New Focus

[TVRKing]

Its official – Ford is poised to blast back into the convertible market with an open-top version of the Focus. The move expected for some time, has been confirmed by the company’s European president Nick Scheele.

In an interview for the form newspaper, he said: “We are considering a cabriolet based on the superb Ford Focus platform plus other performance derivatives, and I am optimistic that we can make this work.” The drop-top is being developed simultaneous with performance variants of the Focus hatchback. Together, they will add glamour to the range which is experiencing a hard time, especially on the Continent. The blue oval’s engineers have prepared several prototypes of the drop-top Focus models which have been presented to management for approval and market analysis. The front-runner is the “SLK” option (after Mercedes’ two seat convertible), using a folding metal hard-top instead of a conventional canvas roof to boost refinement, security and durability. As part of the research, the model will first be be seen by the public as a concept car, which will be used to gauge potential buyers’ reactions.

A programme for fast Focus models is far more advanced. Two variants have already been signed off for production, according to insiders. The first is the ST170 – the spiritual successor to the XR3 – which will follow cues set by the Mondeo ST200, with unique styling, chassis tuning and a sporty but plush interior. Its 2.0 litre engine will be good for up to 170bhp. The Focus Racing is going even more extreme, with flared wheelarches, aggressive spoilers and around 200bhp, which will make it capable of out running even the legendary Escort Cosworth. Both are due to be seen later this year. The cabrio will take a little longer to arrive, insiders say it was originally scheduled to be revealed as a design study at the Frankfurt Motor Show last September, but was pulled out at the last minute to avoid overshadowing the facelifted Fiesta, which debuted at the event. The prototype is now being readied for an unveiling at one of the major events of 2000, probably the Geneva Motor Show in March. If the reaction is positive, the car could be put into production in time to go on sale in the summer of 2001.

The Focus cabrio is a radical departure from the lacklustre but top selling soft-top Escort, which was quietly dropped by Ford two years ago. Although the metal roof will significantly add to the cabrio’s appeal, it will also up the price. The folding mechanism itself is more complex than those used in the Mercedes SLK and Peugeot 206 Coupe/Cabrio, as the roof has to be large enough to cover a full four-seater cabin – the extra passenger space is seen as essential in this market.

*Picture shown is not photo from which this info was taken from, but is similar*

 

[vat_man]

Ooh - I like that. It'd be nice to see some variation on the 206CCs the pretty young things drive here...

Yeah, like Ford Australia would bring that over....

 

[Pupik]

Not bad looking; Karmann did a wonderful job with it. Hopefully it looks half as good with the top up.

I wonder if it will get sold in the North American market, and if it's at least as sporty as the Focus SVT, then I might give it some thought.

 

[1X83Z]

That does look nice, but pupik makes a good point about it with the top up. It'll be popular among teenage girls, methinks.

Any word about arrival in the U.S.?

 

[askia47]

i cant see the photo

 

[Hooligan]

I would imagine by the inclusion of the phrases "Nick Scheele" and "ST170" means that this car -- and, for the near future, the Cossie -- will not arrive in the US, right?

 

[F20]

Fords are like tampons, every ***** has one.

 

[Frustrated Palm]

Hooligan, they might give us the ripped off, watered down version ...

 

[Race Idiot]

You can have it.
From the looks of it they based it on the even uglier Focus saloon. Mind you I don't like the Hatch version either that much, but i'll put up with it just because of the cossie and RS models.

Mind you I thought the Escort Cabrio sucked.

 

[Hooligan]

Originally posted by Frustrated Palm
Hooligan, they might give us the ripped off, watered down version ...

Yeah, something has to be done about this kind of treatment. The US market is the biggest buyer of cars, the largest consumer of oil (two things I'm not proud about, but...), and one of the wealthiest countries. Why oh WHY are we kept from getting the most amazing cars on the planet every...freaking...TIME?!? How can we sell more Excursions in one year than we have total Skyline's? Why are there more H2's than EVO's? Heck, even the Pagani should be sold here. No excuses about low sales. We actually have the wide-open interstates that could let that car free, yet it sells only in backroad-laden Europe (er, no bad thing, you know).

*sigh*

To paraphrase Makinen: I am an American car enthusiast, and sometimes...it is hard.

 

[Pupik]

In short: I don't know. It makes no sense.

Well, if they don't want our money...

 

[vat_man]

Originally posted by pupik
In short: I don't know. It makes no sense.

Well, if they don't want our money...

Well, it's your market that caused the Porsche Cayenne and VW Toureag, so the rest of the world needs to take some sort of revenge!!!

 

[1X83Z]

Originally posted by vat_man
Well, it's your market that caused the Porsche Cayenne and VW Toureag, so the rest of the world needs to take some sort of revenge!!!

Can't even spell a simple, easy-to-say word like 'Touareg.' Tsk, tsk, tsk.

I hear the reason they named them that way is because they have worldwide, all-language meaning, not because they want to scare us all.

Although 'Cayenne' is a fairly decent car name.

 

[Pupik]

Originally posted by vat_man
Well, it's your market that caused the Porsche Cayenne and VW Toureag, so the rest of the world needs to take some sort of revenge!!!

Quiet, you! Or we'll start flooding your market with Buick Rivieras, Pontiac Grand Ams, and Escalades!

What do you want me to say...this is the sort of crap I hear half the US population wants...

 

[Hooligan]

Originally posted by pupik
Quiet, you! Or we'll start flooding your market with Buick Rivieras, Pontiac Grand Ams, and Escalades!

What do you want me to say...this is the sort of crap I hear half the US population wants...

Yes, the US is entirely responsible for the SUV. And for that, I apologize. For punishment, I will drive around in a [imported] Smart for three months.

As for the comment on hairdressers' cars, you are unfortunately correct again. Most Americans want the image of a fast car without actually having to pay for it. Thus, the Mustang. Looks fast, goes like a turd, and is dirt cheap. Some see the light and buy a Corvette, but that's still a cheapified car. There's a few good cars sold here, but hardly anyone buys them. Those who want the "good stuff" usually can't afford it. Those who can afford it usually don't drive it because they're too busy driving their Navigator. I dare you to find someone who has a Boxster as their only car.