Talk:Ford Focus (North America)

Comments

Surely this can be merged with the '(international)' page? Chris 21:56, 24 June 2007 (UTC)

No. The European and North American cars are both called the Ford Focus, but they are completely different cars. Rubbrchikin 21:38, 16 July 2007 (UTC)

Completely different cars? The first generation ones look identical to me. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.9.198.82 (talk) 21:42, 12 April 2008 (UTC)

Its still the first generation. Just the second facelift.

I think we need to start over

Both the Ford Focus and this article need a re-launch. How about Ford offer a decent US version, and this article covers it? ;) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 153.91.137.171 (talk) 22:55, 17 September 2007 (UTC)

I see nothing too much wrong with either. The article could use some expansion for the first-gen section, but otherwise it seems fine, and the new second-gen Focus looks awesome. 71.139.161.147 02:29, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

Question

I have changed the main picture on the header to the current Focus, the 2008 MY that has hit the ground and is in showrooms. Why does it keep getting changed back to the old picture? -- -- Wraithfive (talk) 22:25, 16 November 2007 (UTC)

The current consensus is that, in general, the main picture is the highest quality picture. --Sable232 (talk) 23:46, 16 November 2007 (UTC)

So if I get a better version of the new Focus from my dealership, it would be ok? -- Wraithfive (talk) 01:59, 17 November 2007 (UTC)

2008MY Focus is way ugly, it will scare off visitors of this page. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Mikus (talk • contribs) 00:45, 28 December 2007 (UTC)

Vandalisim

Looks like we have somewhat rampant vandalisim by IP 71.183.253.153 on the issue of a Second Gen Hatchback, as well as a supposed "Spongebob Edition". Anything anyone can do about it? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Wraithfive (talk • contribs) 22:57, 2 January 2008 (UTC)

Generations

I'm curious, what defines a "generation" of a particular car model? I think there's sufficient differences between the 2000-2004 and 2005-2007 to warrant them being in a separate generation. Going from 2004 to 2005, we have the following changes:

Zetec was dropped completely. Radically different exterior design (the doors and wheels are the only design elements that have not changed). Radically different interior design (curves replaced with more rigid boxy look). SVT was dropped. Length changed. Width changed. Height changed. Wheelbase changed.

If "generation" classifications are not set in stone by some authority (like Ford), then I suggest the following changes: 2000-2004 = 1st Generation... 2005-2007 = 2nd Generation... 2008 = 3rd Generation.

If they are set in stone, well, then... ignore this post. :\ 68.79.97.96 (talk) 23:21, 20 January 2008 (UTC)

Changes were too minor to be considered a new generation. Modified front and rear ends, a new dash, and a discontinued model aren't enough. IFCAR (talk) 01:13, 21 January 2008 (UTC)

You are also forgetting the dropping of the Zetec, which is a major change that isn't related to design. I'm curious, what major types of changes warranted the 2008 to fall under a new generation that the 2005 didn't have (compared to 2004)? 68.79.97.96 (talk) 22:30, 23 January 2008 (UTC)

A complete exterior and interior redesign, rather than detail and equipment changes. IFCAR (talk) 23:14, 23 January 2008 (UTC)

Image?

Why is the first image not of the current generation? If people come here to look for information on the current Focus, they'll see an older car. I noticed this as well with the 2008 Taurus' page, where a 2006 is displayed at the top.

This is somewhat misleading for some users, and would be to the article's benefit to have this rectified. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.212.208.175 (talk) 03:00, 25 January 2008 (UTC)

The head infobox illustrates the entire history of the car. Only the generation infoboxes need a specific model of car, and the head image should be the article's best from any generation. IFCAR (talk) 03:04, 25 January 2008 (UTC)

Completely different cars?

I notice somebody here claimed that the Focus (International) and Focus (North America) are completely different cars. This certainly doesn't sound correct to me.

Look at the Stats like the width and weight. Focus (International) has like 10 engines (for different markets I guess) whilst USA focus has one. A while back the article stated that the 1st and 2nd are the same car just face lifted. PLUS Ford_C1_platform [[1]] states 2005 – Ford Focus (International) (American Focuses will continue on the old C170 platform through to 2009). They are different. --Doom Child (talk) 05:33, 21 June 2008 (UTC)

The two were the same until about 2005 or so. Then the European Focus was completely redesigned and the US got a light facelift, and now for 2008 the US Focus got a heavy facelift of the original design. They're different. IFCAR (talk) 11:56, 21 June 2008 (UTC)

Awards

It doesn't seem right that the North American focus article should list awards on by its European Brother. I know the first gen cars are essentially the same but they are still different and the International version has its own page. It just doesn't seem right to note that it one an award for a class that doesn't exist in the market its sold in.(Morcus (talk) 18:36, 28 August 2008 (UTC))

As long as the awards were given before the 2005 model year, there is no problem. As is oft repeated here, the USA and European cars were "substantially similar" with only minor differences in trim and the availability of engines.--Analogue Kid (talk) 20:54, 28 August 2008 (UTC)

Rating

I'm rating the article with a C. Presently, it contains decent amount of information with some citations. However, it lacks good organization and contains more trivia and details about minor subjects such as trim lines than would generally be desirable. With some minor reorganization, a few additional citations, and removal of unneeded information it will be up to B class in no time.--Analogue Kid (talk) 20:53, 28 August 2008 (UTC)

Generations redux (2008 model

I'm not convinced of the description of the '08 Focus as being a second-generation model. It's a heavy restyle, to be sure, and the model lineup is adjusted, but the chassis is unchanged: it's still the Ford C170 platform. That is what constitutes a redesign (either a new platform or a rework of the existing one), and I would suggest that perhaps the "generation" label should be used to mean a redesign. In that case, the USDM Focus is still a first-generation model, and the 2nd-gen model is still on its way. Sacxpert (talk) 03:08, 28 September 2008 (UTC)

That moves into a gray area of redesigns with modified but not all-new platforms. Complete visual difference should be sufficient to call it a new generation. It's what we do with all the other Fords that were redesigned the same way, some of which with even less difference than the 2007 to 2008 Focus. IFCAR (talk) 11:35, 28 September 2008 (UTC)

Where is Focus designed?

Which branch and location of Ford was responsible for the design and development of Focus? My Ford dealer (in Sweden) says my car is built and designed in Germany, but it looks exactly like the first picture in the article,

2000-2004 Ford Focus SE wagon

. --HelgeStenstrom (talk) 21:07, 28 September 2008 (UTC)

The first generation, pre-facelift (sold in the US from the 2000 to 2004 model years), is practically identical to the Ford of Europe car. Then your car became completely distinct, and we got a series of two updates -- one minor, one more extensive -- based on the original Focus that Ford rolled out in Europe in 1999. IFCAR (talk) 21:09, 28 September 2008 (UTC)

Is it then likely that the Focus sold in the US from the 2000 to 2004 model years is designed i Germany? According to Talk:Ford Focus (international), Germany is the centre of design for all Ford of Europe vehicle design. Some engine design is done in the UK. Most manufacturing countries will have localisation/sourcing/liason sections as well, but they don't do any fundamental design work. (cited from comment by Greg Locock on that page.) --HelgeStenstrom (talk) 08:34, 6 October 2008 (UTC)

Third Generation Ford Focus

"According to company officials, the new Focus will only ship for the US market between 2010 and 2012 as part of the global sales experiment. If successful, the production will start in 2012 for both Canadian and Mexican markets."

It appears the above is referenced to a foreign (non-English) blog. Can an English reference be sourced? Or the accuracy of the statement is challenged? North wiki (talk) 21:13, 17 August 2009 (UTC)