Ford Debuts New Focus To Challenge Multiple Segments All At Once

Ford Debuts New Focus To Challenge Multiple Segments All At Once

This is the all-new fourth-generation Ford Focus, the marque’s crucial new family hatch to rival the Volkswagen Golf, Vauxhall Astra and the new Mercedes-Benz A-class. But the new Focus has a tough task ahead, because as well as traditional hatchback rivals, it also has to compete with ever-growing marketplace of similarly priced compact SUVs vying for family car buyers.

 

To wade into this battle, Ford has developed the Focus on a brand new platform that will also underpin a range of forthcoming mid-sized Ford models. Following the Fiesta’s lead, the new Focus will be available with a range of trimlines including ST-Line, Vignale and quasi-SUV Active variants, too, in a move to try to diversify the model.


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Thomas007Thomas007 - 4/10/2018 11:51:19 AM
+1 Boost
When it comes to the domestic brands,(GM, Ford, and Chrysler)why are the replacements all ugly compared to the current models? The current Focus is not a bad looking car at all. This one is just plain fugly!


MDarringerMDarringer - 4/10/2018 6:33:39 PM
-1 Boost
Wrong. It's based in the Netherlands if you want to play it that way.


TomMTomM - 4/10/2018 6:25:00 PM
+1 Boost
It has been My observation that European FORD models have a common problem that tends to eliminate them outside of certain areas. Most FORD models in these size categories tend to have poor rear seat room - even if it does not appear in the actual numbers. The Cadillac ATS and CTS have a similar problem - and it is obvious that this has cost them sales. European cars almost always have less interior space than their DOMESTIC ones they compete against. COmpare them to a Honda - especially the Accord that has truly prodigious rear seat room compared to most competition - and look at the difference between the Accord and an Audi A4 or a BMW 3 series.

THE "One car" design system that FORD tried is not of real benefit to them here in the USA - and tends to put them on the bottom of the list of family conveyances.


MDarringerMDarringer - 4/10/2018 6:37:59 PM
+3 Boost
This will be the death of the Focus in the USA. This has terrible styling.


MrEEMrEE - 4/10/2018 8:21:51 PM
+1 Boost
Looks like cost ruled styling decisions. Strange to design it to take two different rear suspensions.


MDarringerMDarringer - 4/10/2018 9:06:58 PM
+1 Boost
Not strange at all. Most vehicles in the Focus' class are not designed to drive like an ST or an RS because customers want a compliant ride. A beam is perfectly fine for that. The advantage of IRS would be virtually nonexistent in that basic state of chassis tuning. Squeezing out a profit is imperative as the market for cars like these collapses in favor of crossovers. For the same reason, the Jetta has a beam as well.


MrEEMrEE - 4/11/2018 8:03:58 PM
+1 Boost
It strikes me as strange to engineer two such different suspensions for one platform. It must add cost (engineering and manufacturing) and compromises with different attachment points and loads on the unibody. Probably multiple chassis stamping are changed.


MDarringerMDarringer - 4/11/2018 9:03:13 PM
+1 Boost
It's not as involved as you'd think. Look under a beam Jetta and an IRS Jetta.
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