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.
Reader Comments
Tue May 13 2008 7:57 AM
Wizards Lore says
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 !
Tue May 13 2008 8:35 AM
Rafel says
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.
Tue May 13 2008 8:52 AM
chris says
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.
Tue May 13 2008 9:23 AM
MyWheelsOnWalls.com says
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.
Tue May 13 2008 9:40 AM
chris says
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.
Tue May 13 2008 9:48 AM
Gus says
It looks ok, too much sheetmetal behind the doors maybe.
I like the hatchback look better, I guess. Bring on the Eurofocus RS! :)
Tue May 13 2008 9:50 AM
bambam says
Not so sure about the spoilers location but its good to go.
I like it.
Tue May 13 2008 2:37 PM
Gino says
Tasteless compared to the Euro model.
However, it's been long-proven tha most Americans will drive any appliance.
Tue May 13 2008 5:45 PM
Wizards Lore says
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 ??
Tue May 13 2008 6:01 PM
chris says
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.
Tue May 13 2008 7:00 PM
Gus says
Try the Mustang's door, that thing is heavy as hell...
Tue May 13 2008 7:55 PM
worldbfree4me says
So, this is what a modern day Ford Escort GT would have looked like. Nice
Tue May 13 2008 9:17 PM
MateoMo says
"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.
Wed May 14 2008 8:35 AM
mark says
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?
Wed May 14 2008 8:40 AM
chris says
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.
Wed May 14 2008 8:44 AM
chris says
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).
Wed May 14 2008 11:59 PM
Wizards Lore says
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 !
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