2008 Ford Focus Sedan and Coupe Preview

Ford's new 2008 Focus, a car that has North Americanentry-level buyers waiting anxiously, is nearly upon us, but it isn't what we initially thought it would be. When the domestic brand pulled the covers off this past January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, we were expecting to see a plethora of hatchbacks, wagons, convertibles and perhaps even a sedan bearing sharp European styling. We expected the second-generation European Ford Focus actually, the one that rides on the internationally acclaimed architecture that also went on to underpin the Mazda3, Volvo C30/S40/V70 and others. As you can see from these photos, this is not what was served up.

Nevertheless, this is still a brand new car, and shares nothing in terms of styling with the first generation and post-facelift model. Rather, Ford has taken a machete to the model range and hacked out all unnecessary models, dropping the count from five to two. All vehicles with odd-number doors are out, which means that there won't be a wagon anymore, or a 3- or 5-door hatchback. Instead, these will be replaced by the Focus Coupe, a new introduction which is supplemented by a regular four-door sedan.

Up front, the car has some eye-catching lines, with someunusual angles that make up the headlamp clusters, plus a two-bar (not three-bar) grille. A rising window line, plus a tapered character line down the side of the body break any links in character to the previous Focus, and it's all wrapped up very neatly with decorative taillights and a decklid that features the new, italicized Focus logo. The new Focus is slightly more aerodynamic than the outgoing car, making it a quieter cruiser when on the move.

The previous and slightly confusing trim lineup; S, SE, SES, ST, etc. has also been discarded, replaced by a simpler naming scheme that's in line with the rest of the Ford product range. The entry level model is called the SE, while the top of the line version is the SEL. Deluxe and Sport packages further broaden the selection.

Underneath this new body is the general structure and underpinnings of the old car, which, all things considered, are still sharp and up to date, not to mention very dependable. The frame has been made more rigid by redesigning the roof,floor pan and other areas, plus adding additional bracing. This not only allows the Focus to handle better, but be safer and quieter too. While it may be bigger and stronger than before, one thing the Focus is not is heavier. A diet enabled the little Ford to shed 60 pounds despite featuring more content. Meanwhile, the basic suspension layout has been kept consistent with the outgoing car. Struts can be found up front and the “blade” design multi-link axle is in the rear, although the spring and damper rates are different. Larger anti-roll bars, also a new addition, will please enthusiastic drivers. So while the new Focus might not be based on the C1 platform like its European cousin, it's a new Focus as far as we're concerned.

With the weight savings that the new car has over the outgoing model, Ford did not feel that it was necessary to upgrade the Focus' powerplant to anything larger. Only a single model is available, a 2.0-liter Duratec “20” inline-four that makes 136 horsepower. It has been improved, mind you, with a new intake and exhaust which make it smoother and quieter. It isn't much, but in-gear acceleration on the previous car equipped with this engine was amply quick, plus the fuel economy is very reasonable. Both thefive-speed manual and four-speed automatic are carryovers, though they feature revised final drive ratios for better fuel consumption during highway cruising.

Inside, the Focus not only boasts a better looking design, but the materials appear even better than in these initial photos. I had a chance to get up close and personal with the Focus prior to its launch in Detroit, and I left Motor City convinced of Ford's efforts. Where the Focus' interior was previously overly simple in its shape and layout, the new one is sophisticated yet easy to use. For instance, there's the new top-of-dash display that shows info about the climate control and stereo; a feature which debuted on the new Escape. The seats are comfortable, and when trimmed in optional leather have a lovely soft grain plus contrast stitching not unlike the Fusion. The console features a sweeping plinth of silver plastic to break up the upper and lower black trim on the dashboard, while the center stack is completely new.No more old-fashioned knobs, as they've been replaced with the new "poke through" buttons that resemble those fitted to the new Escape.

The use of better materials helps to improve the Focus' general ambiance during daylight hours, but there's an even bigger difference to be seen at night. Once again taking a page from the Escape, the Focus receives the new “Ice Blue” lighting scheme for knobs and buttons, but goes one step further by offering LED lighting under the dash, in cupholders, and in the foot wells. The MyColor color system first seen on the Mustang for its instruments, is available on the lights, enabling the driver to pick a color that suits his or her mood. Features like these will likely draw in young buyers who value the idea of customization.

Other clever features that will be added to the Focus include Microsoft's new Sync system that seamlessly links one's Bluetooth capable phone, allowing the use of handsfree communication, plus voice recognition for the car's stereo and the ability to read aloud text messages. Sync takes Bluetooth to the next level, offering consumers different ring tones, three-way calling, call display and even call waiting – all features that people relish on their own cell phones. It's one thing to expect this on the finest luxury sedan that Lincoln offers, but on Ford's most basic car? This is a pleasant surprise. Sync goes one step further with iPod and MP3 player compatibility in that it can recognize and react. Say, for instance, that you wanted to listen to The Eagles on your iPod. Simply say “Play The Eagles,” and Sync will bring up all the different songs or albums by this band on the dash top display for you to select. Isn't that cool?

In terms of safety equipment, the new Focus will come standard with Ford's Personal Safety System that includes front, side and curtain airbags, the latter protecting all outside passengers. It should fare quite well in crash tests too, because of its strengthened body shell. Despite the advanced pyrotechnics that can help out in a crash, ABS brakes are still not standard, which boggles me when some other brands are now starting to make them standard equipment in this class.

The “new” Ford Focus is a car that might not have been what we asked for – the European model – but at the same time, is exactly the car that we asked for. Consumers want a quieter, more refined and technologically sophisticated compact car, and Ford did good on its promise to deliver it. What's more, it appears that they did it without taking anything away from the Focus we love, namely its sprightly handling and excellent comfort. While naysayers might dismiss it as being old under the skin, we shouldn't forget just how well the outgoing car measured up to its rivals, even in the twilight of its life cycle. What's more, the current Focus has become a beacon of reliability, a critical point when factoring in that it has to continue duking it out with Asian imports. So, the new Focus might just deliver the best of both worlds. It pulls forward some of the best attributes of the old car and combines them with dramatically new styling and a much better interior. Truly, this is one car that we're very interested in testing out.