Ford bringing Euro rides to the US

[Wagner]

by 2012...

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/...rds/index.html

[JCL]

They have tried many times, but the US Ford product planners always managed to get their hooks into the cars and make them worse by the time they went on the market in the US. The last cars that they didn't modify may have been the Consul and Cortina. After that came the Capri, Mondeo, Focus, and many in between, all 'fixed' with softer suspensions, etc. for the perceived tastes of the US consumer.

Our UK Focus was a very different vehicle than what was sold in North America. The Mondeo was another example. I have rented a lot of Focus (Foci?) vehicles in the UK, and they are not at all bad for a runabout. Rented a C-Max as shown in the photos several times, in Italy and the UK, and it was very practical for 4 adults and a pile of luggage. Essentially a tall Focus touring wagon. Always thought that the Transit Compact would do well in North America as a commercial vehicle.

Wonder if Ford will actually pull off their 20 or 30 year old 'World Car' plan this time.

[AzNMpower32]

It's well past due. Ford makes decent cars in Europe, but for some reason, I guess NA cars just have to be *a little bit worse*.

[motordavid]

Happy talk by FoMoCo, but I'll believe it when I drive 'em...
On our last trip to Scotland, in 2K, we had a Ford Focus
for 10 days and 1600+ miles: 8 years ago this "Euro Focus"
had big wheels, fat tires, a slick man. trans, handled like a
go cart, was quick&fast, and got great mpg. This was a
Hertz rental...Ford hasn't sold a car like that 8+ yr old model
in this country in decades, (some 'Stangs excluded.)

The many times I've driven a "US mfg'er brand" in Europe has
always left me wondering how those kinds of cars never get
to the states. FoMoCo will be gobbled up or broke before any
of their euro models/fun stuff gets here, imo.

[vinuneuro]

Ford and GM vehicles designed/developed in Europe are exponentially better than what's sold here. GM is doing more work there for US models of lately iirc. Saturn is run by Opel now. It's amazing that despite American engineering prowess in almost every discipline, Detroit hasn't been able to do anything worthwhile with automobiles and engines in the last few decades.

[evolver]

Originally Posted by motordavid

8 years ago this "Euro Focus" had big wheels, fat tires, a slick man. trans, handled like a go cart, was quick&fast, and got great mpg.

Not sure about "Euro Focus", but Focus ST kicks some major a$$.

[Bimmer Ese]

I wouldn't mind sporting ones of those Ford Transit vans to kick off my auto detailing business.....

The coolest European car I've ever seen Ford put out was the Ford Puma. While stationed in the UK in the late '90's, I had the opportunity to drive one of those pocket rockets.

Dan

[ljnlaw]

Speaking of a new Ford Focus the new issue of Autoweek has a picture of the new Euro Ford Focus RS which is claimed to have 296bhp and looks like a beast!

[Last5oh]

My wife's car - actually our daily driver, grocery getter - is a 1996 Ford Contour. It was the Mondeo in Europe at that time. We love the car, handles and drives great, V6 has more than enough power. Too bad the Contour (and Mystique) did not 'take' well in north america.

A Ford executive told me the problem was pricing. The Contour was introduced just as the Tempo was phased-out so the general public saw it as a 'replacement' model and expected the same pricing range. If the general North American car buying public expects no-frills get from point A to point B transportation then that's that the car companies will give them.

[driverX5]

I see Ford Mondeos all the time with Mexico plates. I also see Seats and other Euro cars.