Ford to introduce C1 Focus and sell it alongside the US Focus (CC Coming as well!!)

igor2 · Jun 13, 2008

http://www.autosavant.net/2008/06/ford-will-retool-us-factories-for.html

While DetNews has had some sources about the retooling, Autosavant builds a significantly more detailed stroy with additional insider sources.

The short take?
Mulally has decided to retool AT LEAST THREE US Truck plants to build cars
Luisville will be retoolrd to be an overflow plant for Fusion or Focus (or both) or Focus dericatives.

C1 Focus will be introduced in US very quickly and sold alongside the current US model. The key reason - Hatch, Wagon, and CC bodies not available from the US model. The cars will be sold alongside each other for a period of time before the US focus is discontinued.

Introduction of Focus derivatives: C-Max, and Kuga in short order.

Sped up development of F100, TransitConnect and Transit, alonsigside with sped up introduction of their US assembly sites.

All in all - perfect news.

The sole exception: Mondeo will not make it at this point - even with US assembly it is too expensive. So we will have Fusion for now until their merge in 2012.

Igor

Egz · Jun 13, 2008

Re: Ford to introduce C1 Focus and sell it alongside the US Focus (CC Coming as well!!)

Interesting. If they go ahead with this, I'm going to be curious to see how the sit with customers side by side.

Could this open the door for Ford to pull a GM, and market the sedan as Focus Classic, like the Malibu?

TJs98GT · Jun 13, 2008

Re: Ford to introduce C1 Focus and sell it alongside the US Focus (CC Coming as well!!)

sounds cool to me

Z63R · Jun 13, 2008

Re: Ford to introduce C1 Focus and sell it alongside the US Focus (CC Coming as well!!)

Mulally has decided to retool AT LEAST THREE US Truck plants to build cars
Luisville will be retoolrd to be an overflow plant for Fusion or Focus (or both) or Focus dericatives.

C1 Focus will be introduced in US very quickly and sold alongside the current US model. The key reason - Hatch, Wagon, and CC bodies not available from the US model. The cars will be sold alongside each other for a period of time before the US focus is discontinued.

Introduction of Focus derivatives: C-Max, and Kuga in short order.

This is the Holy Grail of [FJ]focaljetterdom!

Omfg. I'm STUNNED.
:lol:

I don't know what else to say...

OmniFocus · Jun 13, 2008

Re: Ford to introduce C1 Focus and sell it alongside the US Focus (CC Coming as well!!)

Interesting.

Personally, I think the Fusion is a good car with reasonable life in it, so I feel it isn't necessarily in need of replacement just yet.

Makes me wonder what my next car will be.... Fiesta or Focus?

Chalz · Jun 13, 2008

Re: Ford to introduce C1 Focus and sell it alongside the US Focus (CC Coming as well!!)

Noice!!!! Question is, how soon?

igor2 · Jun 13, 2008

Chalz said:
Noice!!!! Question is, how soon?

well Mulally's time line is "yesterday" - so as soon as they can - probably 6 months or so

the important piece is that the decisions has been made - there is no more thinking about ,studying, and considering - the decision has been made to retool three plants and build EU models here and sell them here. Their concern is not plant utilization - so these will not be for export (or at least not 100%) - their concern is to have more small vehicles on sale here in US to have more to offer for US consumers.

The small details such as selling C1 and C170 at the same time, etc, might change (or might be wrong - remember this is still just a report on insider info), but the big thing is set - Ford will move drastically and quickly to change its portfolio in the US.

Igor

Z63R · Jun 13, 2008

Re: Ford to introduce C1 Focus and sell it alongside the US Focus (CC Coming as well!!)

Will Ford be hiring more workers for this -and- where? Just Louisville?

CharlesWA · Jun 13, 2008

Re: Ford to introduce C1 Focus and sell it alongside the US Focus (CC Coming as well!!)

SEMA just got a little more interesting this year I think. :lol:

igor2 · Jun 13, 2008

Z63R said:
Will Ford be hiring more workers for this -and- where? Just Louisville?

no new plants - maybe some hirings - but mostly this will save current workers frol GM style lay offs - GM is shutting down 4 truck plants - Ford (instead) is changing them into car plants.

Igor

Ataru · Jun 13, 2008

igor2 said:
no new plants - maybe some hirings - but mostly this will save current workers frol GM style lay offs - GM is shutting down 4 truck plants - Ford (instead) is changing them into car plants.

Igor

Kudos to Ford for doing that and also the decision to bring these cars over now.

wilko · Jun 13, 2008

Re: Ford to introduce C1 Focus and sell it alongside the US Focus (CC Coming as well!!)

I will belive it when there is a C1 focus sitting in my driveway.

wilko · Jun 13, 2008

Re: Ford to introduce C1 Focus and sell it alongside the US Focus (CC Coming as well!!)

igor2 said:
well Mulally's time line is "yesterday" - so as soon as they can - probably 6 months or so

the important piece is that the decisions has been made - there is no more thinking about ,studying, and considering - the decision has been made to retool three plants and build EU models here and sell them here. Their concern is not plant utilization - so these will not be for export (or at least not 100%) - their concern is to have more small vehicles on sale here in US to have more to offer for US consumers.

The small details such as selling C1 and C170 at the same time, etc, might change (or might be wrong - remember this is still just a report on insider info), but the big thing is set - Ford will move drastically and quickly to change its portfolio in the US.

Igor

That is why I dont think the C1 will sell allong side of the current US Focus...

Unless they rename the US model, like the way Chevie

lol: ) called the old Malibu the "classic" when they introduced the blander Malibu and Malibu Maxx. So what should/ would Ford call the current US Focus... Escort anyone?

BUR_ZX3 · Jun 13, 2008

Re: Ford to introduce C1 Focus and sell it alongside the US Focus (CC Coming as well!!)

:lol:

Now where are the "bring us the damn euro cars" crowd?

Put up or shut up.

Seriously... I'm curious as to this move. I don't understand it. Not one bit.

igor2 · Jun 13, 2008

Re: Ford to introduce C1 Focus and sell it alongside the US Focus (CC Coming as well!!)

wilko said:
That is why I dont think the C1 will sell allong side of the current US Focus...

Unless they rename the US model, like the way Chevie lol: ) called the old Malibu the "classic" when they introduced the blander Malibu and Malibu Maxx. So what should/ would Ford call the current US Focus... Escort anyone?

Them selling alongside is not that far fetched. Currently the Focus is good $2,000 cheaper than its competition, it is priced on the level of the Fit, and Yaris (all price comparison are feature adjusted).

The C1 Focus is about $2,000 more expensive and would be prices just right for the segment. The US Focus would take position of the B-car of the lineup until the Fiesta debuts.

IT makes very very simple and good sense. Ford needs more options - and having a smaller, lighter, cheaper Focus, and more expensive, more feature ladden Focus - it is all OK ..

also remember we only have a sedan and a coupe in the US ... the C1 might be offered as a Hatch, Wagon and CC - and you have much less overlap. The C1 models would serve as a segway - transition - models for the MKIII in 2011.

Igor

CTZX3 · Jun 13, 2008

Re: Ford to introduce C1 Focus and sell it alongside the US Focus (CC Coming as well!!)

Yeh i dont believe this, in 2010 an all new Focus comes out!

maybe the current Focus continues on for 2 more extra years in coupe and sedan form.

BUR_ZX3 · Jun 13, 2008

Re: Ford to introduce C1 Focus and sell it alongside the US Focus (CC Coming as well!!)

My question is: If it was that easy to do all... then why wouldn't they have done it sooner?

jinstall · Jun 13, 2008

Re: Ford to introduce C1 Focus and sell it alongside the US Focus (CC Coming as well!!)

I will trade the Jeep on a Kuga as soon as they get the 140ps TDCi motor in the uS.

I will trrade the Focus as soon as I hear that the ST will be in the US.

Now thatbeing said I was told that there are some issues with the Kuga coming tot he US and it has been pushed back.

Still nothing on the Transit Connect?

I knew the S-Max was coming but what about the C-Max? I was told it was coming as well.

No word on the Galaxy?

Maybe this is the reason for the larger production # for the Focus RS and the higher output of the Mustang. Wishful thinking but the Focus RS would fill that gap in the HP game. Limited run SVT maybe?

focuspl99 · Jun 13, 2008

Re: Ford to introduce C1 Focus and sell it alongside the US Focus (CC Coming as well!!)

omg at me fantasizing about a US spec Focus RS

i'd obtain one no matter what! i'd even cross the parents to get one (referring to my previous thread) hehe

Ataru · Jun 13, 2008

Re: Ford to introduce C1 Focus and sell it alongside the US Focus (CC Coming as well!!)

BUR_ZX3 said:
My question is: If it was that easy to do all... then why wouldn't they have done it sooner?

My guess is high gas prices leading to declining truck sales. Ford needed to adjust quickly or would need to close those plants. Why not keep them open and sell cars that people are buying now since the trucks aren't selling as well.

Ford to introduce C1 Focus and sell it alongside the US Focus (CC Coming as well!!)

igor2

Egz

TJs98GT

Z63R

OmniFocus

Chalz

igor2

Z63R

CharlesWA

igor2

Ataru

wilko

wilko

BUR_ZX3

igor2

CTZX3

BUR_ZX3

jinstall

focuspl99

Ataru

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