New focus. [Archive] - Mazdas247.com

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Young Roids

11-07-2007, 03:15 PM

http://www.fordvehicles.com/cars/focus/

The 2008 Ford Focus has arrived. Is this the chasis that the next 3 will ride on?

bacarl

11-07-2007, 03:20 PM

On the contrary, the 08 Focus is still on its original platform! This change is top-hat only. The 3 still rides on a more advanced platform.

For 2010 I believe, both C cars migrate to a new global platform. Don't quote me on that though, I'm no expert!

TurboWagon

11-07-2007, 03:22 PM

I am not sure about the chasis but the new Focus looks like it eats babies. (boom08)

BlackCherry06

11-07-2007, 03:27 PM

I got plenty tired of looking at the current Focus, but unfortunately the new one brought me no relief. Fugly from every angle.

CTGrey02

11-07-2007, 03:55 PM

No 3 or 5 door. Damned cost saving crap.

z00mer

11-07-2007, 04:28 PM

This is Ford's attempt to save costs. They think that if they were to bring the current european Focus to the U.S., that it would be far more costly to produce. So.... they just revised the apearance, instead of making a totally new car.

This is all redundant being Mazda has been using a newer platform for the 3, and still retaining cost.

mikeyb

11-07-2007, 04:54 PM

BLAH!!!!! It needs to be shot.

The US Focus still rides on the C170 small car chassis that it shares with the MKI European Focus. The C170 was replaced in 2004 by the C1 chassis which is used by the Mazda3, Mazda5, Volvo S40/V50/C70/C30/XC50, MKII Focus (non US), Kuga CUV, and C-Max. The 2010 Focus will be based on the C1.

Young Roids

11-07-2007, 05:12 PM

Is the next gen 3 going to be on the C1 as well or will it get a new chasis?

mikeyb

11-07-2007, 05:38 PM

Is the next gen 3 going to be on the C1 as well or will it get a new chasis?

The next gen Mazda3 and Mazda5 will be riding on a advanced C1 or a whole new chassis.

bacarl

11-07-2007, 11:58 PM

Being a former Focus owner, I still follow things in the Focus world :)

Here is a SEMA car built by Focus Sport, one of the premier aftermarket suppliers for the Focus community. This one happens to be fitted with their turbo kit and boasts 250whp / 260wtq from the D2.0 :D These numbers are not bogus; I had their kit installed on my D2.3 and made ~240/240 with 2.5" exhaust and high flow cat.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i238/bacarl/1.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i238/bacarl/2.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i238/bacarl/3.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i238/bacarl/4.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i238/bacarl/5.jpg

And a quick dyno vid of another one they built for SPEED's Street Tuner Challenge or something like that. Sorry there're no numbers for this, SPEED cut the video off early. It's more than likely comparable to the SEMA car's 250/260.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=mERZR7gbEqQ

So see, there's still some potential there! Not to mention that although it is dated, the C170 is still a very capable platform and certainly not obsolete.

Enjoy!

jmv

11-08-2007, 12:03 AM

yup, still looks like shit, but now its just an impressively polished and much faster turd, haha.

ForceFed

11-08-2007, 12:05 AM

I like that one..Looks pretty good..but would look much better ifford would ditch the giant chrome grills.

Rotary_Powered

11-08-2007, 12:50 AM

Yeah that one actually looks nice. Winding road just reviewed it, they said they loved the handling, but the car is lacking in power big time.

CHICO2003

11-08-2007, 01:09 AM

Even if there is potential (which, like anything else, is relative) it's irrelevant since the majority of Focus buyers won't be going through the trouble (not to mention shelling out the $) to make their car like the one above.

Granted, it looks OK... obviously anything is better than the POFSG that they have on their lots. But the reality is... the biggest US car MFR has nothing more than a spec of cosmic dust in the sport compact universe. (here in the states at least) Clearly they could easily bring the euro version over and give the GTI and the rest a run for their money. One of the reasons, I feel, that Ford is suffering so mightily is that they haven't adopted the strategy that most of the others (especially Honda & Toyota) have. By giving the younger crowd a car they want... it opens up a demographic that will one day want a more upscale/expensive car. Obviously we all understand brand loyalty. I'd personally feel weird driving anything but a Mazda in the foreseeable future. Many 'enthusiasts' share this mentality. While Ford obviously has a winner in the Mustang, its price (and other factors) are not inline with what many gen y's are looking for.

Part of me wonders if this is intentional. After all, when you think Ford... you basically think Mustang and big trucks. The kinds of vehicles typical... umm... americans like. These are the same types that look down upon sport compacts. Perhaps Ford thinks that, if they were to enter that market, they might be alienating their base and thus hurt their sales.

All I know is... this Focus sucks ass. The 02 SVT was a sweet ride and received a ton of praise. Personally, Ford is doing themselves a huge disservice by not having a similar type of Focus available today.

altspace

11-08-2007, 08:14 AM

I'm just confused looking at the headlights. Other than that it reminds of the new Sentra.

Chibana

11-08-2007, 02:35 PM

chaos4

11-08-2007, 04:00 PM

Here is the REAL Ford Focus - the one they get in Europe!!

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/212139/ford_focus_st.html

Chibana

11-08-2007, 04:37 PM

I really like the blue one with white racing stripes.

coolmazda5

12-31-2007, 10:48 PM

Here is the REAL Ford Focus - the one they get in Europe!!

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/212139/ford_focus_st.html

We may not need to look that far. I saw this south of the border during the holidays. Yeah, still the earlier 2007 model but I wouldn't mind it. So close and so far at the same time, damn Ford!

(drive2)

- 6MT
- I-5 Engine (225HP)
- Recaro Seats

Young Roids

12-31-2007, 10:51 PM

We may not need to look that far. I saw this south of the border during the holidays. Yeah, still the earlier 2007 model but I wouldn't mind it. So close and so far at the same time, damn Ford!

(drive2)

- 6MT
- I-5 Engine (225HP)
- Recaro Seats

speed3 is still better. And I wouldn't want to be seen in anything Ford.

flipstylex

12-31-2007, 11:19 PM

eh, not bad, my grandma might want one ;)

CHICO2003

01-01-2008, 12:10 AM

The new Focus is also LIGHTER than the previous one, and MUCH lighter than the Mazda3. There is something to be said for that. I'm not terribly fond of the exterior looks, but it is a pretty good car in this segment. I'm curious to see how the magazines rate it.

Yeah well I'm pretty sure a Yugo is even lighter than the new Focus... but that dont' mean I'll be trollin ebay for one.

coolmazda5

01-01-2008, 12:14 AM

LOL. Grandma would look cool in that thing :D

Now that you guys mention it, Mazda does not sell MazdaSpeed3s down there, so possibly that is partly why Ford introduced it there but not here (to avoid cannibalizing. The MS3s sell very well in US and Canada as far as I understand).

Also, for the US (and Canada?) the Focus model has never been related to performance or sportiness but more related to compact/economic/inexpensive, so badging it as a Focus may not attract too much market anyway...

CHICO2003

01-01-2008, 12:20 AM

Seems like the same logic that has kept the Holden Commodore from ever coming stateside is preventing Ford from unleashing this beast. Hopefully the G8's massive success will help pave the way for the ST and others OUR mfrs are holding out on us.

mikeyb

01-01-2008, 11:26 AM

coolmazda5

01-01-2008, 12:06 PM

So the SVT Focus was not a performance or sporty compact?

I agree, it is a decent car (vague reminder of the Taurus SHO sport reach approach), but I referred to what first comes to mind when you think about a Ford "Focus"...

For example, How many of those SVTs were sold during their time compared to MazdaSpeed Proteges? I don't recall SVTs standing out of the crowd like MazdaSpeeds, Subarus STIs or Civic SIs IMO (note this is a n00b comment ;))...

mikeyb

01-01-2008, 12:28 PM

I agree, it is a decent car (vague reminder of the Taurus SHO sport reach approach), but I referred to what first comes to mind when you think about a Ford "Focus"...

For example, How many of those SVTs were sold during their time compared to MazdaSpeed Proteges? I don't recall SVTs standing out of the crowd like MazdaSpeeds, Subarus STIs or Civic SIs IMO (note this is a n00b comment ;))...

Alot of people forget about the SVT Focus. Its a great little car. I almost bought one it first came out but ended up buying a Sentra SE-R instead. I think Ford sold just as many SVTs as Mazda sold of MSP.

CHICO2003

01-01-2008, 12:49 PM

I agree, it is a decent car (vague reminder of the Taurus SHO sport reach approach), but I referred to what first comes to mind when you think about a Ford "Focus"...

For example, How many of those SVTs were sold during their time compared to MazdaSpeed Proteges? I don't recall SVTs standing out of the crowd like MazdaSpeeds, Subarus STIs or Civic SIs IMO (note this is a n00b comment ;))...

Much better than decent car. If I recall, it actually beat out the MSP in more than a few comparisons...

As far as them not standing out as much from the crowd like MSPs, STIs and Civics... Civics aside, it might have something to do with the fact that the SVT didn't come in bright orange like theMSP or have gold BBS wheels and a huge spoiler like the Sti.

Shame on Ford for killin this little guy

http://www.msprotege.com/members/CHICO2003/svt.JPG

coolmazda5

01-01-2008, 01:31 PM

(wow), good info, so my earlier comment proved flawed after all. I've seen so few in my area compared to the rest than I thought they were not well received at all. Now, my area is boring so is not a good sample (stooges)

AJ08

01-01-2008, 01:37 PM

i used to have a competion orange svt focus.. loved it i modded the hell out of that thing... love the recaro leather seats

9Venom4

01-01-2008, 03:30 PM

this is the exact reason we got our mazda3 we liked our 03 focus for what it was but the mazda is just a better car all around and with the 08 redesign killing the hatchback it just got even more ugly...
it looks like and older prius or an echo
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j282/00slvrgt/m08-Focus-Coupe-003.jpg
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j282/00slvrgt/03prius_thumb.jpg
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j282/00slvrgt/echo.jpg

coolmazda5

01-01-2008, 06:37 PM

this is the exact reason we got our mazda3 we liked our 03 focus for what it was but the mazda is just a better car all around and with the 08 redesign killing the hatchback it just got even more ugly...
it looks like and older prius or an echo

True, just checked the web site and there is no longer hatchback nor wagon. Yes, it was OK for what it was, but now there is nowhere to go: the front, the fake fender vents, the back, not even the wheels :(. At least the good old ZTS had good colors and wheels choices. Oh well (deadhorse