Request to bring the 5-door Focus Hatchback
After seeing the 5-door Ford Focus "Ghia"
Hatchback upclose and personal in Europe, I think
there is a market for this car here in North
America. The Focus ZX3 3-door hatchback is selling
quite well and this completely disproves the theory
that "Hatchbacks" are dead for good in this
continent.
The 5-door Focus Hatch will cater to those of us
who don't really like the looks of a station wagon,
the insipid style of the sedan model (Focus was to
be meant a hatchback, not a sedan)and find the
3-door ZX3 hatchback too impractical for everyday
use.
The 5 door model fills a market niche which has
been long forgotten by other automakers, this the
GOLDEN opportunity for Ford to bring an interesting
player in this arena with the 5 door hatch.
Any comments?
Hatchback upclose and personal in Europe, I think
there is a market for this car here in North
America. The Focus ZX3 3-door hatchback is selling
quite well and this completely disproves the theory
that "Hatchbacks" are dead for good in this
continent.
The 5-door Focus Hatch will cater to those of us
who don't really like the looks of a station wagon,
the insipid style of the sedan model (Focus was to
be meant a hatchback, not a sedan)and find the
3-door ZX3 hatchback too impractical for everyday
use.
The 5 door model fills a market niche which has
been long forgotten by other automakers, this the
GOLDEN opportunity for Ford to bring an interesting
player in this arena with the 5 door hatch.
Any comments?
0
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
Any pix of this on the web?
Interesting note: In some European countries all 4 Focus models are available:
* Sedan
* ZX3 2-door Hatch
* 5 Door Hatch
* Wagon
Why the US and Canada can't get the 5 door model?
carlady/host
4 dr.hatch is very sweet-looking.i have a 2dr.zx3.
most fun car i have ever owned.i think your right
given the success of zx3 the 4dr. would sell.there
are more than enough look-alike sedans to choose
from all mfg.teo,thanks for the link,i was considering a sunroof install.glad to find out that
solaire offers the fabric style.hollandia was not
able to fit it on zx3.this is a good topic,i am a
big fan of the zx3 hatch , the focus has retained it first years value very well.given its overall
success both sedan + hatch,i believe you will see
the 4dr.hatch,suv,+ other models built on the focus platform.ford hit a grand slam with the focus.the
truth is in the numbers sold + ordered.
Probably the ZX3 is a "probe" to see how Focus' prospective customers will react to the hatchback model. So far so good, and then again I hope to see the 5 door Focus here sometime between 2003 and 2004.
meant to be a test pilot.the numbers sold, far exceeded their initial projections.also,as powerslide had stated, i initially found the zx3
to be rather odd-looking when i saw the first pics.
after seeing the car in person i began to realize
what the car was all about.the odd-look is actually
what i find appealing.the sedan is a very handsome
vehicle but i find the style somewhat conservative.
the 4 dr. hatch is more daring + practical with the hatch.im a 2dr.fan,however i would consider the 4dr.hatch if my needs required it over the sedan.
keep the topic going,i believe your wish will be granted.
whew.....that wore me out!
thought out designs.they offer more bang for the buck than the competition.you cant beat the price/performance ratio.you are right,i see more youngsters embrace the 4dr.style over the 2dr.the
u.s. hatch was always built as an econo car and
nothing more.that has changed with the zx3.
If you want to see a pic of the '00 Chevrolet Impala LS, click below (This is not my actual car, the paint color is "gold" instead of "red", everything else is the same):
The ZX3 is a clear winner, the 5-Door model takes on that success...the car will appeal to a larger number of Focus buyers.
By 2002 will be just in time to replace my Wife's '97 Tracer for one of these.
Ford seems to be listening.
Do you like your Impreza Sport?
I'm interested but what I've seen is very spartan.
Hopefully the 2002 just coming into the US now, has a nicer interior and side airbags.
I love hatches because I want to throw my bike in the back without having it exposed. Also, they usually have an area that's covered without having it look like you're hiding something with a shade (like in wagons). I had an 86 Lebaron GTS turbo 5 door hatch, which was practical but always breaking
(no more Chrysler).
More 5 door hatch choices would be great.
The old 626 5 door was cool looking.
Europe has so many cool sleek cars and we have boring, boring, boring.
The big three seem to think we don't want folding mirrors, hatchbacks, turn signals on the fenders,
cool colors, etc. Are americans really that conservative? I may end up with a silver accord
sedan. (but I really want a cool Euro hatch like a Mondeo).
OK, so Chrysler has the PT, but you know it's gonna start breaking by 50K. And for some reason I don't care for it. Well I would take it over that monstrosity Aztek horror show.
And another thing, Chrysler and Ford don't post their email address's anywhere so you can't contact them to complain. GEE.... I wonder why! :>)
I'll be returning to the US from England in 2002. My hope is that Ford will have a Diesel 5-Door Focus waiting for me. They're available somewhere in Europe, listed at 40mpg urban and 70mpg highway. Otherwise, I'll probably go with a Jetta TDI.
It is funny, but Edmunds do not have "Hatchbacks" category in the car selection screen. I sent them email and was answered that there is no such body type. Ha-ha! They call it "coupe". Hey, coupe is the whole different thing. And the most heavy thing that text under Golf or Focus photos says: Hatchback. Even this conference is named "Hatchbacks".
People, you are driving the cars that no exist here in States.
P.S. Anyway, I like Golf more than Focus and thanks God that 5-door Golf is available here.
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http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=3304
Aamir
Leo