranddriver.com/custom/s...&section_id=31

IMHO hindsight will show Ford should not have called this new reskinned car a Focus. Maybe Ford Four Hundred etc, but not Focus.

[Ataru]

Originally Posted by eff

C&D are impressed http://www.caranddriver.com/custom/s...&section_id=31

IMHO hindsight will show Ford should not have called this new reskinned car a Focus. Maybe Ford Four Hundred etc, but not Focus.

IMPRESSED?

Hi lights of that video clip

They think the styling is not one of the best for this class, which is a shame since these cars often sell on styling

They like the interior and SYNC.

Their favorite engine, the 2.3 is not offered and they are disappointed.

Initial impression, "They are still waiting for an all new small car from Ford and it's been 8 years.....where is it Ford."

Those are almost exactly the same feelings that a LOT of us that are disappointed with the new Focus have.

[FocusLacy]

Hey, here's a totally unbiased opinion from somebody who could give a crap about "car stuff" (my wife, in the other room on her laptop )...

customlacy: hey
bzzinglikeneon: yes
customlacy: new Focus, what do you think? <=(linked to this thread)
bzzinglikeneon: Ew
bzzinglikeneon: No
bzzinglikeneon: That's ugly
customlacy: how about those things on the side?
bzzinglikeneon: It's just ugly
customlacy: ok
bzzinglikeneon: I don't like anything about that
bzzinglikeneon: It doesn't even look like a Focus.

...and...

customlacy: hey, what about this instead? <=(linked to a pic of a MKII ST)
bzzinglikeneon: That's a little better
customlacy: much more "focus-ey", right?
bzzinglikeneon: Yes
customlacy: that's the Focus in Europe, that's what they get

...'nuff said

[Thameth]

Focus Evolution.



Focus Revolution??? Kinda.....

[Thameth]

Originally Posted by eff

C&D are impressed http://www.caranddriver.com/custom/s...&section_id=31

IMHO hindsight will show Ford should not have called this new reskinned car a Focus. Maybe Ford Four Hundred etc, but not Focus.

What video were you watching???? He basically ragged on the car the entire time talking about how boring it was and begging that Ford bring over the C1.....

Whats funny is that it proves that its not just use wacko jetters who want the C1. Almost every single industry mag i've read begs ford to bring the C1.

Honestly i'm still not buying the thing about this being cheaper to come up with than simply importing the C1.

I would love to see some kind of cost analysis on importing the C1 for 2-3 years compared to having this new focus here for 2-3...err or maybe 4 years....

[Ataru]

Originally Posted by Thameth

Focus Evolution.

1) Hatchback Check
2) Taillights up high, next to the rear glass Check
3) Wheel arches Check
4) Angled headlights Check

Focus Revolution??? Kinda.....

1) Hatchback Nope
2) Taillights up high, next to the rear glass Nope
3) Wheel arches Nope
4) Angled headlights Well, pointed?