Ford Doubles Down On The World Car With 2012 Focus
When the Ford Focus first went on sale in the US, it was a rare glimpse for the still-SUV-centric US market at how the rest of the world gets from the Blue Oval. Of course, as time went by, Ford eased away from the Euro-funk of the first generation, first blandifying the model with a mid-cycle “refresh,” before eventually replacing it with the current embarrassment to the nameplate. And it’s not just the current model’s Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers-meets-Pep Boys look that makes it unworthy of the Focus name: the whole idea behind the original Focus was the dream of a world car, that would be sold, largely unchanged, in markets around the world. With the 2012 model, now being previewed before the Detroit Auto Show [press release here], Ford has gone back to the model’s original vision.
There’s no special American-market version, though the four-door sedan and five-door hatch will be the first to our market. Only a two-liter engine has been confirmed so far, reportedly equipped with stop-start and making 155 hp and 145 lb-ft (1.6 Ecoboost and EV versions could come later). A three-door hatch and a larger station wagon could come to the US later, as could the C-Max minivan built on the same global C-platform. Between all these bodystyles (and likely more for Europe), Ford is eying 2m units of global volume for its global C-segment platform by 2012, making the Focus family something of the global K-car of Ford’s turnaround. Ford claims that this whack at the “Holy Grail” of world-car unification will turn out better than the last several, as design and performance expectations are aligning globally. It’s worked fairly well with the Fiesta so far, but as with the Focus, the important piece of the puzzle is making the model work in the US. We shall see how that works out.
More by Edward Niedermeyer
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the location/design of the gas cap flap is a bit weirdo, but i like it as a whole
As an owner of a 2007 SAAB 9-5 Sportcomi, I've grown accustomed to disspointing news. . . That being said, in a few years I will be n the market of a new wagon. CTS Sportwagon is on the list, as is a Regal GS wagon (if it gets produced.) And, oddly enough, this little number. I like the looks (it's as close to a Mondeo Wagon as we will likely get over here.) I like the G-whizzardry (inner geek likes the MyFord tech.)