Official 2008 Ford Focus Pics and Information!

[P-51]

Pssshhh... I've already driven them!

Personally, I think the exterior is a huge step forward from the 05-07. I like the GFX package, but for the other 99% of the 05-07's, they're just so lame looking. The 08 is much more stylish.

I don't like the high beltline, mostly because they kept the wheel size the same, and thus the proportions are all off. The wheel wells are too small. High belt lines are bold looking on the DCX sedans, because they matched them with wheel sizes that work. Just raising the belt line on the Focus makes the wheels look puny. No amount of lowering or rim size will fix this. It's what was wrong with the Tiburon.

The interior is simply a quantum leap better than the 05-07. I don't know if I like it better than 00-04... I'd say it's a worthy successor. The 05-07... dark days, so I'm glad to see this change. Makes you wonder though... why did they even spend the tooling on the 05-07?

Unfortunately, I'll never be able to own one. My cars must be wagons or hatches. Trunks are completely impractical, at least for my family. I don't know why anybody buys them. At least they could have made the coupe a "liftback". Oh well.

I HATE the chrome grille and the rear lights thought. The grille is easily fixed with a little Krylon. I hope somebody makes classic tail lights for it.

[focaljet-1]

Originally Posted by BUR_ZX3

Theres an "option" just not a factory option

Yeah, well if that's the case, then there is also a V8 option.

[focuspl99]

congrats ford, you officially ruined the focus, maybe it'll grow on me or i'll see some hot performance version....until then.............

[halftoned]

give it a little time. working with it in photoshop and just looking at it for a while, the front end isnt as distracting as i first though. the sides i still dont like though. i just wish they didnt get rid of the hatch. guess it gives me more reason to pick up the mazda3 instead..

[BRZX3R]

are we still going to get an all new focus in 2010?

[bryst06]

no

[focaljet-1]

Originally Posted by BRZX3R

are we still going to get an all new focus in 2010?

Yes or No... pick one.

[orionlion82]

after sleeping on it - i still think its ugly, for the most part, inside and out. period.

BUT its a LIKABLE ugly, instead of a watered down jetta ugly like my current one. anyways, i am a likable ugly too and dont care if my car is - so it all evens out.

but it sounds like the PR people wrote their stuff just for me.
i like alot of the little things they did.
lighting, NVH stuff, economy stuff, - i mean all of it.
and its NOT heavier, but lighter.

i hope i can afford one. does *anybody* know *anything* about prices?

i mean, my car is decent to a fault, but has its strong points and weak ones. with something like this coming i cant wait to get out from under it, and every day the thing looses trade in value, and inflation sucks up my money.

say there isnt much of a price change?

[RedST206]

Just saw it for the first time. It looks alright, very nice interior but it just doesn't look like a focus at all, they should have could it something else.

I was dissapointed not to see the the 2.3L return, maybe a sporty version will follow later. I don't like the rear end of the car. They took Bangle's designs waaayyy too seriously.

[BroncoBusterZero]

looks ok. going to have to grow on me.

i like 00-04 best tho

[focus-blue]

At first I was excited to see the new focus. After I looked at it for awhile I realized, as some of you guys have said, that the euro look is gone. The focus was origanally a economy car with a bit of euro sportiness. Now it looks like a goofy bubble on wheels. The interior is pretty cool, and certain angles on the 08 are cool, but from a side view it looks like the typical 4 banger econmy car that all car companies are spitting out. Also, why the hell don't they just slap on disc's in the rear. Get rid of the drums! I guess that Ford has to appeal to the majority of America. I was hoping for more of a sports car! Maybe SVT will get a hold of it?!?!

[BUR_ZX3]

Originally Posted by focaljet-1

Yeah, well if that's the case, then there is also a V8 option.

You know what I mean. Its pretty easy to upgrade a D20 to a D23.




All in all, I'm dissapointed in a couple things:

lack of performance version being the key point.


But I see this as falling back to what I call the "Escort Strategy."

Take a hatchback that has sold well for us initially, watch it slump in sales after you remove the GT/SVT/performance version, redesign the car, but remove the hatchback and make it into a coupe/sedan, watch sales fall off entirely, and the death of a model.

The front end is wrong wrong wrong. That Grille needs to go quickly. I understand the point about the brand identity with the chrome bars, but it doesn't work on the Focus. Specially with that hideous black crosshatch stuff.

Memo to aftermarket: Make us a new grille, and make us a new front bumper.



But I'm glad to know my eye is as sharp as ever on calling out that rear spoiler under the camo on all the spy pics.

[LamarWH]

Originally Posted by focaljet-1

Regarding weight, per the first post in this thread:

base curb weights, and it says things are still subject to change. I"m thinking about as tested weights on a vehicle loaded with options/go fast hardware. all good tho.

[BlueOhTwo]

Doesn't do it for me...

Rear bumper reminds me too much of the newer Neon tails, the headlights are just too too, and if I wanted all that chrome on the front I'd by a Dodge whatever. And what's with those huge, square foglights? Stainless dash is a great distraction when driving, not to mention an in-your-face heatsink for us desert dwellers. Overall, the design will blend in with most other traffic instead of standing out.

Personally, I prefer a car where the interior and exterior flow together with simple but aggressive styling queues and compatible materials. That's what attracted me to my '02 SVTF. With such nicely designed counterparts like the RS and ST, why should we have to settle for something so vanilla?

And since everybody and their brother is now driving a Mustang, I've lost my appetite to pick one of those up as well. Looks like I'll just hang on to my Focus and enjoy driving it for as long as I can make it last.

[EggYolk_Zetec_ZX3]

Part of me is crying inside...

While I appreciate what Ford has done to revamp the Focus line, I just don't see this as "carrying the flame" if you will.

The interior looks amazing in the pictures, and I can't wait to see it in person. The exterior styling is kind of bland to me, but the original Focus didn't appeal in the begining either. I hope it will grow on me, and I really hope the aftermarket picks up on these cars again.

[CantSlowDown88]

Originally Posted by Honkeytonk Monkey

These are a couple really really quick attempts to fix some of the major issues I have with the car. Still not perfect but I didn't exactly have alot to work with. I was going to do a hatch, but since ford isn't why should I bother. Lets hope Saturn brings the VXR hatch over. How is it GM can do what we've been asking and they are praised, but Ford won't?

it looks like you tried to make the back a scion and the front a toyota camry with some older focus touches that dont fit at all. I understand not likeing it, but making it look like a camry is just downright mean
this isnt a long term focus, hopefully there should be wagon versions and hatches of the next generation after this, but japping the car up doesnt make it look better. it is a decent looking car and i dont think and of your improvements made it more euro or american, just foreign

[manhoezx3]

uhm, where is the turbo of supercharger i was hearing about? DAMN YOU FORD!!

[FocusSportVP]

Another great pic:



I really need to see this in person.

I've already got some ideas about what I'd like to do to this mother.

[Chalz]

Originally Posted by FocusSportVP

Another great pic:

I've already got some ideas about what I'd like to do to this mother.

That's what I want to hear!! I don't like or dislike it...I'm still not sure. I do know, however, that my next auto purchase will likely be a C30. If they come out with a SC or Turbo Focus coupe I might start thinking about another Focus.

[mr.squatch]

Sweet Civic. I can't wait.

g

[ZedX31485]

have they released pricing on the 08 focus yet?

[focaljet-1]

Originally Posted by ZedX31485

have they released pricing on the 08 focus yet?

No. It will not be until closer to actual launch. Don't expect prices to move up too much from the current though.

It's a lot better car for the money now.

[panchocito]

no hatch.... no thanks!!!
that thing looks like a redesign of 98 cavalier.
what a joke.

[J-Rod]

I dunno... I've showed this car to my room mate (who hates Focus') and other family members and each one of them has said it's the best looking Focus yet. Hopefully sales of this car show the same.