This is the Focus RS. Doesn't look bad if I say so myself. Some are saying a turbocharge 5cyl with 300hp and others are saying a turbocharged 6cyl with 350hp. Possibly 4wd. But then again, Ford might just accidentally leave this one in europe. Hopefully not!

 

I'm sure that won't make it to N A

 

Guess what I was driving 2 weeks ago...

Stuck in a Peugeot 307 coupe right now though...

There are several variants of Fiesta and Focus here in the UK right now, and my surprise was seeing a new Fiesta-Edge this morning. They name the trim levels and performance levels here - weird.

I wish I could download some pics of the interior of the Focus I just turned in. It had plastic - don't get me wrong - but it was pretty d@mn sweet. I'd put it against any VW for thoughtfulness, ergonomics, and execution. The goofiest thing was that the shifter was the exact same shifter you see on the Mustang GT and Shelbys back home!

If Ford doesn't bring THIS European Focus to the US market soon, I'm going to be the first in line to shoot the management when they tank.

BTW, Ford just locked-up the WRC Manufacturer's Championship this past weekend... with the Focus... it was all over the TVs here.

 

i was cheering for them all year!

 

Looks a little weird to me, at least in white. Kinda cartoonish.

Actually, in profile, it looks like a rounded off CRX (the vertical section of course would be the vertical second window that the CRX had). I think I'd like it better if the fender flares were body color (or not there at all). As it is, it looks like the whole side of the car is wheel wells.

That said, I'm really pulling for Ford to get healthy again. As I've said before, I don't even look at Ford as the enemy anymore. I view Ford and GM as the last holdouts of the U.S. auto industry, and I root for them both against the invaders from the East... Most have said that Ford is nuts for not giving us the new Focus when Europe got it (and ours just got a refresh). I've always kinda liked the Focus, and if the Euro version is better, it ought to be here!

 

http://www.ford.co.uk/ie/rally/-/-/-/-/-/-

"Ford has won the FIA World Rally Championship 2006 with one rally to go!

To celebrate this rousing victory Ford are giving you free access to the video footage and news stories* on WRC.com from 1 December - 24 December 2006, where you can enjoy the final rally of the year and lots of exciting footage from the season."

 

Hmmm this is very interesting.

Too bad they don't sell them in the states.

 

I have always loved the Euro Focus , and am totally baffled at the contrast between the Euro and Us version . But then again look at the contrast between the Cobalt and it Euro platform cousin the Astra ....at least GM is finally bringing that car here . With the Euro Focus and the Astra here , I think the top 2 most regarded compacts sold in the US would be american car companies

 

now this is what Ford should be putting in commercial here in the states..
IF IT WAS SOLD HERE..
talk about "FREE" publicity!!!

They need to get this car here..look at what WRC did for the WRX???

You dont think it would work for Ford??

ohh wait it might hurt the Mustang??

 

Do you honestly think Ford would release a 650 hp compact car? It has a Turbo 5 cylinder, borrowed from Volvo, and AWD. The I5 is transversly mounted and the AWD system is supposed to be VERY good.

 

It sucks getting whipped in any race, but it would force me close to hari-cari after getting my candy stolen by a 4-door compact awd grocery-getter like that.

I don't think you could street 650hp in that car actually. There's not enough weight or wheel to control it. 500hp... borderline.

I'd settle happily for them to bring over the current Focus ST as it is.
But with the steering wheel on the correct side of the car of course!

 

I can't believe no one pointed that out sooner. It was a typo. 350hp

 

That number sounds much closer to reality. I honestly can't think of any reason not to bring that to the states.

 

I think the case is to see this car here we should email ford to bring it here.

hey you need competition for the Camaro to beat right??

 

Importing it to sell to car enthusiasts probably doesn't justify the investment. They know only hardcore people would buy a $30,000 Ford Focus.

Hence the reason its coming to NA as a Volvo C30. If we're lucky we'll get an AWD version somewhere down the line.