mmarshall

No. The current American-spec Taurus/Sable is not a Mondeo. It is the full-size Five Hundered/Montego platform of a couple of years ago. I don't think that full-size platform is sold in Europe, where the mid-sized Mondeo, a smaller platform, is sold.

The American-spec Focus, Euro-spec Focus, as I understand it, and Fiesta are three different cars on three different platforms. Offering different Focus platforms for America and Europe is one of the things that Ford has been criticized in the auto press for in the last several years.

TwiBlueG35

Many hot hatchs should come to america.

19psi

they don't think they can sell enough of them here to make it profitable. i think they're pretty expensive to make and having to ship them here from europe or build a plant here to make them would make it cost prohibitive. they' would have to sell for close to $40k for it to be worthwhile to ford and since nobody would buy them at that price, we get nothing.

whoster

Originally, the American counterpart to the Ford Mondeo was the Escort.

the Mondeo continued to improve, but the Escort....

yeah....

AD_SC3

iTrader: (1)

Nice just throw away that rear wing

RX300-BV

The Focus RS starts at 25,740 British Pounds which is about $39,000 US. That is base, without options. How many American consumers do you think would be willing to shell out $40K+ for the car with the Focus nameplate? For comparison the Subaru Impreza WRX STI starts at $34,995. Mitsu's Lancer Evolution MR starts at $38,290. There's not exactly a lot of volume here to chase.

When you're at the $40k range, you have a lot of options.

IS-SV

Wow, that will be a big improvement.

felixsc300

iTrader: (5)

I thought the facelifted Fusion was the Mondeo? Anyways I meant 5+ years before when it would have helped Ford, not right now when things are kinda going downhill.

mmarshall

Because it sells for the equivalent of $39,000 American dollars in Britain does not necessarily mean that it will sell for that here in the U.S., if it is offered here. Britain's vehicle regulatory content and corporate tax structure are quite different from ours, which could affect the actual U.S. price significantly. And, unlike the Evo and STI, the production-model RS does not have the AWD which adds weight and cost.

mmarshall

One thing I would love to know, from the reviews I've read of it, is how Ford engineers managed to cram all 300 HP and 324 ft-lbs. of torque through the front end of this small FWD product, without the computer cutting back on the power in the lower gears, and not causing the steering wheel to go wild with torque steer. That's sure to have involved some clever chassis, suspension, steering, and drive-shaft tricks. But, it's probably a corporate secret, and I'm sure the engineers are....and will be..... tight-lipped about it.

GM tried some new tricks on the FWD, 303-HP Impala SS and Pontiac Grand Prix GTP, but that, of course, was a much bigger, heavier platform, and they still didn't get all the torque steer out.

bad co

nope it was the contour

bad co

notice I said new tauraus not current

mmarshall

OK...gotcha. But, future platform or not, Ford, is still doing the upcoming Taurus SHO on the current, Five-Hundered-based platform.

mmarshall

Correct.....and the Mercury Mystique. But Ford never offered the wagon/hatchback models here that were offered in Europe....only 4-door sedans.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

i bet it's regulations and cost/effort of certification (u.s. vs. mexico), plus the fact that ford's been a 'collection of companies' rather than a coherent whole until mullaly came in... it's changing but it takes time.