Official 2008 Ford Focus Pics and Information!

[focaljet-1]

Give 'em Hell, Hal!

[zurno]

Originally Posted by Thameth

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....

maybe the factory couldn't handle the ammount of sales that NA would add for the C1 Focus to be imported here?

[focaljet-1]

I guess a lot of people didn't read my post as to why we have this car, now.

[eff]

Originally Posted by Thameth

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....

I was being sarcastic.

Seeing the pics above of the C1 Euro Focus and this reskinned thing reaffirms my disgust that this reskinned car will wear a Focus badge. Any Focus DNA in this new car will not be apparent to ones eye, only in the dynamics. Which is why this car should not wear the Fous badge. The Focus genes are based on EuroStyle, not American/Korean styling. Call it something else, or is this what we can expect from Ford when 2010 C2 is released. Again North America will have shared components from the C2, but no sharing of body panels, interior, etc.

But I suppose this is the same for Fusion drivers in North America and Europe in the sense that each markets Fusion vehicle is totally different in appearances.

[Ataru]

What I find amazing is that the people who like the car are ripping a new one to those who don't like it.

Comments like this:

But going by a lot of the posts in this thread it seems like we have gotten a lot of members who want the factory to build everything for them. Maybe they don't have the ambition or ability to take what the factory turns out and make it into something "special"

are a good example.

I have yet to see one person make a comment like this towards someone who likes the car.

Why is it the people who don't like the car and wish Ford chose a different direction can get comments like this made about them and it be okay? I don't see the people who dislike the car stooping to this level and insulting those who do like the car.....

We all have opinions. Why can't we all share them without being judged like this?

[secondechomatt]

Originally Posted by Ataru

What I find amazing is that the people who like the car are ripping a new one to those who don't like it.

Comments like this:

are a good example.

I have yet to see one person make a comment like this towards someone who likes the car.

Why is it the people who don't like the car and wish Ford chose a different direction can get comments like this made about them and it be okay? I don't see the people who dislike the car stooping to this level and insulting those who do like the car.....

We all have opinions. Why can't we all share them without being judged like this?

Try being a pastor who likes to frequent the off-topic area!

[focaljet-1]

What I don't understand is how so many people think that the car was magically going to transform from the spy shots, which we've seen for months, into some über Focus?

We saw the spy shots
We knew the hatch and wagon were going away
We knew there would be a Coupe
We knew the 2.3 would not be offered

What's so surprising?

[orionlion82]

WOW thameth... i only saw the euro ST in the topgear video - and never from that angle. It looks so (whoops) good i wanna eat one!

i mean i thought i understood the whining about the G.B. ST versus U.S. pretty good, but it hits alot harder now.

powerfull image.
i am so let down about the 08 now...

and at least the convertible looks like a new focus II had puppies with a ZX2... that is alot easier to get away with.

[zurno]

Originally Posted by Ataru

What I find amazing is that the people who like the car are ripping a new one to those who don't like it.

Comments like this:

are a good example.

I have yet to see one person make a comment like this towards someone who likes the car.

Why is it the people who don't like the car and wish Ford chose a different direction can get comments like this made about them and it be okay? I don't see the people who dislike the car stooping to this level and insulting those who do like the car.....

We all have opinions. Why can't we all share them without being judged like this?

watch it, or "we" may have to put a hit out on ya



personally I don't really care for the MK2 Focus (C1), the ST isn't too bad, but you have to remember the country would be filled with the base model cars that look a bit bland and have ugly interiors

posting pics of the ST 99% of the time is like telling someone that has never seen another Focus before that all of them are like the EAP SVT, with nice Recaros and HID's


maybe if we are lucky Ford will import the C1 hach with the 1.4 for us! o, tha powa......

[zurno]

PS, europe doesn't get the damn 2.3 either, so it is 2.5 or bust

and like we all are going to pay over 26k for a Focus.......

[hotrodkris]

Originally Posted by focaljet-1

What's so surprising?

Nothing!

But I still don't like it that well. That's just personal opinion, from an enthusiast's standpoint. I guess my own Foci have spoiled me as to what the car 'could be'. But what I want and what Joe Q. Public wants to buy not the same, and there's a lot more Joes out there than HotRodKristinas.

Unfortunately, the newer and... less experienced.... people on this board don't seem to realize that Ford doesn't build cars 'just for them'. I'm sure they'll sell a crapload of them, being that gas isn't getting much cheaper these days.

I have high expectations for Ford when the car is finally 'all new'.

[SilverSVT]

Originally Posted by focaljet-1

What I don't understand is how so many people think that the car was magically going to transform from the spy shots, which we've seen for months, into some über Focus?

We saw the spy shots
We knew the hatch and wagon were going away
We knew there would be a Coupe
We knew the 2.3 would not be offered

What's so surprising?

People bitch just to bitch, Ron...and don't believe things when simple facts are laid out in logical matter as to why the C1 isn't here. They Just want it because they can't have it. I just wonder if people are plain ignorant at times and are far too concerned with their personal crusades to see anything different then what they want.

[SilverSVT]

Originally Posted by hotrodkris

I have high expectations for Ford when the car is finally 'all new'.

High Expectations are a great way to be let down!

Anyways, The new Focus is a big improvement over the outgoing model, no matter what way you feel about it. I'm not blown away with the styling, but the car isn't Fugly IMO and I'm waiting to I see in person to make a final decision if I like it or not. I'm also going to say that if I had to get another car and I was looking at a car like this, I would get a Focus, and this is coming from someone who had a total POS SVT Focus that ate DSI cables and **** a clutch at 50K miles, not to mention a whole host of other problems

[Ataru]

Originally Posted by focaljet-1

What I don't understand is how so many people think that the car was magically going to transform from the spy shots, which we've seen for months, into some über Focus?

We saw the spy shots
We knew the hatch and wagon were going away
We knew there would be a Coupe
We knew the 2.3 would not be offered

What's so surprising?

Spy shots looked promising. I think a lot of us are surprised by the front end, the side "vent", and the boring rear. The overall design doesn't appeal to many of us.

As for the other items, they might have been known for a while, but this thread is the official revealing of the car and it had brought back discussion of what many of us desired Ford to create. Nothing, other than the styling details, is surprising. This is just a point for all of us to discuss the car, what we like, what we don't like, and what we wish they had done different.

I think this thread would be very boring if it was all just glowing praise for the new Focus.

[zurno]

Great, MK1 Focus owners seem to think that since their car was designed in Germany that they should now be eurotrash.

Apparently everything Ford North America does is automatically the worst thing possible and Ford europe makes perfect cars that every person in this country would love!

Reality check, people always* want what they can't have. Also, the general publis is going to be impressed with the european Fords, they do not see them every damn day. If they had the monde here, it would be just another car, probably getting criticized as much as the next "domestic". Just look at the previous attempts at selling a european car here from Ford Europe.

[gobstopper]

Originally Posted by focaljet-1

What I don't understand is how so many people think that the car was magically going to transform from the spy shots, which we've seen for months, into some über Focus?

We saw the spy shots
We knew the hatch and wagon were going away
We knew there would be a Coupe
We knew the 2.3 would not be offered

What's so surprising?

We saw the spy shots, and all of the bad stuff was hidden under the vinyl camo.

We knew there would be a coupe. Okay, sure, I can dig it.

As far as the hatch/wagon going away and the 2.3 not being offered...

What surprises me is that nobody raised a hand in a meeting and said "Are we sure this isn't a bad idea?".

The Focus has consistently sold more sedans than hatches, but if you remove the fleet sales, it's not so dramatic.

[focaljet-1]

I guess I don't see where the big leap from the spy shots to the unveiling is?

What was covered was the front and rear fascias and the side vent detail. The overall outline of the car was apparent.

Regarding what the public didn't see because of the camo:

The Front - I think it looks a LOT better than it could have. It is actually may be one of the details that was tweaked by the new design team. We could have easily gotten something akin to the infamous "Red Mule" that had a more literal application of the "Fusion" grille.

The Rear - I think the Coupe rear is fine. It's not breathtaking, but it's not ugly either. The Sedan rear is boring, but then again, it's a Sedan. The Focus Sedan has always had a boring rear. At least it's updated and a bit cleaner.

The Side "Vent" - This is the latest design trend. So, it's a fad they decided to incorporate.

The car was designed to work without it (reference the SE spec Sedan) so it is easily removed... plus it will allow a point for additional customization and personalization through the use of color, different materials, etc.

My personal opinion is that there has been a huge pent-up animosity toward Ford for not "giving us the C1!" :dammit: and the new car is just a watershed for all those negative comments to come pouring out.

A lot of people don't like it. I GET that. I didn't design the car so I don't take their comments personally.

I just get a bit amused at people getting so bent like they just found out that their best friend just slept with their sister.

I don't expect there to be any positive reviews by the U.S. car mags until they drive the car either, maybe not even then. It's just become fashionable to say "I want a C1" and Ford can't win because anything less won't do.

[BUR_ZX3]

Originally Posted by focaljet-1

What I don't understand is how so many people think that the car was magically going to transform from the spy shots, which we've seen for months, into some über Focus?

We saw the spy shots
We knew the hatch and wagon were going away
We knew there would be a Coupe
We knew the 2.3 would not be offered

What's so surprising?

Honestly... that front bumper is hideous. It really turns me off to the car.

I was anticipating the car. I thought it could have had a LOT to offer. But what ford has done has turned me off in the worst way. I mean seriously.... it looks way outta place.


Honestly I didn't know there wouldn't be a 2.3 option I knew it'd be base 2.0.

[focaljet-1]

Originally Posted by gobstopper

The Focus has consistently sold more sedans than hatches, but if you remove the fleet sales, it's not so dramatic.

Please post the data so we can discuss. Numerical claims without actual numbers mean nothing.



In regards to product mix, nothing replaces the wagon... and I do think that is a mistake (but I understand the reasoning).

The Coupe will end up being sold to some previous hatch buyers (probably even me) ...as well as to others who DON'T like hatches (yes, they exist ).

Coming from my days as a huge Honda fan I've already been through this "ditching the hatchback for a Coupe" thing once (on the Si). So, I guess I'm a less fraught with angst this time around.

[Lifeguardjoe]

Originally Posted by hotrodkris

Public wants to buy not the same, and there's a lot more Joes out there than HotRodKristinas.

HEY! I resemble that comment!

Just for the record, I like it, but I wouldn't buy one.

I'm happy with my "boy racer" car (2003 Mustang Cobra) as mentioned before.

[focaljet-1]

Originally Posted by BUR_ZX3

Honestly... that front bumper is hideous. It really turns me off to the car.

I was anticipating the car. I thought it could have had a LOT to offer. But what ford has done has turned me off in the worst way. I mean seriously.... it looks way outta place.


Honestly I didn't know there wouldn't be a 2.3 option I knew it'd be base 2.0.

Styling is a personal preference. Those that don't like it probably won't buy it. I like it. Would I rather have the C1 ST? Sure. But I certainly like this new car over the '05-07 "freshening". I want to do a Duratec turbo, but just couldn't bring myself to buy THAT front end (which is SERIOUSLY boring).

In regards to engine options, I've said on this board many times that the 2.3 was going away I guess people just didn't read my posts or chose not to believe me. I've known about that for a long time (one of the perks of running the site ).