Yet another example of what is wrong in Detroit has been released by Ford: the Euro-only Ford Focus hardtop convertible. Yes, that apple of American pistonhead desires, the European Focus, has yet another svelte form. With excellent interior quality, clean lines and crisp handling, this Pininfarina-built coupe looks to be yet another gem for Ford Europe. Sadly, we’re left out in the cold on this side of the pond; there's no market for a great compact car/coupe/convertible in America– or so Ford says. Or if there is, they can't build it here (as in Mexico) and sell it at a profit. Still, you can console yourself that you can get your cretaceous-era American Ford Focus with Sync. But even that may not make you as happy as the Mazda3 driving next to you. That Verve better be good…
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Well, it’s not like Ford is the only manufacturer giving the American market the shaft.
Alex, I second that. I hope the Verve is all that we hoped for and more – especially since I’m sick of reading about the European Focus…
Why don’t you buy a Volvo C70?
It is basically the same car.
We’ve all had this conversation before!
Firstly, exchange rates won’t allow it to be shipped from Europe.
But there’s nothing to stop Ford, bringing the plans over to the US and making it there.
Mind you, there’s a reason why I like this particular Ford and no others. The styling was done by Pininfarina.
Katie –they sell the ‘euro’ Ford Focus (even in ST trim) in Mexico. Just doing a straight conversion from pesos to US Dollars, it’s $26,000 fully loaded. That’s the price of a fully loaded Mazdaspeed3 GT, so there is precedent for selling a small (by U.S. standards) hatch at that price point.
I wish importing them was an option –it is, but the cost is pretty crazy.. something like 1.5x the value of the car must be paid as a bond to the government, you have to pay to bring it up to U.S. crash safety standards, etc. Duty is only like 2.5%, plus sales tax in the state you register it.
You like the Focus but not the Mondeo? The styling cues are shared heavily.
One of many, many reasons I’m strongly considering relocating to Australia when I’m done with college is so that I can buy nice American cars — there’s something very wrong with that.
no such thing as a good American car sold in America :(
Kansei,
I only like the styling of the Ford Focus Cabriolet. Not the Focus in general. The 3rd generation Mondeo is OK, I just personally don’t like it.
As for Mexico making it. You’ve pretty much repeated what I said in my post, which was, to bring the plans to America (or in this case, Mexico) and make it to avoid the high production costs of Europe.
I suppose another reason why Ford America won’t bring Euro Fords to America is because they reckon they won’t sell well. So, until that mind set changes, you’ll have to make do with Mercuries, instead, which Ford America bosses believe you Americans want…..
I’ve been saying for a while now, why doesn’t Ford take the Euro models, rebadge them as Lincolns and sell them for the higher cost??? Doesn’t it make sense to actually use Lincoln showrooms for more than the what….three models that they have??? Then with small numbers, Ford would know if Americans would buy the Euro only cars at the higher price.
Ummmm…..yo AM, are ya smellin’ what the Rock is cooking???
I’ve seen maybe 3 VW Eos’ on the street since the car’s debut. I doubt a Focus convertible will be missed (although hairdressers from Madison Ave to Hollywood Blvd. are undoubtedly shedding tears)
Folks….Ford tried in the 80’s to bring European Fords over to the US…remember the Merkur Skorpio? I think they sold a few hundred….
I stipulate the gap between European Ford’s and NA Fords is wider now, than it was then. Perhpas it is time for Ford to try again….and sell the Mondeo and the Euro-Focus at their Mercury dealers…..it would certainly differentiate the product base.
Could it be that the reason they can’t build it in Mexico is the cost of getting the parts from all the european suppliers? Could they not get equally quality parts made over here?
Warning: Another Crazy Theory Follows!
The wonderful MBA’s at the lead of the 2.8 have outsourced too much of their differentiators. They can’t do better interiors because they no longer make them. They outsourced all that, and then trained their vendors that cheap crap was what they wanted. The vendors no longer can do quality at a value price. Putting purchasing between the designers and the builders was not a great idea when it came to some of these parts.
I guess the question is – where do the transplants get interior parts?
It is time for Americans to simply accept the fact that FoMoCo the parent company considers Ford of Europe and Ford NA to be two distinctly different companies services two distinctly different markets.
FoMoCo is really NOT interested in bringing any of its European or Australian products to the USA because Ford NA already has all the production capacity it needs in NA. This includes design and engineering. Ford also has a very large supplier network in NA that it must continue to support. All of these enities have very powerful interest inside of the Ford organization and they are the force that is keeping Fords better products outside of the USA.
Think about it like this, if European Ford products became popular in the USA would they not hurts the sales of the other established Ford entities in this market. Would not a successful Euro Focus hurt sales of Fords Mazda3 in
the USA? Do we not expect to pay less for the Focus than the Mazda? Same with the Mondero, Ford has paid a good bit of cash to get the Fusion and 500 to market in the USA do they need another car? Now correct me if I am wrong but were not the Fusion and 500 designed in the USA by Ford’s domestic staff, I dont think we want to put them out of work at the expense of the Euro Ford designs, although they are doing a much better job.
The success or failure of Ford’s Merkur “project” of the 1980s needs to be analysised in a more objective light to be fully understood. The first thing that we need to accept is that the Merkurs that Ford imported were actually very good cars, as a matter of fact they were excellent in many ways when compared to there contempory competition. The problem was they were too good in the sense that they were head and shoulders better than anything else Ford was selling in the USA at that time.
The XR4Ti had a far superior chassis to the Fox Mustang including an IRS. The Scorpio was a true European sports sedan and it was beautifully built and nicely styled. The only problem with the Scorpio was that it was underpowered with a 140hp v6. The question that needs to be asked is why Ford never equiped either model with the 5.0 v8 that was an easy fit in both engine bays, this engine was available in this chassis in other market like South Africa if I am correct.
Had Ford had the nerve to do so it would have had two very special cars on its hands. It would have had the most powerful sedan outside of the MB 560sel in the US market. An XR4Ti with a 5.0 v8 would have been legendary.
Now if Ford had pushed Merkur to success in the 1980s they would have had to answer for the piss-poor quality of their domestic products at that time. The average Joe might have expected Ford to build the Tauras better and equip the Stang with an IRS. That could not be because NA is Ford dumping ground for inferior but formerly porfitable trash.
Ingvar I was about the say the same thing it looks just like a Volvo C70 Conv.
Why is it that Ford can afford to build these Focii in Europe and ship them all over including Mexico, but they can figure out how to make one here. How does the Euro Focus price compare to Civics and Corollas in europe.
I suppose another reason why Ford America won’t bring Euro Fords to America is because they reckon they won’t sell well. So, until that mind set changes, you’ll have to make do with Mercuries, instead, which Ford America bosses believe you Americans want….. – KatiePuckrik
Ford sold British Fords including the Consul, Anglia and Cortina in North America until about 1973 when the domestically produced Pinto, Ford’s 4-passenger BBQ, elbowed them out of the market. They were good cars, equal to the Roots Hillmans and Singers, better than the BMC Austin-Morris cars, and vastly superior to the British GM Vauxhall and Chrysler Simca.
Ford also sold the British Capri 4-cylinder and German Capri V6 until 1977 when they were replaced by a rebadged Mustang. The German version was the one of choice for workmanship and performance, though the British version wasn’t too bad.
Merkur, the German word for Mercury, was a German Ford marketed here from 1985 to 1989. They were everything people run away from. Odd looking, unreliable, expensive to buy and keep running and terrible resale value. Neither Ford nor their unfortunate dealers could give them away. They failed miserably, and deservedly so. Then as now good products sell, lousy ones don’t.
“Merkur, the German word for Mercury”
No it isn’t. The German for Mercury is “Quecksilber”. Trust me, I’m a chemist for a German chemical company!
“Merkur, the German word for Mercury”
No it isn’t. The German for Mercury is “Quecksilber”. Trust me, I’m a chemist for a German chemical company!
I think its the planet Mercury not the metal, but I don’t speak German so thats a guess.
They were everything people run away from. Odd looking, unreliable, expensive to buy and keep running and terrible resale value.
I don’t remember this from the one owner I knew had one at the time, they loved it and spoke highly of it. And the fer times I rode in it I was impressed, very upscale looking, you never would have thought it came from Ford.
@Ingvar
Why don’t you buy a Volvo C70?
It is basically the same car.
It’s on the same platform, but there are some key differences:
1) Focus has the suspesion tuned for handling, Volvo for comfort and numbness
2) Volvo has a much more clever and expensive three-piece hardtop, Focus only 2-piece
3) Price: The cheapest Volvo C70 costs 50% more than the cheapest Focus CC.
@whatdoiknow1
Do we not expect to pay less for the Focus than the Mazda?
Funny how the Mazda is considered the cheapo alternative to the Focus in Europe. I’m currently in the market for a new diesel compact car, and I have an offer for a loaded Mazda3 with 25% off the list price. Without even asking for rebates.
@Redbarchetta
How does the Euro Focus price compare to Civics and Corollas in europe.
More or less the same… There is no Corolla in Europe anymore.
Let’s compare german base prices for 1.4 gassers: (including 19% VAT)
Toyota Auris base model: (97hp)
15,500€
Honda Civic base model: (83hp)
16,550€
Ford Focus base model: (80hp)
15,000€
However, the Japanese cars’ base models have A/C and stereo, while the Focus doesn’t so they better compare with the Focus Style for
16,500€
I think its the planet Mercury not the metal, but I don’t speak German so thats a guess.
You are right. Merkur is the planet/greek god, Quecksilber is the chemical element.