Focus to be built here from 2011...

Smoke Pursuit · 23-07-2007, 10:49 AM

Theres reports going around today that the Focus will be built in Australia from 2011.. has anyone got any media stuff on this yet, and will they be built on the same line as the Falcon / Territory or will Ford build another line somewhere else? Perhaps Geelong???

:

zetec · 23-07-2007, 11:09 AM

http://www.theage.com.au/news/nation...042989026.html

King Nothing · 23-07-2007, 11:19 AM

Fantastic news. Take that, Australian media! A week after the geelong announcement, Ford has 300 jobs already replaced. Looks like good times on the horizon.

D1ffuse · 23-07-2007, 11:25 AM

At Drive.com.au

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/Ar...=41903&IsPgd=0
Ford Australia will build the Focus small car in Melbourne alongside the Falcon and Terrritory, starting in 2011.

They had this a couple of weeks ago too:

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/Ar...rticleID=41504
Ford Australia is planning to fill the gap in its production capacity by assembling a third model alongside its locally built Falcon and Territory models. RICHARD BLACKBURN reports.

**Polyal** · 23-07-2007, 11:26 AM

Well bugger me. Honestly, never thought that would happen. Ever. Thats massive, so what country loses it then? Will we export?

Now FoA, market the crap out of it, and start before its released!

Smoke Pursuit · 23-07-2007, 11:28 AM

South Africa plant will be no longer building them.

Id say we will get Export as local market will not be enought to sustain building them...

Mark351 · 23-07-2007, 11:30 AM

LHDs from Europe, RHD from Oz? Is this a super smart move because manufacturing Focus-derivatives also becomes viable?

**Polyal** · 23-07-2007, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeathXR

LHDs from Europe, RHD from Oz? Is this a super smart move because manufacturing Focus-derivatives also becomes viable?

Im struggling with the concept of the words in bold and referring to FoA.

Either way, for friggen once, something was kept quiet.

Smoke Pursuit · 23-07-2007, 11:33 AM

This is a good thing for Ford, as the Focus will do much better being Australian built, its a big selling point that Holden is losing with its Korean based lineup.

marcosambrose · 23-07-2007, 12:06 PM

It had to be this or FoA was in trouble at the turn of the decade...

Focus 3 due out around 2010-2011 anyway so i reckon it coincides with that, either way it's a damn good thing, those south African built focii were a little below the quality of european built ones.

xe351 · 23-07-2007, 12:06 PM

hopefully rwd and 4wd turbo varients! ok, dreaming.....

**Polyal** · 23-07-2007, 12:10 PM

I wonder if Ford were going to keep it quiet for a bit, and then the I6 saga happened and they needed some good news.

It will test Oz manufacturing as the car will most likely be completely comparable to the euro ones.

Bucket · 23-07-2007, 12:15 PM

And here too

http://www.caradvice.com.au/4059/for...-on-australia/

..Good to see! Looks like The guys at the Geelong plant will have a job after all

Chew on that 7.30 Report!

ClevlndStemer · 23-07-2007, 12:29 PM

As long as they can put the Focus together better than the Falcon.

dannyxm · 23-07-2007, 12:36 PM

Ford Focus = Australian made.

Now people who want to support an Australian product may do so with a fuel efficient car.

Win - Win in my books

Cop that Anti - Ford media :jab:

Bring on Orion

Bring on Focus

Bring on Territory

BRING ON FORD FIGHTBACK!!!!!!!

Mark351 · 23-07-2007, 12:39 PM

So why wasn't this announced at the same time as the I6 decision to lessen the impact of it overall?

apolloxbgt · 23-07-2007, 12:42 PM

Great news.
They're saying it's the first small car to be built in 10 years in oz,and wasn't the laser the last one anyway?

Mark351 · 23-07-2007, 12:51 PM

Yup, in Homebush.

Fairlane · 23-07-2007, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apolloxbgt

Great news.
They're saying it's the first small car to be built in 10 years in oz,and wasn't the laser the last one anyway?

First small Ford Car in since 1994. Toyota was building Corolla's until 2000.

Its bloody fantastic and it will get all those anti-ford naysayers. Australia can adapt to change and hopefully this should absolutely blindside Holden.

Krap Korean Kar ie Viva vs Australian Made, Euro Inspired Focus.

Dave_au · 23-07-2007, 01:28 PM

Good news.

Also good to see all the doomsdayers from last week can start to eat their own words.

uranium_death · 23-07-2007, 02:03 PM

Hopefully now the media can go stick a 10-inch rusty pole up their cornchutes and for once, applaud Ford Australia for lessening the blow of the 600 worker-layoff, as well as help the Focus sell well rather than lavish cheap praise on Korean plastic.

TROYAS · 23-07-2007, 02:41 PM

Does this mean that the new redesign of the Focus won't be coming out next year? :S I was told that it would be, so I've been waiting on getting a new car....
Hope I dont have to go to a different make :(

Can anyone confirm this? I'm talking about the new Focus that will be based on the same design ideas as the Mondeo.

Cheers,
Troy

ECOJET · 23-07-2007, 03:19 PM

wonder if focus would be a future cult car...
do they have any performance potential (excuse the ignorance) what engine combo's are offered in them e.t.c? what engines do they run in the rally cars?

**Polyal** · 23-07-2007, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ECOJET

wonder if focus would be a future cult car...
do they have any performance potential (excuse the ignorance) what engine combo's are offered in them e.t.c? what engines do they run in the rally cars?

A Focus will never be like an escort.

But, this does make getting a RS version alot easier.

:

SB076 · 23-07-2007, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TROYAS

Does this mean that the new redesign of the Focus won't be coming out next year? :S I was told that it would be, so I've been waiting on getting a new car....
Hope I dont have to go to a different make :(

Can anyone confirm this? I'm talking about the new Focus that will be based on the same design ideas as the Mondeo.

Cheers,
Troy

I would think the facelifted focus is still coming out next year (depending in availability) Read http://www.caradvice.com.au/3317/200...-focus-update/

This is great news from Ford Oz and they should be applauded for manufacturing another car in Oz. Hopefully Government/fleet buyers and the general public will get behind this Aussie Focus.

TROYAS · 23-07-2007, 04:34 PM

Does anyone know whether this link has probable info?:

http://www.infomotori.co.uk/a_18_EN_20070_1.html

Cos I really like the look of that sedan shape... I don't like the back of the current focus

**Fordman1** · 23-07-2007, 04:48 PM

Well what can I say ?

I won't say I said so (even though I was flamed for even indicating it was a definate possibility in the "Big Announcement from Ford Australia?" Thread).

This is the best news for FoA in many years.

A possibility of building a car that can be exported to many other countries if the opportunity arises, and also plugging into a global platform with many derivatives (Small SUV, Wagon, convertible, etc, etc) if they choose to build those here.

They say in the Ford media release an opportunity exists for 40,000 vehicles per year. I think it could be quite a bit more. If the government & fleets consider Focus instead of Corolla, the numbers could be quite large.

This CGI of the new Focus 3 (below) looks pretty good I think.

http://www.motorpasion.com/2006/09/0...cion-para-2009

fou_bleu · 23-07-2007, 04:51 PM

I reckon it is a wise move for FoA. It'll create jobs! C'mon! Get that media! :p:

TROYAS · 23-07-2007, 04:54 PM

Hmm.. Ive seen more pics of that last cgi focus, but Ive been told that they aren't the ones. I think that they're a year or two old or something. I really do hope it is tho, but Im not holding my breath.

BLDNUT01 · 23-07-2007, 05:06 PM

imagine the FPV focus bring on the fast and furious!!! plus diesel engine with a bit of luck