Comments on: New Ford Focus Zetec S for the UK market

By: AM2

AM2 — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 06:00:49 +0000

From Ford Philippines:
“The Santa Rosa facility produces the Ford Focus and Escape, and the Mazda 3 and Tribute, and exports to ASEAN markets that include Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam. Over the five year period, revenues for Ford’s vehicle exports total more than US$635 million.”

The Ford Philippines Assembly Plant is located at the Greenfield Automotive Park in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, Philippines.

Ford recently invited the media (local and from other ASEAN countries) to test drive the new 2009 Kinetic Design Ford Focus, the main feature of the even was the 2.0 TDCi Powershift model.

By: ALPINA Bukard Bovensiepen GMBH + Co. KG

ALPINA Bukard Bovensiepen GMBH + Co. KG — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:14:19 +0000

are the ford focus in malaysia from philippines or germany

By: generix

generix — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 03:18:00 +0000

In m’sia, whenever i saw a ford focus sedan or the hatchback, i really respect the owner becoz they have the guts to own a ford focus. imho, ford focus is one of the good car to drive compared to the japs..

By: ALPINA BMW

ALPINA BMW — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 07:57:07 +0000

there is, its called montune

By: shooter

shooter — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 14:08:54 +0000

it would be a better package if it had a factory tuning option that boosts the angine output a bit (10-15%), to go with the looks and the superb dynamics.

By: ALPINA BMW

ALPINA BMW — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 02:37:15 +0000

that chequered flag sticker is very cheap looking

By: mystvearn

mystvearn — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:42:32 +0000

Not a very nice upgrade to me

By: csv

csv — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:37:25 +0000

haha, i prefer the Kuga and the RS.

wowowowow. pocket rocket demon man, that RS. nice bodykits also.

By: ALPINA BMW

ALPINA BMW — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:48:43 +0000

TOPGEAR SAID 2009

By: szw

szw — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:36:13 +0000

when is RS coming out ?

By: ALPINA BMW

ALPINA BMW — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 10:33:01 +0000

THIS CAR IS FOR PEOPLE WHO WANTS A FORD FOCUS ST BUT CAN’T AFFORD 1

By: mitlanevo

mitlanevo — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 10:08:30 +0000

still one of the all-time best looking hatchback besides Clio and Civic 3-dr…

sad to say that most rakyat dont appreciate Ford and many other good manufacturers like Audi, Alfa Romeo and Volvo…..

still thinking Merc and BMW (and the Toy-otak for some) are the best…. typical mentality….

By: lchan

lchan — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 07:59:37 +0000

I dont doubt this zetec s really stands to “sucks”, but if you have driven a volvo S40, the focus has almost a similar ride and slightly less on quality. Its firmish and quiet like a european car.Unfortunately, all the talk about Malaysian liking european car is really sort off like a misconception because in reality, we still go for the soggy japanese rides. Partly, it was Ford’s stupid marketing department who priced the car at 130k initially before dropping the price.

It was a case of “yeah..the focus can whack corolla/civic…so…fair what if we price it against them. Should have an edge since ours is new model and toyota/honda are old”. This is typical stupid marketing thinking. Another example….VW R32 priced against BMW 130i.

By: jinks

jinks — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 07:10:06 +0000

jolly_idiot said,

October 24, 2008 @ 11:09 am

Malaysian market always on Jappy or German. Just look at other brand like Audi, VW, Saab, Alfa, Fiat, Peugeot, Alado, Cherry QQ etc etc. All not doing well in Malaysia. If we were to buy these Msia infamous brand, then we’ll have to bear for the extremely steep depreciation value on it.

Imagine those Alfa or Fiat owners, how much they bought their and how much they sell their car? The car itself is as good as BMW or Toyota, but depreciation is HUGE!
________________________________________________________________

As much as I agree with you, you sort of missed the fact that Audi and VW are very much German as BMW or Merc. The more accurate statement would be that Msians prefer Japanese makes or the good old ‘father’s luxury’ car.
No prize on guessing why ppl go for the jap cars over their euro counterparts, but the reason behind most ppl buying BMW/Merc is that these marques carry the word ‘luxury’ and ‘exclusivity’ to the average Msian. And I can’t blame them as they don’t have much to compare to, its a clear cut choice between paying a huge tax for ‘exclusivity’ vs ‘good-build-quality’ jap cars vs ‘homemade-milo-tin’ local cars.
It would take time & money for companies like Ford, Audi, VW and the likes to break into the Msian market but the main thing holding them back is probably the potential of our market. If they don’t see many ppl buying their models locally, they won’t commit those funds explicitly. They’d rather concentrate on expanding other markets and let this relatively ’small’ market go.

Aside from all that, I’m all ears when it comes to a new Focus Zetec!
It checks all the boxes for a typical Zetec S, but they styling… oh my..
Is it just me or do those front and back bumpers look a bit plastic.

By: kei9

kei9 — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 05:30:27 +0000

I’d throw away those front bumpers.

It’s too much.

But,
IMHO
Ford looks like they’ve run outta ideas with their car designs.

Every bit looks almost the same.

And With that, fells awfully dated.

By: jen

jen — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 05:02:30 +0000

Quality aside, Ford is overpriced with poor design.
Just look at the front grille.
Image without those aerokits…the design is plain and outdated.

By: n8cky

n8cky — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 04:11:45 +0000

Face lifted…0_o?

By: jolly_idiot

jolly_idiot — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 03:09:59 +0000

Imagine those Alfa or Fiat owners, how much they bought their and how much they sell their car? The car itself is as good as BMW or Toyota, but depreciation is HUGE!

By: lchan

lchan — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 01:18:30 +0000

its really a ashame that ford just couldn’t sell the focus, or is it the typical malaysian honda/toyota mentality that killed them?

By: ryan_foong80

ryan_foong80 — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:17:29 +0000

Exterior still the same….:(

By: redwings

redwings — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:08:17 +0000

The front doesn’t look clean enough….Looks very complicated…