Official 2008 Ford Focus Pics and Information!

[wilko]

Originally Posted by Chalz

You mean, Rincon and Mewcuwey?

Wrong on so many levels...


A good laugh tho.

[rpvitiello]

Originally Posted by focaljet-1

I think you mis-read my post. I don't think Cadillac is competing directly with BMW (yet) either, even though that's what they are trying to do. They are closer than ever, but just not there IMHO.

Lincoln and Cadillac use to go after the same customer. They still should.

And yes, if you are referring to the BLS, it has not sold well in Europe at all. Even with the diesel option.

"American" cars are a novelty in Europe. Sure, many people would "fancy" a Mustang over there, but that's a different crowd than the lux sedan buyer.

Cadillac is still not appealing to their taste. It's still a bit rough around the edges to them in terms of styling, driving dynamic and interior quality. You would only buy one to be "different" at this point.

The "Global" car concept has been tried many times and never quite seems to work. However, it looks as we are about to enter another round of it as manufacuturers try to find ways to cut cost.

Different countries value different things. China is where the future luxury car (hell, all car) growth is.

Buick is one of the top brands with affluent Chinese. Why not Lincoln or even Mercury?

Well the issue is they dynamics of the auto industry changed allot since Cadi, and linc went right after each other. For one Ford has FAR more brands than it used to have and there is allot more competition from all the other companies. It is no longer just Ford, GM, Chrysler. Ford needs to pick brands to target competition on a global scale.

BMW, Mercedes etc… are all global brands, so to compete with them you need a global brand like Jaguar, Volvo, etc… It makes no sense to poor a tone of money into a Lincoln to make it a world class car, and then sell it only in the US in not enough volume to make your money back. If Lincoln, Cadillac are going to go after BMW, Mercedes they need to be sold globally. Cadi is trying to make their brand international to get the economics of scale, and ford is using brands that are already international to compete with BMW. They decided since Lincoln is really a US only brand after US tastes, it should go after the other US only luxury brands or primarily US brands, like Acura and Lexus. Outside of the US Acura and Lexus are almost non existent, but IN the US Lexus is the most successful luxury car brand.

Ford is left with the choice of either getting rid of brands and just going after the global market, or they need to have some global brands, but also have a few niche brands for each market.

[Thameth]

Originally Posted by SilverSVT

WTF? your grasping at straws now

Ok #1 fanboy

[bluebyutoo]

Just got back from the NYIAS where the Focus was on the floor and it still sucks.

There wasn't even one person looking at it.

[rpvitiello]

yea i am going during the week to take a look at the cars, i am almost scared to se how bad this thing is in person.

[delian]

the interior is awsome but what happen to the outside

[delian]

Originally Posted by rpvitiello

Well the issue is they dynamics of the auto industry changed allot since Cadi, and linc went right after each other. For one Ford has FAR more brands than it used to have and there is allot more competition from all the other companies. It is no longer just Ford, GM, Chrysler. Ford needs to pick brands to target competition on a global scale.

BMW, Mercedes etc… are all global brands, so to compete with them you need a global brand like Jaguar, Volvo, etc… It makes no sense to poor a tone of money into a Lincoln to make it a world class car, and then sell it only in the US in not enough volume to make your money back. If Lincoln, Cadillac are going to go after BMW, Mercedes they need to be sold globally. Cadi is trying to make their brand international to get the economics of scale, and ford is using brands that are already international to compete with BMW. They decided since Lincoln is really a US only brand after US tastes, it should go after the other US only luxury brands or primarily US brands, like Acura and Lexus. Outside of the US Acura and Lexus are almost non existent, but IN the US Lexus is the most successful luxury car brand.

Ford is left with the choice of either getting rid of brands and just going after the global market, or they need to have some global brands, but also have a few niche brands for each market.

what ford need to do is listen to the millions of custumer that buy their cars and truck stop re designing every thing to death and take honda's approach refining what is already great and work on whats not.

[rpvitiello]

Originally Posted by delian

what ford need to do is listen to the millions of custumer that buy their cars and truck stop re designing every thing to death and take honda's approach refining what is already great and work on whats not.

honda redesigns there cars every 5 years like clock work. They address what ever people complained about with the last gen car and improve the new one in every way. they come out with new cars that are more refined than the last one, they dont keep "refining" the same car. That is what ford tried to do and they wind up dragging on the same platform FAR too long.

ford need there cars to be fully redesigned every 5 years like every other major car company in the world does.

[MrPotatoes]

Originally Posted by rpvitiello

ford need there cars to be fully redesigned every 5 years like every other profitable car company in the world does.

yeah, i got into this not too long ago. i can't remember if it was in this thread though.

5 years. c'mon now. it's very doable.

[wilko]

It seem that is the direction Ford is trying to go with thier product lifecycles (new versions every 4-5 years or so).

[EricR]

Originally Posted by rpvitiello

[b]honda redesigns there cars every 5 years like clock work.[b] They address what ever people complained about with the last gen car and improve the new one in every way. they come out with new cars that are more refined than the last one, they dont keep "refining" the same car. That is what ford tried to do and they wind up dragging on the same platform FAR too long.

ford need there cars to be fully redesigned every 5 years like every other major car company in the world does.

Every 5 years? Not with the Odyssey van. IDK about the cars but the current generation Honda van was released for the 2002 model year with a refresh for 2005.

Some HondaPreview.com comments regarding the 2008 Honda Odyssey:

For 08 the Odyssey is slated for a mid-model change. Although most of the sheet metal will remain unchanged you will most likely see Honda's standard list of mid-model changes which include headlight, taillight and bumper changes. Expect to see a few color changes as well as another trim level to finish out the last 2 years of the cycle.

2009 Honda Odyssey: Most likely more of 2008.

2010 Honda Odyssey: Full model change.


Again, IDK about the Honda car line (we own the van), but for the Odyssey it's going to be 8 years between redesigns.

[CrUziN4L]

could we stick with ford?

[orionlion82]

i just re-read post # 1

and i am amazed at how good it sounds on paper in spite of... well, do we reeeeaaaly need to go there again for the 1312th time?

when do we get the oh-so-important -exclusive test-drive and impressions from the editors of FJ?

i just re-noticed:

*new air intake
*better cooling & HVAC
*supposedly better milage and gearing
*better brakes (they were damn good allready, but i cant find fault with better brakes)
*better NVH qualities

now- i know weve allready chewed it to death -
but when do we get to see if it really delivers?

[orionlion82]

and hey, in the 3/4 stills in post #1 does anyone notice the wacky rear camber?...

ive been learning to spot camber recently but it looks over the top....

[wilko]

Looks ok to me, but I dont have a trained eye.

[zurno]

so when are they going to start building these things?

[wilko]

Originally Posted by zurno

so when are they going to start building these things?

They should be building them now. (If i am wrong someone will provide the right answer soon.....

well???)

[eff]

2008 Ford Focus

2008 MY Order Bank Opens: 05/14/2007
2008 MY Scheduling Begins: 07/26/2007
2008 MY Job #1 Date: 08/27/2007

The 2008 Focus Order Guide will not be published and released to dealers until about the time the Order Bank opens.

[rpvitiello]

Originally Posted by EricR

Every 5 years? Not with the Odyssey van. IDK about the cars but the current generation Honda van was released for the 2002 model year with a refresh for 2005...
Again, IDK about the Honda car line (we own the van), but for the Odyssey it's going to be 8 years between redesigns.

I could maybe see the van going longer because it is a smaller market, and the odyssey is a US only vehicle. The odyssey is different in most countris. For the major cars from them though like the civic and accord they seem to be on a very strict 5 year life cycle.

Trucks and vans always used to be on longer life cycles from all the major manufacturers. Ford is the one company that is trying to go to 5-6 year life cycles on trucks to keep them very competative against the imports who are "behind" in that market. I think ford is planning a full redesign on the f150 very soon.

[Thameth]

Originally Posted by rpvitiello

I could maybe see the van going longer because it is a smaller market, and the odyssey is a US only vehicle. The odyssey is different in most countris. For the major cars from them though like the civic and accord they seem to be on a very strict 5 year life cycle.

Trucks and vans always used to be on longer life cycles from all the major manufacturers. Ford is the one company that is trying to go to 5-6 year life cycles on trucks to keep them very competative against the imports who are "behind" in that market. I think ford is planning a full redesign on the f150 very soon.

Umm I'm pretty sure Japan has the Odyssey... I've seen some crazy Turbo JDM Odyssey's online before.

Yup:

The third generation Japanese-built Odyssey was the first full redesign of the Odyssey since its introduction in 1995. Going on sale in Japan in late 2003, and in Australia and many other countries in 2004, it continued with a 4-door body style, with a much sleeker, lower, and more car-like appearance. The new Odyssey came with the Honda K24 engine, a 2.4 L unit producing 158 hp (118 kW); this is the same engine used in the CR-V and Accord. The V6 engine was dropped completely. However, this has not stopped the new Odyssey from becoming a sales success. In Australia, the Odyssey achieved its best-ever sales year in 2005, and has outsold the Toyota Tarago for the first time.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Odyssey

[eff]

JDM Odyssey http://www.grmotorsports.com/archive...n/DSCN0058.JPG
http://www.diginfo.tv/archives/odyssey.JPG

[Nliiitend1]

^^Exactly.

The North American Odyssey is a completely different vehicle than the rest of the world gets....

[rpvitiello]

The third generation Japanese-built Odyssey was the first full redesign of the Odyssey since its introduction in 1995. Going on sale in Japan in late 2003, and in Australia and many other countries in 2004, it continued with a 4-door body style, with a much sleeker, lower, and more car-like appearance. The new Odyssey came with the Honda K24 engine, a 2.4 L unit producing 158 hp (118 kW); this is the same engine used in the CR-V and Accord. The V6 engine was dropped completely. However, this has not stopped the new Odyssey from becoming a sales success. In Australia, the Odyssey achieved its best-ever sales year in 2005, and has outsold the Toyota Tarago for the first time.

there is a vehicle called the "Odyssey" in the rest of the world, but it is VERY different than the US model. Just like the "accord" in the US is NOT the same car as the "accord" in europe.

the odyssey you see in the US is build in alabama, and is a North American market vehicle.

it even SAYS that in the artical you quoted from!

[zurno]

Originally Posted by rpvitiello

there is a vehicle called the "Odyssey" in the rest of the world, but it is VERY different than the US model. Just like the "accord" in the US is NOT the same car as the "accord" in europe.

the odyssey you see in the US is build in alabama, and is a North American market vehicle.

it even SAYS that in the artical you quoted from!

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