The Next Focus Comes With (Better Than) Cruze (Body) Control
by
Jack Baruth
Published: September 23rd, 2010
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This video wandered onto one of Ford’s YouTube sites today. It shows a Focus ripping around the Dearborn Development Center…
Having driven a Cruze in, if not anger, at least mild annoyance, I can tell you that if this video is any guide, GM’s Korean takeout isn’t likely to hang with this German bratwurst. While it’s very easy for any car to look dynamic around what is a highly technical test track, as I watch the body control I see a degree of competence that the Cruze simply doesn’t have, or perhaps doesn’t want.
The proof will be in the production-car pudding, but if you’re a subcompact-car intender, you might want to wait a few more months.
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Good advice Jack. It would be worth driving this car when it's available and worth waiting for. Looks nice in dark blue but would be really nice in bright red or white.
While interesting, the suspension probably doesn't matter much unless it is too harsh. The average buyer won't care about body roll on a test track.
I just want one of these companies to hot one of these compacts up - whoever, going into this burgeoning new model war, drops the big turbo for low money into one of these suckers and resists the urge to call the package 'xtreme' or paint everything stupid colors is going to have a lifetime fan section.