2012 Ford Focus Electric: Overly Timid Or...

Ford updates N.A. Focus coupe for 2009 model year

 
17 2,496 views May 13, 2008
Follow Viknesh

2009 ford focus coupe motorauthority 001

Ford updates N.A. Focus coupe for 2009 model year

Ford updates N.A. Focus coupe for 2009 model year

Enlarge Photo
Ford will soon add a new version of its North American Focus coupe, which has been updated for the 2009 model year with a sporty new look, improved performance and a revised interior. The Focus has been a strong seller for Ford, with sales rising an astonishing 88% in the past year alone no doubt on the back of the car’s impressive 35mpg fuel economy rating.

The latest revision comes after months of interviews with small-car customers and Focus enthusiasts in the U.S., especially those customers and potential customers born between 1980 and 1995. Researchers concluded that most customers wanted a sportier look and thus the Focus development team directed their efforts towards designing new front and rear fascias for the car.

Key changes include the new front bumper, which sports a similar intake to Ford’s global arch design, integrated fog lights fitted as standard, a darkened grille with chrome accents around the headlights, 17in alloy wheels, a rear spoiler and a new roof profile.

The range-topping SES coupe features more power and a sportier exhaust note as well as a new 4.2 final drive ratio in automatic versions for quicker off-the-line acceleration. A new option for 2009 is electronic stability control.

The 2009 Focus Coupe is equipped with a 2.0L four-cylinder engine that delivers 143hp when mated to a five-speed manual and 140hp when equipped with an auto. Also on offer is a 130hp unit that achieves a 35mpg rating when equipped with a manual.

The new model will make its official debut on Wednesday night’s episode of American Idol before going on sale in the middle of the year with a starting price of $15,920.
2009 Ford Focus Coupe

HI-RES GALLERY: 2009 ford focus coupe motorauthority 001




Posted in:
 
Contribute
Send us a tip Comment Contact the editor
Follow Us

 

Have an opinion?Join the conversation!

  • Posting indicates you have read this site's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • Notify me when there are more comments
Comments (17)

  1. By Wizards Lore Posted: 5/13/2008 7:57am PDT

    dear god...is this the Focus coupe that the yanks get ?? wow....they sell well there??? imagine what kind of sales Ford could have had if they had the real focus coupe from europe !
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  2. By Rafel Posted: 5/13/2008 8:35am PDT

    wow, it's very very ugly. It's like a cheapy chinese car,lol.
    I think Ford doesn't sell euro focus because american people prefer coupes( is the same as euro civic and US civic). But this Focus is is is...a monstosity with wheels,hehehe.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  3. By chris Posted: 5/13/2008 8:52am PDT

    call it what you want but it's outselling the last model.

    if it doesnt have the 2.3L in it, it's nothing special to me. I've got the 08 coupe in blue and I'd prefer the original. those rims (even though they're 17s).. are far too ricer for me.

    and guys,.. once again.. the global focus sells for the equivalent of 40k in the USA. you can get an IS-250 for that kind of cash.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  4. By MyWheelsOnWalls.com Posted: 5/13/2008 9:23am PDT

    Chris- Ford would not sell the euro Focus here for 40k. They would sell it for the price of its rivals just like they did with the last Focus that was sold both here and in Europe.

    Common sense people, please!

    As for the U.S. version what an ugly looking thing it is.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  5. By chris Posted: 5/13/2008 9:40am PDT

    I realize it would be a competative price. clearly. but the biggest problem is that ford invested so heavily in the focus in NA in the first place I dont know if they even got a profit out of it, because the small car market is so competative. that being said, a company that is trying to start making money for the first time in 10 years isn't going to introduce a new product to a market that makes very little money. they're going to put their money in the bigger markets.. like the all important mid sized class, where they can make some money. besides.. why would ford have brought the global focus here for 2008 to turn around and retool for 2011 for a completely new model? they took the old one.,.. improved the hell out of it,,.. for cheap.. and then let it out on the market.

    call it what you will but people are buying it. and buying a lot of it too. once again,.. before anyone calls that car ugly.. i dare you to park one next to the old sedan and still say that its ugly.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  6. By Gus Posted: 5/13/2008 9:48am PDT

    It looks ok, too much sheetmetal behind the doors maybe.
    I like the hatchback look better, I guess. Bring on the Eurofocus RS! :)
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  7. By bambam Posted: 5/13/2008 9:50am PDT

    Not so sure about the spoilers location but its good to go.
    I like it.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  8. By Gino Posted: 5/13/2008 2:37pm PDT

    Tasteless compared to the Euro model.

    However, it's been long-proven tha most Americans will drive any appliance.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  9. By Wizards Lore Posted: 5/13/2008 5:45pm PDT

    just figured it out...it looks like the first Hyundai Accent !!! hahaha
    What a horrific looking car, and if i was to put it next to the previous model sedan and you say this is so much better, JUST HOW F'UGLY WAS THE SEDAN ??
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  10. By chris Posted: 5/13/2008 6:01pm PDT

    wizards: no matter what part of the world you live in.. you've seen the original focus sedan. this looks much better.

    bambam; never even noticed the spoiler.. what the heck is that? the standard spoiler position looks SO much better.

    Gus, I agree, there is a bit too much sheet metal behind the doors.. but that being said.. the doors are pretty big.. i wouldnt want any more door than that.. seriously... my arms got a little stronger when i get this car.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  11. By Gus Posted: 5/13/2008 7:00pm PDT

    Try the Mustang's door, that thing is heavy as hell...
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  12. By worldbfree4me Posted: 5/13/2008 7:55pm PDT

    So, this is what a modern day Ford Escort GT would have looked like. Nice
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  13. By MateoMo Posted: 5/13/2008 9:17pm PDT

    "The latest revision comes after months of interviews with small-car customers and Focus enthusiasts in the U.S., especially those customers born between 1980 and 1995"

    Why would they be asking 13 year olds? 13 year olds can't drive nor can they buy cars. So how are they considered "customers"? Maybe that's ford's problem: It just doesn't have a clue what its doing.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  14. By mark Posted: 5/14/2008 8:35am PDT

    Its a dull and boring looking car but its still not to bad to look at. Why dont Ford US just build the euro focus in the US?
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  15. By chris Posted: 5/14/2008 8:40am PDT

    gus; i'm familiar with the mustang, trust me. the door handle on the focus is so close to the hinges that you get no leverage what so ever. the door is nearly as long and large as the mustangs and I'd be willing to bet just as "heavy" if not more, because of the leverage. Its one of my biggest complaints. the euro focus is the same too.

    mateo; 13 year olds... thats definitely wrong... but the majority of people who are buying this car are definitely younger than 28... and to be honest with you, I fell in love with the focus at the age of 14 and I'm sure my pubescent love for the car is one of the biggest reasons why I'm so set on it today. that and WRC. and it's all I can afford.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  16. By chris Posted: 5/14/2008 8:44am PDT

    mark; again, economics. when the MK2 focus came out in 2004, ford was losing money. they're still losing money. hard to justify retooling factories in the USA to build a more sophisticated product in the lowest profit market segment, in the lowest profit region in the world, especially when you've been losing money for 5 years running. better off spending that money where it will do you more good like in the midsized sedan and crossover segments (fusion and edge, which have done wonders for ford lately).
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  17. By Wizards Lore Posted: 5/14/2008 11:59pm PDT

    orrrrrrrrr they could just import the new Falcon and swap it over to left hand drive and there you go...the full sized car you have been craving !
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

 

Have an opinion?Join the conversation!

Connect with Facebook

Motor Authority. Now with your friends.

Discover stories your friends read.
Share stories more easily.
You control what you share.
Learn more

Research New Cars

Go!


More from High Gear Media

 
 
MotorAuthority
  • Follow Us
  • Twiiter
  • Facebook
 
 
© 2011 MotorAuthority. All Rights Reserved. MotorAuthority is published by High Gear Media. Stock photography by Homestar, LLC. Send us feedback.