New Focus revealed

[syko]

New focus has been revealed by auto express. If this is the real thing then I am very impressed looks great and still carry's the look of the mark II Focus.
If this is just the normal model then the ST model will look incredible. Can't wait.

Ford Focus (http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/209134/ford_focus.html)

[digitalcraft]

This focus has a little E90 in it, doesn't it?

[syko]

Probably should have said, this is the European focus (real one) not the NA one.

[bmwpower]

Ahh i was just about to ask. This is too much, damn car companies for giving us crap while Europe gets all the decent models. Like i say, then they wonder why sales suffer, because the best look models coming out here are from Hyundai, the new Lancer and Outlander are looking good, and unless we start getting nicer models from the Americans they'll suffer some more.

[Ferrer]

Being Auto Express, I'm skeptical. I guess I'll wait and see.

[nota]

If this is just the normal model then the ST model will look incredible. Can't wait.
Gee the ground clearance under the centre of that air dam looks to be very low

[Clivey]

The bullshit bell's a ringin'! :D

[Zytek_Fan]

Looks very nice.

I see some similarities between it and the new Mondeo...

[Clivey]

I'm going to do a "Clarkson" and suggest that if the new Focus looks like that I'll eat my own hair. That image is just a mix-match of old Focus and new Mondeo.

However, even though they've tried (too hard) to make it look sleek and sporty, it still manages not to look as good as other cars already existing in the market (C4, Leon, Astra etc.). The slashes, spoilers and angles can't disguise the obvious bulk.

[jcp123]

It's not the best or the worst looking car ever, but at least id doesn't have the rice lights Ford's so fond of putting on Fusions and the upcoming Focus here. I just wish we'd gotten the Euro Mk.II Foci over here.

[jediali]

pic2, particulalry = audi A3 3door + E90 IMHO

[Waugh-terfall]

It's very 2008 Impreza at the rear and very very Mondeo round front, I like it, I see Ford have also facelifted the current Focus already...

[Clivey]

I just wish we'd gotten the Euro Mk.II Foci over here.

No you don't. I've just had a 3-week test drive. It's rubbish. Review coming soon.

[NSXType-R]

That looks pretty good. It does look like a chop, but if it turns out to be real it'd be nice. Then again it's not for us either, so I don't see what I'm so excited about. Like the others have said, I see a lot of Impreza in it and Mondeo headlights.

On a side note, how do you put a link like that under another name? Links look ugly. :D

[jediali]

We will find out if its for real in the next Ford sponsored James Bond movie i guess

[fisetdavid26]

On a side note, how do you put a link like that under another name? Links look ugly. :D
You just have to underline the text you'd like to use as a link, then click on "Insert Link".

[NSXType-R]

Thanks.

[jcp123]

No you don't. I've just had a 3-week test drive. It's rubbish. Review coming soon.

Can't be any worse than what they did to the Focus over here in '05.

[fordman6]

The bullshit bell's a ringin'! :D

My thoughts exactly! Current Focus looks 10,000,000,000 times better! All they had to do was fix all those ugly vents in the front bar!

[Ferrer]

No you don't. I've just had a 3-week test drive. It's rubbish. Review coming soon.
I guess it's not a Vauxhall... :D

[Clivey]

I guess it's not a Vauxhall... :D

Well, if you want to talk about the identity of the car then the new Focus isn't as strong as the old one in that respect. It just looks sooo bland. It's a mixture of the Hyundai Whatsername and the Kia Thingywotsit with the drive of a Transit Van. The looks are probably one of the only things Mr.Clarkson and I agree on.

The old Focus pulled the trick of being so ugly that it was original, like the 2001 Fiat Multipla - kudos to it for that.

Ford obviously thinks we all adore MPVs, SUVs and upright things, because the current Focus is so much taller than pretty much anything in it's class bar the Qashqui and the driving position feels similar to the Xsara Picasso. Yes, V'halls have their faults, but it's a long time since they launched one with faults as glaringly obvious as the current Ford Focus. It's like a Prius on downers.

[Ferrer]

Well, if you want to talk about the identity of the car then the new Focus isn't as strong as the old one in that respect. It just looks sooo bland. It's a mixture of the Hyundai Whatsername and the Kia Thingywotsit with the drive of a Transit Van. The looks are probably one of the only things Mr.Clarkson and I agree on.

The old Focus pulled the trick of being so ugly that it was original, like the 2001 Fiat Multipla - kudos to it for that.

Ford obviously thinks we all adore MPVs, SUVs and upright things, because the current Focus is so much taller than pretty much anything in it's class bar the Qashqui and the driving position feels similar to the Xsara Picasso. Yes, V'halls have their faults, but it's a long time since they launched one with faults as glaringly obvious as the current Ford Focus. It's like a Prius on downers.
It was just a little joke, but I will agree that one of the things that have changed for worse from the Mk 1 to the Mk 2 Focus is the styling, it's super bland, and a very good reason for not bothering with it. On that front I agree with you.

With the height problems I agree with you, but the Focus isn't out of place in the class, it seems that tall cars are in fashion, unfortunately in my opinion. The Auris, the Bravo or the 307 are actually taller than the Focus. Another problem with the Focus is it's sheer width, at 1,84 metres it's wider than a Porsche 911 and as wide as a Maserati Granturismo...

[adrenaline]

This isn't the new Focus. It appears to be an artists impression of what it could look like.

If you look closely at the interior shot, the windows are not consistent with the exterior. I think the interior is a chop of the old American Focus interior. I'm not sure though, I'll have to check... (Edit) No, it isn't - it's similar though.

[Cotterik]

It does follow the new design movement of the Mondeo, but it is a bit too radical for a focus, if this is their design prospect, expect it to be tamed down a little. I find it a bit hard to look at, quite alot going on.

[Clivey]

It was just a little joke

I know that lol, but I was just pointing out that I'm not making comment because it's not a Vauxhall (or indeed any of the other cars I like), but it's just not anything to me. I'd rather have a KIA C'eed, or the plague.


With the height problems I agree with you, but the Focus isn't out of place in the class, it seems that tall cars are in fashion, unfortunately in my opinion. The Auris, the Bravo or the 307 are actually taller than the Focus. Another problem with the Focus is it's sheer width, at 1,84 metres it's wider than a Porsche 911 and as wide as a Maserati Granturismo...

I know: when I drove it on our country roads, it felt far too bulky (what makes me laugh is that the press say it's agile when in fact it feels like a tank), next door has a 997 S, the Focus is waaaay bigger. In fact, a couple of days ago I saw one parked next to the latest Astra and I was shocked at the dimensions of the Focus, especially seeing as it doesn't even make up for it with massive interior space.

[092326001]

looks a lot like the next gen impreza from the back
too mondeo in the front, should be more distinct

[zeppelin]

Why can't North America's Focus look this good? :(

[fpv_gtho]

If this is just the normal model then the ST model will look incredible. Can't wait.

They never release spy pics or chops of the base model, so its almost guranteed to be tamed down for the base model.

[HuisZi]

the focus is just released in Europe. This wont come out in a year i guess.. Maybe 2010..

[XLR_V]

its nice car

i like focus ST

[Clivey]

its nice car

i like focus ST

Thank-you for that quality post. Would you care to share any reasoning with us?