Comments on: Next Ford Focus RS to be 4WD and 350 hp?

By: jwfisher

jwfisher — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 22:33:59 +0000

Yet another great European Ford we will never get. Thank you again, Billy Ford.

And this has been going on for years and years: http://www.drivingenthusiast.net/sec-ford/fmc-products/model-focus/euro-escort/

By: Brendan

Brendan — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 15:30:41 +0000

they can probably fit the volvo I6 in there. It was designed to drop-in replace the I5. And it’s already go the plumbing for turbos.

By: Orian

Orian — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:54:50 +0000

GS, they’ve been selling a hotted up Focus in Europe for years. Prior to the Focus they hopped up the Escort over there and sold it.

Ok, that came directly from Ford’s website – I’m taking that with a huge grain of salt…how many of those “retail” sales were dealer to fleet sales? The reason I ask is I’m not seeing any new Focus’ running around in Central Ohio without the little Enterprise “e” on the back of them. Not saying it isn’t happening, but I don’t believe it.

By: dolo54

dolo54 — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:44:31 +0000

WHOAA super rally car potential.

By: jfsvo

jfsvo — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:28:36 +0000

…and they wonder why their small car sales are swirling in the toilet.

While the new Focus is indeed an eyesore, it’s sales are doing quite well – Up about 24% for March and YTD. Retail sales were up 36% in March.

http://media.ford.com/pdf/march08sales.pdf

By: GS650G

GS650G — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:59:57 +0000

So maybe ford is tired of watching everyone else bring outrageously overpowered small cars to market and will finally offer different versions of it’s econobox. At least in Europe.

By: djkronik57

djkronik57 — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:28:10 +0000

So he saw the rear diff, but did he actually see the 350hp six cylinder? No mention of how he knows it’s a six.

By: rprellwitz

rprellwitz — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:14:54 +0000

Now thats a Ford I might actually buy…..I assume there is no chace we ever see that in the U.S…… so sad

By: AndyH

AndyH — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:06:50 +0000

Which is correct….250 HP or 350 HP? You state one in the body of the article, and the other in the title of the article.

By: Orian

Orian — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:06:17 +0000

Stein,

Funny you should mention rally car. Ford campaigns that particular model in the WRC.

And yeah, the US got stuck with a 10 year old model while the rest of the world got the newer version a couple of years ago…and they wonder why their small car sales are swirling in the toilet.

By: Stein X Leikanger

Stein X Leikanger — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:18:33 +0000

That front is painful to look at. Could the various departments responsible for the 1) Hood 2) Front lights 3) Grille 4) Skirt — please get together and coordinate their efforts?
At least make a token stab at it.

This looks like a Rally car thrown together from whatever was left in the parts bin.

By: quasimondo

quasimondo — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:01:50 +0000

You took the words right out of my mouth, John R.

By: John R

John R — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 11:25:53 +0000

Meanwhile in US we get the uglier Focus with the 10 year-old underpinnings. But at least we get SYNC. hurrah…

I understand its difficult for Ford to get its more interesting models stateside. But can they at least make them look like the more attactive models? The Focus handles great even if the chassis is 10 years old, but what an eyesore.