New Ford Focus will be avalible for WTCC

[JMeissner]

Ford today held a press conference where they revealed their plans for motorsport in the coming years. The main focus was of course on if Ford would continue in the WRC or not. Pleasingly for the rally fans Ford will stay for another four years. But there were also good news the touring car fans.

It was confirmed that Ford will build a touring car of the new Focus that can be used in the WTCC. "The new Focus will provide the platform for this touring car initiative. The car is intended to allow customer teams to compete at the highest level of touring car racing, but with the emphasis on producing a competitive car at an affordable price," said Lewis Booth, Chairman and CEO, of Ford Europe.



Source: Ford

[Dani Filth]

good to hear that . will it be from 2005 or 2006 ?

[JMeissner]

Hotfield will run two cars 2005.

[John Winter]

And he will test drivers in January, although the focus will start testing at the end of Novembre. Hotfiel hopes they will get works support in 2006.

[429CJ]

I wish, they would use the 4 - door saloon shell and leave the 3 - door model for rallying.

[Dani Filth]

yeap . agree . but is the saloon version already launched ?? . i didn't follow the Focus II

[Hazard]

Yeah, the saloon version has already been produced. I actually think they've done a far better job with the saloon version than the hatch on this occassion.

It just screams the words 'Ford Escort!' at me.

[touringlegend]

Good news that Ford is recognising the need to have a Focus involved in Touring Cars albeit not at a works level, which leads me to the question, will it be developed much, or built and left to the teams to fine tune ?

[Mike_Wooshy]

Originally posted by Hazard


It just screams the words 'Ford Escort!' at me.

funny it screams mini mondeo at me

[nsxr]

It looks like a seat copra R. Just look at it. Thats good to hear. Bring on '05

[gttouring]

this is great news
ou of F1 and a new big effort in WTCC and WRC!!!
go Ford!

[kmchow]

It's encouraging that Ford is going to provide support for the WTCC by building customer cars. I just wonder how competitive they will be based on Ford's commitment.

[gttouring]

well i does not seem that the car is a poo piece
if they use whatever they learned from the BTCC mondeo- much will be right with the car. they should have run the saloon though.
but great Ford is still at it

[Super Tourer]

At last! A step in the right direction from Ford, they can support the WTCC and contest the WRC for small change compared to what they've spent on F1 for almost nil result.

I've always thought that saloon based racing/rallying has much more significance for a volume maker like Ford, the car on the track reflecting the car in the showroom, etc. All that Jag Rac did in F1 was show that Jaguar couldn't compete with Mercedes and BMW (their showroom rivals).

This looks much more sensible and viable.

[BSchneiderFan]

The Mondeo was much prettier.

[429CJ]

From another forum, a five-door Focus Touring Car Concept:


http://bbs.focuscosworth.co.uk/showflat.php?Number=2416

Quite a looker.

[kmchow]

I agree that Ford should have prepared a sedan instead. You would think Ford had gotten the Focus hatchback enough PR thru it's WRC involvement. If you're doing another series, why not promote another bodystyle???

OTOH, perhaps Ford is saving some R&D money b/c they can start with the same chassis - for both rally/touring

[gttouring]

if a car is stiff enough for rally- all the bouncing and all and keeping stiff for taramc in basically the same car- something that stiff, will carve corners on the circuits better than many would think...

[andy_b]

just to clarify. The Saloon shown on Page one is the new American Focus.

The American focus is a freshened up 1st generation focus. They will not be getting the European car. Meanwhile The saloon in europe has not been annoucned.

[Hazard]

Hmmm, I did notice some minor differences, but I still thought it was still the new car.

Makes little sense for the mismatch - but I'm sure I've heard Ford will be unveiling a saloon version pretty soon too.

[429CJ]

Here's some pictures of saloon concept car, par few details this is how it will look. I think it will be introduced due summer 2005.

http://www.wheels24.co.za/Wheels24/N...539268,00.html

[andy_b]

Originally posted by Hazard
Hmmm, I did notice some minor differences, but I still thought it was still the new car.

Makes little sense for the mismatch - but I'm sure I've heard Ford will be unveiling a saloon version pretty soon too.

in Europe, yes they will be a watered down version of the concept in the previous post.

I believe the Focus in North America has only been lightly revamped due to costs and sales. New dash, near front and in the case of the saloon, back end

[kmchow]

Originally posted by andy_b
in Europe, yes they will be a watered down version of the concept in the previous post.

Last I recall, Europe was going to get a version based on the Mazda3/Volvo S40 platform.

I believe the Focus in North America has only been lightly revamped due to costs and sales. New dash, near front and in the case of the saloon, back end

It was quite a revamp b/c they also got updated engines as well. NA was supposed to get the European/Mazda3 platform based Focus in '07. However, now I read that Ford NA may use another different platform for the Focus. So the concept of a "global" Focus may have again suddenly died!!

But then, there's also talk about bringing the future 3rd generation Mondeo over.

[andy_b]

Originally posted by kmchow

It was quite a revamp b/c they also got updated engines as well. NA was supposed to get the European/Mazda3 platform based Focus in '07. However, now I read that Ford NA may use another different platform for the Focus. So the concept of a "global" Focus may have again suddenly died!!

Vancouver is where I saw one couple of months back. Off to live there next year

[kmchow]

I have to say the restyled/freshened 2005 NA only Ford Focus looks a lot nicer than the last one. It reminds me of the VW Jetta/Bora from several years back?