Chinese Market Ford Focus

[2o6]

Variation of the new Focus, only gets the front facia of the facelift, has cheaper materials, and is in general the old new focus (Oxymoron) that has been reworked. How come Ford couldn't have given the US this cheap version? Why did we get a rehashed and uglified old Focus?

[CJ]

There's a Mexican sedan running around that looks like that.  I like it.

[Sir_CARzy]

Becuz we is amerikiiiinz, you dont exept us to git the good cars do you?

[Sir_CARzy]

There's a Mexican sedan running around that looks like that.  I like it.

oooo, que bueno! en la clase de espanol, necesitamos escribir un cuento del origen de una cosa, y yo escribi un cuento del origen de los vagones de VOLVO. 

[Catman]

Our focus looks like ass.  This is better.

[Eye of the Tiger]

yo quiero

[r0tor]

Our focus looks like ass.  This is better.

+1

Maybe we still have the ass looking one because in 5 years they are going to actually change the US version to the current euro version, so that update will then look "fresh" rather then hiding all the new chassis under the same skin

[cawimmer430]

So are the Chinese getting a better Focus than you Americans? 

[the Teuton]

So are the Chinese getting a better Focus than you Americans? 

It would seem so, Mr. Wimmer.

[280Z Turbo]

So are the Chinese getting a better Focus than you Americans? 

I guess it's easy to see why Ford is doing so poorly.

[giant_mtb]

This is way better than the cheap-looking piece of crap with the cheesy, plastic side vents.

[280Z Turbo]

This is way better than the cheap-looking piece of crap with the cheesy, plastic side vents.

They did away with that on the 2009 model. It still looks bad. (that's the most flattering pic I can find)

[ifcar]

They did away with that on the 2009 model. It still looks bad. (that's the most flattering pic I can find)

On 2009 coupes. 2009 sedans still have it, except with the sport appearance package and on the base S version (which didn't have the vent in 2008 either).

[MX793]

So are the Chinese getting a better Focus than you Americans? 

Yeah.  In fact, I think North America is the only place where Ford is still peddling the previous gen Focus (well, except Mexico, they seem to be worthy of the C1 Focus).  And they wonder why their market share is falling...

IIRC, GM sells better Buicks to China than they do in the States too.

[Cookie Monster]

What's with American car companies not give America the good stuff?

[Soup DeVille]

What's with American car companies not give America the good stuff?

As far as styling goes, Ford China isn't hampered by the arcane and complex regulations that a North American car must meet. No crush zones, no pedestrian friendly hood height restrictions, no side impact beams...

[MX793]

As far as styling goes, Ford China isn't hampered by the arcane and complex regulations that a North American car must meet. No crush zones, no pedestrian friendly hood height restrictions, no side impact beams...

It's a Euro Focus, and the European market cars are saddled with all of those things.  Do you think they spent the money to de-engineer those features from the Euro Focus before offering it to China?

[Soup DeVille]

It's a Euro Focus, and the European market cars are saddled with all of those things.  Do you think they spent the money to de-engineer those features from the Euro Focus before offering it to China?

Well, no, probably not...

[the Teuton]

They take out some of them, as per the Pres or Ford de Mexico.  They take out anything and everything they can, safety-wise, if they market doesn't need it.

[ifcar]

When I was in Mexico several years ago, many of the 1st-gen Focuses there had the passenger-side airbag storage area converted into a storage bin. Airbags are expensive and it costs nothing to engineer them out.

[280Z Turbo]

I'd rather have that storage bin.

[Pommes-T]

It might be ugly, but Ford gives it away with huuuuughe rebates that make it intreresting again...

Nothing can beat a Golf 6 anyways... 

[Pommes-T]

If anyone wonders.... Chinese market focus= euro market focus!

[2o6]

If anyone wonders.... Chinese market focus= euro market focus!

Not quite. The Euro-Focus has been facelifted. The Chinese focus only gets the front facia of the Focus-Facelift, but not the side crease and the bodywork changes.


The ASEAN market's Focus also is a bit different from the Euro and the Chinese Focus.


ASEAN Focus (as well as the Phillippeans)




Euro-Focus, Post Facelift



Chinese Focus





Add the American Focus, and that's FOUR variants of a nameplate running around. Seems quite wasteful.

[ifcar]

Add the American Focus, and that's FOUR variants of a nameplate running around. Seems quite wasteful.

How many Toyota compact cars are there in the world?

I can think of the Corolla, Matrix, xB, Auris, and Prius, and I'm sure there are more in Japan and in other parts of the world. The only difference is that these different vehicles don't all go by the same name the way the different Focuses do.

[the Teuton]

Alan Mullaly's chief goal was to cut down on wasteful spending by consolidating production costs.  It seems that he is failing possibly.

[2o6]

How many Toyota compact cars are there in the world?

I can think of the Corolla, Matrix, xB, Auris, and Prius, and I'm sure there are more in Japan and in other parts of the world. The only difference is that these different vehicles don't all go by the same name the way the different Focuses do.

One model with minor variations isn't the same thing as different models with different targeted markets.

[TBR]

Alan Mullaly's chief goal was to cut down on wasteful spending by consolidating production costs.  It seems that he is failing possibly.

What a definitive call out!

These aren't new production costs anyway.

[ifcar]

One model with minor variations isn't the same thing as different models with different targeted markets.

Neither Ford's nor Toyota's global line of compact cars is made up of those things, so I don't know what you're trying to say.

[the Teuton]

What a definitive call out!

These aren't new production costs anyway.

I'm tired.  I'm allowed a few mess ups.