Official 2008 Ford Focus Pics and Information!

[MrPotatoes]

Originally Posted by focaljet-1

I have a feeling this will be the reaction both outside the World of FJ and other enthusiasts sites.

Everyone "in the know" simply has been beating the "I want a C1" drum for so long now that nothing short of the C1 would make any of them happy.

But, the average potential new Focus buyer doesn't know C1 from Adam, and I think the market response will be fairly positive.

maybe the rest of FJ. i don't plan to get another focus because i've been burned. but to me, this Focus just looks cheap and trivial. honestly, i'm almost insulted with this new one

[EggYolkBill]

First off it looks nothing like an ION. It does somewhat resemble a Civic Si though. I guess it's somewhere between Civic Si and Mazda 3.

Personally, I think it'll be a winner. The interior is light years ahead of any previous Foci. As far as the radio being intregrated so thoroughly in the dash, I don't think it will affect sales. Just look at the Mazda 3. The 3 has the same type of deal. I doubt it has affected it's sales.

I would buy this car in a heartbeat if I were in the market for a compact.

[eshaw]

That's not a Focus, sorry.

[CheaperSleeper]

The sedan's look is not to bad.

Although the pair are kind of Kia-ized in the looks department.

[mrunderwood]

I have not seen anything this ugly since the Aztek. What is up with that squared off styling at the front? It looks like somthing Russia would crank out at Lada Auto.

For those of you who wish to know what this car looks like, look behind a cow! Sorry I was thinking aloud. I meant Kia Spectra.

[RAWKUZX3-2K]

I hope the car does well. I have nothing against Ford or this car in particular but I think what everyone's frustration is that - this car is not or shouldn't have been billed as a "Focus".

We're not all banging the "we want the C1" drum. The C1 is just the physical manifestation of what an actual successor to the original Focus could have been (and IS over in Europe) and a lot of original Focus owners like it. They respond to it much like they did to the original.
And it's not even a question of what car is better (Mk1, Mk2, C1, 170, C2). Arguably the C1 platform is better but besides the point, the original Focus is almost iconic. Not immensely but it is. Just like original car designs such as the original VW Golf, or the VW Karmann Ghia or even the old Volvo GLT. Iconic and classic don't need to mean exotic, expensive or rare. The old original Escort is iconic. Which spawned such classics as the Escort Cosworth 4x4. The 1998 NA Escort GT is not a terrible car - probably competitive in it's category back in the day. But it is not iconic.

Not everyone loved the original (most of us in here did). And the same will go with this new car. Some people will love it. Unfortunately I get the sense it won't be the same people that loved the original.

I bet this new car is a great car. The general public may love it. The way they love a Corolla or Celine Dion. But like the Corolla, Celine Dion and this car - all three may be pretty good - but they're all dead inside.

[sh0velman]

All cars are dead inside.. unless you have some sort of newfangled bio-mechanical car...

[KonaZXIII]

Originally Posted by CrUziN4L

the more and more i look at it, the more potential i see. I personally can't wait for the actual market debut and then the months to follow, see what they offer and what not.

im sure there will be a slew of kits, wheels, etc. Watch people hail once a kit comes out (like the 2005 SAP)


-chris

With a run of only two model years I doubt the aftermarket will be too excited about it.

[CrUziN4L]

Originally Posted by KonaZXIII

With a run of only two model years I doubt the aftermarket will be too excited about it.

oh i agree....but like the 05, it didn't have aftermarket support but everyone here is making do (and Ford did step up with some visual candy, SAP)

that's what i am suggesting, that Ford will be the savior here again for this short span...till we get the C2 and have another aftermarket gem that we did with the pre-05


-chris

[CentralCaliSVT]

I guess I want to chime in as well. This is one of the few threads I've actually sat and read all the way through.

Well, all I can say is that the car is OK. It reminds me of a Cobalt, which isn't all bad, I like the Cobalt. That being said, it just doesn't get me going in any way. When the first Focus was released, I was stunned at how cool this little car was. I didn't know anything about it, I didn't know it was a euro car or any of the history. I just remember reading Car and Driver and them just loving this car. It handled great, had a really cool motor (2 liter zetec), and was of very high quality. The next day I went out and test drove one, and fell in love. It was the coolest looking car I had ever seen. I swore when I had some money, it would be the first "new" car I would get. Then in 2003 I was making a little money, I immediately went out and bought a new SVT Focus. I still love that car. Which is saying a lot, 'cause I bought an EVO IX, and back to back, the Focus holds it's own in certain areas.

This new one looks okay. But, it just looks like everything else out there. Especially with no performance version, it just kind of kills the deal. I know how everybody is saying Ford can't build enthusiast cars, 'cause there just aren't many of us out there. That they need to build family cars (in my mind this means boring and slow, but whatever, I'm just one person). I don't agree. The Gen 1 was everything to all people, it was a family car, as well as a hell of a sport compact. Even stock it was amazing. I don't want to have to buy a new car, then immediately void my warranty by having to modify it to make it fun.

The end result is: Ford has lost a very loyal customer (3 of my last 4 vehicles have been Ford). I can't get excited about anything in their line up. A car (in my book) can be fun and functional. Why buy this when I can get a cool looking little Fit, or a SI, Cobalt SS, the new Lancer is looking pretty good too. Or any number of other manufacturers that are building functional sport compacts. I can afford to get any car I want, I choose these style cars because of how much fun they are to drive and work on, and I like the way a 3 door hatch, or cool little couple look. Wotta' bummer...

[Roushzx2]

NOw I actually like this a lot. I dont think it looks like a Saturn but more like a Escort ZX2 and a Fusion got together one late lonley night. As far as a Performance model my scorces tell me that 2010 will see a ST model powered by the Mazdaspeed 3 Engine. For some odd reason Ford releases Performance Models 2 or 3yrs after the original comes out. Escort ZX2 == 98/ Escort ZX2 S/R ===00 Focus ZX3 ===00/ Focus ZX3 SVT ===03

Now is still unclear if Ford is keeping the ZX monical but the ppl I talked to are calling this a Zx2 (not just the Escort ppl) Either way hopefully Ford is making a come back into the Sport Compact Arena

[focaljet-1]

It's not going to be called the ZX2, nor is the Sedan the ZX4 AFAIK.

[EggYolkBill]

I remember when the Focus was announced back in '99 and everyone HATED it. Then once they were out and on the streets, people started liking them. I suggest you not base your opinions on some pictures off the internet and wait until you see this car out and about in the real world. It could look very different.

[2focusd]

So Ron what sort of pricing will we be looking at?

-Brian

[vad]

A Disaster - not surprising though after how the dickheads at FoMoCo have treated the Focus in N.A.
Who woud want to buy a freshened Escort in 2008?
It's really laughable.
It screams cheap!!!
The Koreans already own the lower end of the segment,
and with the looks like that even the bargain hunters will pass on it.
Ford loosers!!

[vad]

Originally Posted by EggYolkBill

I remember when the Focus was announced back in '99 and everyone HATED it.

WRONG!!!
Only the middle age or older traditionalists were hating it.
The original Focus took the younger market by storm.
It looked fresh and sophisticated in the segment dominated by the boremachines.

[Thameth]

Originally Posted by vad

WRONG!!!
Only the middle age or older traditionalists were hating it.
The original Focus took the younger market by storm.
It looked fresh and sophisticated in the segment dominated by the boremachines.

Yup, and it caused a hatchback revolution. Multiple manufactures which had sworn off HB's suddenly scrambled to come out with their own. Sadly Ford had tinkered soo much with the US Focus that the sheen slowly died off once they were labeled recall prone and unreliable.

[slidemaster]

They most certainly won't be Pzero Neros.

Dont be so sure, these are the all season units standard on the 17" mustang GT (base)wheel package. They are pretty cheep and after 3 laps on a road course turn to some sort of soft goowy crap. HAd them on the red car we ran in 5-06 at Buttonwillow for the CHP.

[vad]

Originally Posted by EggYolkBill

I suggest you not base your opinions on some pictures off the internet and wait until you see this car out and about in the real world. It could look very different.

Excuses.

[Auto-X-ZTS]

Yawwwwwwwn...did I miss something?






Seriously, my initial thoughts from a styling standpoint are: The C-dan barely rates as OK--really does nothing for me in the least. Its really rather forgettable--and the coupe is, well, fugly.

[vad]

Originally Posted by Thameth

Yup, and it caused a hatchback revolution. Multiple manufactures which had sworn off HB's suddenly scrambled to come out with their own. Sadly Ford had tinkered soo much with the US Focus that the sheen slowly died off once they were labeled recall prone and unreliable.

Absolutely.
Remember how everyone used to proclaim that hatches can't be sold in America.
Besides I wouldn't even consider a Ford at that time and was looking at the Civic.
But when the original Focus got released in Europe it caught my attention.
I used to collect the reviews and pictures coming out of Europe.
And after the FoMoCo's announcement to bring the car to the US I just had to get one!
O, well. LOL

[FocusSportVP]

Originally Posted by vad

A Disaster - not surprising though after how the dickheads at FoMoCo have treated the Focus in N.A.
Who woud want to buy a freshened Escort in 2008?
It's really laughable.
It screams cheap!!!
The Koreans already own the lower end of the segment,
and with the looks like that even the bargain hunters will pass on it.
Ford loosers!!

Come on now. No need to resort to calling people dickheads and "loosers" ( losers, btw ) because you don't like the new Focus. Its mostly just personal opinion. You don't like it, OK, but I deal first hand with many people at Ford and they have been great to work with. To bring this thread down to the level of name calling is uncalled for.

[sh0velman]

why people are so viciously attacking a car THEY DO NOT HAVE TO PURCHASE OR ENJOY TO LOOK AT, OR LOOK AT AT ALL, is beyond me.

Three Cheers for the 2008 Focus, long live the Focus! Huzzah huzzah!

[Thameth]

Originally Posted by vad

Absolutely.
Remember how everyone used to proclaim that hatches can't be sold in America.
Besides I wouldn't even consider a Ford at that time and was looking at the Civic.
But when the original Focus got released in Europe it caught my attention.
I used to collect the reviews and pictures coming out of Europe.
And after the FoMoCo's announcement to bring the car to the US I just had to get one!
O, well. LOL

Same here....