Losing Focus

What's more horrifying: the 2008 Ford Focus, or this?

I guess Ford deserves credit for giving the Focus a striking design, even if it bears an unnerving resemblance to the Saturn Ion. But here's the real problem with the "new" car:

When the Focus was introduced in 1999, it was at the cutting edge, at least stylistically, debuting as one of the most striking small cars on the market. It got a minor facelift a few years later, more evolutionary than revolutionary. While the 2008 update looks substantially different, it's still not a complete overhaul, just another facelift. [emphasis added]

Ford has been selling a second-generation Focus in Europe for several years now. I'd really love for the "Bold Moves" company to explain why North Americans can only buy it in Mazda3 form.

The new Cadillac CTS, on the other hand, is a stunner. Here's hoping it drives as well as it looks.

Damian P.

Posted by damian at January 8, 2007 07:12 AM