Ford unveils 2011 Focus!

[Kal-El]

A few highlights.
Both body styles initially will be powered here by a new, 2.0-liter direct-injected four-cylinder that makes 155 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque, up from the current car’s 143 hp and 136 lb-ft. The engine will feature variable valve timing on both the intake and exhaust cams and will be mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed dual-clutch automated manual gearbox that was co-developed with Getrag. Expect EcoBoost engines to make it into U.S. cars, too, including one with over 225 horsepower in a sporty version, perhaps wearing an ST or SVT badge. A 1.6-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four likely will be included as a more mass-market choice, as well, offering a more efficient and more powerful alternative to the naturally aspirated 2.0-liter.

Various Ford officials have said that they believe people will be trading down to smaller cars in the U.S. in the future, especially since C-segment vehicles now feature so many luxury amenities. The new Focus, for instance, will be offered with rain-sensing wipers, a parallel-parking system, a blind-spot warning system, a backup camera, ambient lighting, push-button ignition, a stitched dashboard, and a sophisticated navigation system. Jim Hughes says that pricing will be held close to the current car’s $17,570 base price when it goes on sale. However, we can see a Focus easily creeping into the mid-to-high-$20K bracket by the time many of the desirable options are added.

One more interesting feature that will be available on the next-gen Focus is Dynamic Cornering Control. While torque vectoring has been increasingly used in high performance all-wheel-drive systems from Acura, BMW and Audi, Ford is applying the concept to the front-wheel-drive Focus. If it delivers, this should help provide even better handling balance with less understeer in the new compact.

With Chevrolet aiming for 40+ mpg on the highway for the the Cruze, Ford will surely be trying to match it. To that end, designers have also focused a lot on functional aerodynamics in addition to just aesthetic styling. One of the more interesting features are thermostatically controlled shutters behind the grille. At higher speeds when more air naturally flows through the radiator, the shutters automatically close and force air around the sides of the car.

Although dimensionally similar to the current European Focus—the track is slightly wider and the car is lower—the body in white is all-new, with 55 percent of it being made from high-strength steel, the highest proportion of any car in the American Ford lineup. As a result, the torsional stiffness is 25 percent higher than that of the current U.S-market car. According to Jim Hughes, chief nameplate engineer for Focus in North America, “the platform architecture is similar to the current European Focus.” That means the new car has a multilink rear suspension and struts up front. However, the suspension attachment points have been altered, the front knuckle design has been changed, and the spring and shock tuning has been modified. Gunnar Herrmann, the vehicle line director for global C-segment vehicles at Ford, says that “the carryover on the platforms is effectively only seven percent.”

WOW!

The sedan looks pretty amazing. Nothing conservative about these cars. Makes the current Focus look like a joke.

Between this and the Chevy Cruze, looks like America is taking a lead in the compact class - for the first time ever.

Still wouldn't count on them lasting as long as the Corolla and Civic but these are very compelling cars.

Way to go Ford!

[marcus]

interior is pretty sick!!

[BailOut]

It's 2010 and we're all living with the impending reality of peak oil, but the review only goes on about expensive-at-the-dealership and even-more-expensive-to-repair superfluous toys and meaningless horsepower ratings. It even mentioned the smallest and best-fitting engine size last.

Like so many remnants of the old auto age, they just don't get it.

[Kal-El]

Originally Posted by BailOut

It's 2010 and we're all living with the impending reality of peak oil, but the review only goes on about expensive-at-the-dealership and even-more-expensive-to-repair superfluous toys and meaningless horsepower ratings. It even mentioned the smallest and best-fitting engine size last.

Like so many remnants of the old auto age, they just don't get it.

Is your criticism directed toward the writeup or the car itself? They do point out a good thing. That people will be drawn more to these compacts because they offer the "luxury" features they desire once only offered in large gas guzzlers. So really, it's a good direction.

[r3b3l]

Originally Posted by Kal-El

looks like America is taking a lead in the compact class - for the first time ever.

to be more accurate I would say they are taking a step in the right direction, albeit a small step, it is forward progress.

[Kal-El]

Originally Posted by r3b3l

to be more accurate I would say they are taking a step in the right direction, albeit a small step, it is forward progress.

You would seriously consider this only a "small step"?

The reality is that this will be the best car in the compact class in 2011. We'll have to wait and see what Honda has in store with the next civic though whichb is soon due as well. The corolla, a car I love in "S" form, doesn't come close and we won't see a new one for 3 years.

I'd like to hear why you think this is just a small step in the right direction.

[Kal-El]

Originally Posted by PK198105

because as much as they have improved they are still a Ford and that interior as much as it is cool and trendy will be broken within 48 months. Yes Ford did the right thing when they realized that it is better to follow the lead of Japanese car makers but they are still playing catchup and they are far from being close. Your post reflects a typical North American consumer who is influenced by the packaging rather than content, and I'm sorry but some of the "innovations" that Ford is putting out there are just plain silly. I already witnessed a Ford Fusion Hybrid owner being so concentrated on making his Green tree grow on the dash he took a one way street against traffic..... One thing I do like about some Fords is the capless gas tank, makes it feel a bit like a fighter jet refueling process. All in all the new Focus is nice, but I want to see more proof about their reliability and maintenance cost before I buy any product from them. Other than that Ford is a ok in my book as they tried and succeed in saving themselves by themselves .

BTW that door latch on the inside is completely against physics, can you imagine how hard it will be to open the door when the latch is located so close to the hinges? someone forgot their physics 101 in the engineering department

And your post reflects an ignorance of the immense improvement Ford has made in the last 3-4 years under the new CEOs direction.

You have clearly not heard that Ford's such as the Fusion are rated over Camry and Accord in QUALITY as well as driving dynamics. The fusion hybrid also beats the Camry hybrid easily in efficiency.

I know your argument may ask about long term reliability and that is legitimate. Only true time will tell. So far though, Ford's from the last 4 years are on top of their game.

I'm surprised by the negativity so far. There's a thread about in on a Lexus forum that is praising this as the best compact ever and their standards are very tough as Lexus owners.

[supmet]

Originally Posted by Kal-El

I know your argument may ask about long term reliability and that is legitimate. Only true time will tell. So far though, Ford's from the last 4 years are on top of their game.

You have the answer but you don't get it. Long term reliability is ALL that matters, and has yet to be proven in new fords. Consumer reports can blow hot air up everyone else's ass, but conscious consumers wait for proof. All I have proving ford's reliability is a bunch of reviews from some paid off writer. Toyota's on the other hand, I can't get to the corner gas station without seeing a 70s or 80s corolla still beating around.

I don't get why you don't understand most people believe real world statistics over some marketing campaign....

[mr9865]

Originally Posted by supmet

You have the answer but you don't get it. Long term reliability is ALL that matters, and has yet to be proven in new fords. Consumer reports can blow hot air up everyone else's ass, but conscious consumers wait for proof. All I have proving ford's reliability is a bunch of reviews from some paid off writer. Toyota's on the other hand, I can't get to the corner gas station without seeing a 70s or 80s corolla still beating around.

I don't get why you don't understand most people believe real world statistics over some marketing campaign....

You really see cars that old evertime you are at the gas station? I never see anything cool only 90s and 2000s autos

[Kal-El]

Originally Posted by supmet

You have the answer but you don't get it. Long term reliability is ALL that matters, and has yet to be proven in new fords. Consumer reports can blow hot air up everyone else's ass, but conscious consumers wait for proof. All I have proving ford's reliability is a bunch of reviews from some paid off writer. Toyota's on the other hand, I can't get to the corner gas station without seeing a 70s or 80s corolla still beating around.

I don't get why you don't understand most people believe real world statistics over some marketing campaign....

What marketing campaign? I don't listen to any advertising. I know full well it's just a bunch of crap most of the time. My knowledge isn't based on what Ford or any automaker says about their own product. My knowledge is based on pure reality. Working at a car dealer, I drive most of the cars out there at different age and mileage levels and see first hand how cars hold up.

My primary purchase priority is long term reliability too. Why did I buy the Yaris if I "don't get it".

Even with my support for Ford, I'm still a Toyota guy and will more than likely only buy Toyota long into the future. I'm just saying that it's foolish to dismiss what Ford is now because they were crap in the past. Do you guys not remember that Toyota and Honda was once crap too? What if we never gave them a chance after the 70's? Things can change quick, just look at Hyundai who also rate among the best in quality.

Time to stop living in the past.

[sqcomp]

I see that interior and see a nightmare trying to put an aftermarket source in there...

I'm a stereo guy though.

I think I'll be satisfied with Toyota though. There is nothing out there that makes me want to change. It's not even the looks and performance that would move me to buy a car. It's the service and support from the dealer and manufacturer that sells a car to me. GM, Chrysler, and Ford don't have it like Toyota does.

[talnlnky]

Originally Posted by Kal-El

Still wouldn't count on them lasting as long as the Corolla and Civic but these are very compelling cars.
:

The last 3-year study I saw (JD Power i think)... put Honda down in the teens on the list... and was closely followed by Ford. Toyota and lexus were both in the top 5 I believe.

So... i'll believe the ford will last as long as a civic... but not until the 2nd or 3rd year of this car is made and they are allowed to work out some of the glitches.

[Thirty-Nine]

Nice. I think the new Focus looks fantastic.

[Sabretooth]

Looks awesome, If they can figure out that people here want an ST model that is Euro Spec based...I will be in line for my Focus ST Turbo Hatchback ;)

[jekqmb]

Ill keep my Yota, cause it will be running while that ford breaks down a few years down the road..

[Goose]

My experience with Ford was with a basic Ranger that I owned for a while. Although the truck never gave me any trouble, it was not an impressive piece of engineering. I had a basic Tacoma some time later and it was light-years ahead of the Ford in terms of ride quality and overall drivability.

The new Focus looks like a solid effort, although it appears that Ford's domestic designers got to the interior. The original Euro interior looked much better. I'm sure the Focus will be reliable, but I'll bet the resale value will be poor versus the Toyota.

Edit: Sorry - I had to add more. What is it with American car interiors? The Euro Focus looked clean and simple; the interior pictured above looks like a bad video game.

[BluYrs]

I think it looks great and if Ford's product development so far is anything to go by, it will be a decent car with great driving characteristics. Nice to see Ford are trying to add a bit of excitement to the class. Then again "interestring" designs tend to age worse than their more classic counterparts.

The hackback reminds me of the Mazda 3 and no wonder, they share platforms. Keeping this in mind, I think current Mazda 3 drivers will recognize more of the new Focus than current US Focus drivers will...

I'm a little doubtful of the sedan, because I've always found compact (as you call them) or small middle class sedans a bit awkward. The Corolla might be the only exception, but I think the Mazda 3 sedan looks just plain stupid.

Actually, my dad drives the current Focus hatchback. I've driven it a few times and I have to say it handles well and is quite nicely built. That said, it does depreciate quicker than a Toyota equivalent.

[eht13]

Exterior is pretty nice, interior is too busy. Hopefully reliability is good, we'll see later. I do think that new Fords are going to prove more reliable than old ones, and I also think that Ford has a lot more potential to stick around for the long term than GM and Chrysler do... I wish Ford good luck.