[SilverSVT]

Ok Maybe keeping around the current car isn't too bad of an idea:

Focus Gets Clearer

Meanwhile, Mazda officials offered a bit of clarification to recent reports about the next generation of Ford family small cars. The Japanese automaker’s new Mazda3 was jointly developed with Ford and Volvo, and will serve as the basis for a variety of future vehicles, including Ford’s own C-Max, a European microvan. Mazda’s engineering prowess has garnered so much respect in the vast Ford Motor Co. empire that the larger Mazda6 will serve as the foundation for at least 10 mid-size U.S. Ford-brand models, including the Futura, a replacement for the aging Taurus. But recent reports indicated Ford would stick with the current platform for the next-generation Focus subcompact, and not switch to something based on the Mazda3. The truth apparently is somewhere in between, according to several senior sources. To fully amortize the investment it has made, Ford will reuse a significant amount of current-model Focus tooling, but update the new car by borrowing some important “bits and pieces” from the Mazda3-based global architecture. Among other things, expect to see a significantly improved interior on Focus, along with improved ride and handling. —Paul A. Eisenstein

Source: The Car Connection

 

[ZX3guy182]

nope im still lost

 

[biker16]

Fine whatever, the problem will still be profitabilty. like the IBM commercial, you can only cut cost so much, after that you need higher productivity.


how does the Cw170 improve efficency over the C1?

The C1 is based on CW170, they are building both the C1 and CW170 on the same line in germany right now. There are alot of carry-over parts on the C1 focus.

 

[SilverSVT]

Fine whatever, the problem will still be profitability. like the IBM commercial, you can only cut cost so much, after that you need higher productivity.

Well I believe that if Ford brought over the C1 here to replace the current CW170 platform, even though they are very similar to each other...it would cost them even more money, cutting into profits.

Keeping the Current CW170 in North America makes sense for the time being. I'm sure with Ford possibility making all Foci in Wayne and the refreshing/changes its getting in 2005, it will be able to make the car more efficiently then it is now. They need to work on getting the most out of the car and build it more efficiently now, then throw out everything on bringing over a more expensive platform and losing even more money. Lets remember better then 50 % of Foci sales are boring SPI rentals

 

[focaljet-1]

Listen to biker16, he knows what he's talking about.

The main reason that Ford is staying with the current platform is to stabilize reliability. After a rocky start with the new car in 2000 they have worked hard to get all the bugs worked out of the current car.

They need to continue to produce a solid car to repair any damage that may have been done to the Focus nameplate in the public's opinion. To move to a new platform and have a possible repeat of recalls/quality issues would be a serious blow to the Focus in the long run.

I can understand this tactic completely and think it should help build the Focus' long-term credibility. As long as the switch to C1 is eventually phased in and we are on par with the rest of the world I will be happy.

 

[blackbird]

They need to continue to produce a solid car to repair any damage that may have been done to the Focus nameplate in the public's opinion. To move to a new platform and have a possible repeat of recalls/quality issues would be a serious blow to the Focus in the long run.

It's kind of like what GM eventually did with its first compact/mid-size FWD cars. When the Citation and other X-body cars were introduced in the early '80, they had a lot of recalls that killed sales in the following years. When GM introduced the A-body cars (Celebrity/6000/Cutlass Ciera/Century) two years later, they were still based on the Citation and had their own problems, but had a better reputation, and therefore more sales. A couple years later, the X-bodies were killed. By the time the last A-body cars were discontinued in '96, they were some of the most reliable vehicles GM made.

How this relates to the Focus is that the recalls may have hurt the reputation a little, but sales didn't nose-dive, so it’s probably going to be around for a while. Second, as mentioned above, staying with a platform can help to improve quality. Let's just hope the Focus isn't around essentially unchanged 14 years from now

 

[biker16]

Listen to biker16, he knows what he's talking about.

The main reason that Ford is staying with the current platform is to stabilize reliability. After a rocky start with the new car in 2000 they have worked hard to get all the bugs worked out of the current car.

They need to continue to produce a solid car to repair any damage that may have been done to the Focus nameplate in the public's opinion. To move to a new platform and have a possible repeat of recalls/quality issues would be a serious blow to the Focus in the long run.

I can understand this tactic completely and think it should help build the Focus' long-term credibility. As long as the switch to C1 is eventually phased in and we are on par with the rest of the world I will be happy.

How different is C1?

CMax assembly Below Duratec 1.8 and MTX75.

Notice the lower control arm, rubber mounted subframe (new), brakes (new), iron steering knuckle (new), and the mess of wires over the engine(ala PZEV).

in general, any change is a possible recall, but that doesn't mean they should nvr change anything, they have launched alot of new models recently but none have been plaqued with Focus like recalls.

They will be carring over basic archtechture from C170 to C1, cost is the issue not reliabilty.

C1 will require more investment than doing nothing.

look at the all-New frontal structure of C1.

that Funny colored metal is likely Super high stength Steel, maybe contracted out to a supplier and shipped to the plant. The unit is also replaceable lowering repair costs, also used on fiesta and mondeo. likeley shared with all C1 models.

In conclusion the C1 will be a good deal safer than the C170, in frontal colisions at least.

 

[jinstall]

I winder if this is in the Saarlouis plant??

Listen to biker16, he knows what he's talking about.

The main reason that Ford is staying with the current platform is to stabilize reliability. After a rocky start with the new car in 2000 they have worked hard to get all the bugs worked out of the current car.

They need to continue to produce a solid car to repair any damage that may have been done to the Focus nameplate in the public's opinion. To move to a new platform and have a possible repeat of recalls/quality issues would be a serious blow to the Focus in the long run.

I can understand this tactic completely and think it should help build the Focus' long-term credibility. As long as the switch to C1 is eventually phased in and we are on par with the rest of the world I will be happy.

How different is C1?

CMax assembly Below Duratec 1.8 and MTX75.

Notice the lower control arm, rubber mounted subframe (new), brakes (new), iron steering knuckle (new), and the mess of wires over the engine(ala PZEV).

in general, any change is a possible recall, but that doesn't mean they should nvr change anything, they have launched alot of new models recently but none have been plaqued with Focus like recalls.

They will be carring over basic archtechture from C170 to C1, cost is the issue not reliabilty.

C1 will require more investment than doing nothing.

look at the all-New frontal structure of C1.

that Funny colored metal is likely Super high stength Steel, maybe contracted out to a supplier and shipped to the plant. The unit is also replaceable lowering repair costs, also used on fiesta and mondeo. likeley shared with all C1 models.

In conclusion the C1 will be a good deal safer than the C170, in frontal colisions at least.

 

[CTZX3]

yeh the suspension is almost the same, even the front control arm is the same, and the sway bar links.

if you check out www.mazda3.com that shows the rear of the new 3 suspension and its basically the same as the focus.

chris

 

[biker16]

yeh the suspension is almost the same, even the front control arm is the same, and the sway bar links.

if you check out www.mazda3.com that shows the rear of the new 3 suspension and its basically the same as the focus.

chris

So true.

How different is C1 form C170?


the front subframe is based on the C170 except the subframe has voided bushing where it mounts to the body

The rear Subframe carries over C170's geometry But uses a lighter more struturally efficent subframe design, the mounts are not rubberized.

The biggest improvemant is the Structure, although it is only 10% stiffer it is far more crash worthy, The use of stronger steel in every part f the body, the most impressive piece is the Fron door cross beam, made of extra high strength steel, at the top of the door to offer the absolute best protection to the driver in colissions with higher riding Trucks, plaus the lower door baeam ijn the front door, in the rear the reinforced C-pillar offers side protection. For a safer vehicle even without th avialble Side thorax airbags and Side curtain air bags.

the structural improvements Would cause the majority of the retooling for Ford. but offer the greatest possible improvement in saftey.

In both side impact and frontal collisions the improvements would be most notable.