Ford Focus 2005 release date - READ ONLY

67 messages, Last post on Dec 25, 2004 at 11:39 AM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Focus, Acura RSX, Sedan

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#58 of 67 Keep in mind ... by mdaffron Oct 21, 2004 (5:34 am)
This guy was reviewing a European Focus, one Ford has already said we won't be getting over here in the States. Meade
#59 of 67 Focus II is coming to America? by creakid1 Oct 21, 2004 (11:05 am)
"* MAZDA3: Ford’s North American Focus willjoin this architecture in approximately three years when all Volvo, Ford, Mazda, and Mercury small cars and crossovers adopt this platform. Cost concerns kept Ford from launching the Focus on this platform this year." This is the comment from the interview dated Oct 5, 2004 with Phil Martens -- Group Vice President, Product Creation, North America. I also found some discrepancy in his other comment, as the Nov '04 CAR magazine pointed out that the next Mondeo will be based on a stretched Focus II, not the Mazda6 as mentioned in this interview.
#60 of 67 3 years is still a long wait by creakid1 Oct 21, 2004 (11:49 am)
The made-in-Taiwan Focus available locally about now is the world's first production Focus II sedan: http://www.autonet.com.tw/cgi-bin/news/news_view4mail.cgi?qry=a41- - - - - 00228 The wheel-well protrusion is so wide. Overall width is about 5.5" wider than the Focus I. That's almost like the 6" width difference b/t the BMW 1-series & the next 3-series!
#61 of 67 The ST engine decision has been made by creakid1 Nov 01, 2004 (12:08 am)
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/ae_news_story.php?id=51154 "Having originally considered V6 power, Ford has decided that the front-wheel-drive ST will use a 220bhp version of Volvo's 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo. That means buyers can expect a 0-60mph time of around six seconds...But drivers wanting even more can look forward to a stripped-out RS model - complete with 300bhp and four-wheel drive - due on sale at the end of 2006."
#62 of 67 in the form of folding-hardtop convertible, too! by creakid1 Nov 04, 2004 (10:21 pm)
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/ae_news_story.php?id=51423 "Ford also has the option of creating an ST range-topper - this CC would use the Volvo-sourced 2.5-litre turbo set for the hatch version next year. With sales expected to start by the end of next year, the Focus CC is likely to make its show debut at September's Frankfurt expo. And it will be competitively priced, with the entry-level model starting at around £18,000, and rising to more than £20,000 for the flagship."
#64 of 67 So the Focus II w/ 1.4 & 1.6 gas engines are suppose to continue w/ pure hydraulic steering assist by creakid1 Nov 25, 2004 (11:37 pm)
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/previews/previews_story.php?id=52125 "The 1.6-litre Ti-VCT engine....The steering, too, is first class. Although less communicative than that of the original Focus, it is superbly weighted." Is it only the 99hp 1.6 equipped w/ the pure hydraulic, or even the 113hp 1.6 Ti-VCT is also? If the 1.6 Ti-VCT is w/ electro-hydraulic, then it is probably inevitable that its steering is less communicative than the pure-hydraulic Focus I. But even the Focus II w/ pure-hydraulic is less communicative than the Focus I w/ pure-hydraulic? Then why bother w/ the Focus II? Just be content & grateful w/ the continuation of the MORE-FUN Focus I in America! It is already known that the Focus I has a more playful oversteer drift than the Focus II. Replies to this message: creakid1 (Dec 25, 2004 11:07 am)
#65 of 67 Whiplash protection -- Another reason to get the Focus II by creakid1 Dec 12, 2004 (2:15 pm)
creakid1, "Ford Focus vs. Mazda3" #149, 12 Dec 2004 4:47 pm
#66 of 67 Re: So the Focus II w/ 1.4 & 1.6 gas engines are suppose to continue w/ pure hydraulic steering assist [creakid1] by creakid1 Dec 25, 2004 (11:07 am)
Replying to: creakid1 (Nov 25, 2004 11:37 pm) "(the diesels and 2.0 petrols use an electro-hydraulic system)" -- 14 December AUTOCAR. So all 1.6's use pure-hydraulic steering assist. More in this AUTOCAR issue...
#67 of 67 "Steering's lack of feedback at speed is a disappointment but it can't upset what is another winning package" by creakid1 Dec 25, 2004 (11:39 am)
"THE AUTOCAR VERDICT...the steering: although this car uses a conventional hydraulic system, it falls short of the previous car's excellent rack..." "HANDLING & RIDE (5 stars) The best chassis in the class, again Current Focus drivers, this is what you need to know about your next car: It has an even crisper, more capable chassis, but it doesn't steer quite as well. Overall, its a net improvement over the outgoing car, but the margin of superiority is certainly narrow. Spellbinding is one of the few words that can do justice to the way this car will cover a mixed journey of anything from motorway to tortuous minor road. It's always compliant, beautifully damped and offers a blend of ride and sheer competence that now shames anything in the class above. It sounds implausible, but to find a car that will deal with UK road as well as this you'll need a Lotus Elise or Porsche 997. To go one step better? At this juncture, we're not quite sure. In the Focus tradition, its's a firm-riding car. Rather than try to isolate you from small intrusions, Renault Megane-style, it makes the driver aware of everthing for communication purpose, but smooth all the sharp edges away for a comfortable ride. And everything is dealt with in two movements: a compression of damper and spring, and a controlled return movement. Nothing more. No shimmy, wobble or rebounding, destabilising lurch. Jut pure control. In the face of such exemplary suspension, the steering doesn't attain the same extraordinary levels of excellence. Certainly at parking speeds it's impressively twirl-it-with-a-little-finger light, and that's an undeniable asset in town. Where it loses out is under load, as the car begins to settle into a corner. The car turns in quite brilliantly, but where the old car would confirm its position and grip the road with a reassuring firmness through the wheel, this system doesn't telegraph the message as cleanly. All this sounds ludicrously technical for a family hatch, but it manifests itself most obviously to anyone that drives it. Put simply: in the new Focus you enjoy increased capability, but feel less of what's going on. Either way, you have the best chassis in the class." -- pp68-69, 14 Dec '05 AUTOCAR. They also pointed out "Superbly well-balanced chassis gives very neutral handling: very little trace of understeer or oversteer". No wonder you can no longer drift much the Control Blades' legendary controllable side-way-stunt fun on the MkII.