Is it time for a FPV Focus?

[geckoGT]

Without starting a small car bashing session from the die hard V8 fans, is todays economic climate of high fuel prices and interest rates changing the way people look at performance cars.

I know from a personal point of view that both Tori and I expect our cars to be a bit special, life is too short to drive boring cars. When we were deciding to buy a new car we wanted something that was smaller, more economical but still had great performance. We looked at the Golf GTI, Focus XR5, HSV VXR, Honda Civic Type R and Mini Cooper S (all turbo hatches that could be put on the road for less than $50k), we ended up buying the Mini Cooper S JCW. I seriously like the Focus but it did not have some elements that we are after. I also like the HSV VXR but did not like that it was so thinly disguised as a HSV (they can't even be bothered getting rid of the Opel badge on the steering weel).

If FPV had released a hot Focus, a XR5 with more performance and more interior and exterior wow factor, I really believe I would have been sold on it. Are there others that have previously bought large performance cars that are now more in the market for smaller turbo weapons? Looking around and noticing the number of Golf GTI's and R32's, Focus XR5's, WRX's etc, I would say that FPV are missing out on a large market and need to get with the times.

I do believe there will always be a large market for XR8, XR6T, F6 and GT, but I am not sure that they should forget about the performance small car market. I know that since we have had the Mini Cooper S JCW, we love it. Handling a FPV can not hold a candle to, good interior appointments and the best bit is we can drive it like a performance car and still get 7L/100km, show me a FPV that can do this. $70 a week in fuel compared to $140 with the same driving style is a big saving.

What do you all think?

[Fev]

I think they would be stupid to never try it. and It would be great if ford aus had something to make the UK ford fans cream their pants :P exporting potential methinks

[geckoGT]

Originally Posted by Fev

I think they would be stupid to never try it. and It would be great if ford aus had something to make the UK ford fans cream their pants :P exporting potential methinks

Absolutely, I hate to say it but look at Holden, no equivalent to a Commodore in the US so Holden export them.
Imagine a hot Focus, 180+kw, big brakes (4 spot brembos) and a tough exterior. The US would be an export market straight off and LH drive is no issue because they can easily source LH drive focus. They could run both out of the factory easy. Maybe the should start looking at not only the domestic market but also international.

[Fordman1]

2011 of 2012 I'd say.

[XWGT]

I'd be stunned if it isnt already under developement.

If it isnt, someone needs their @ss kicked at FPV. Its a no brainer

[FPV8U]

Awd is a must to be competitive.. FPV focus would be a bigger success than the VX-R i would think..

[XRated]

Australia's been behind the ball in this segment for too long. The XR5 is Ford's only answer, the next best option would be to hope for a Ford Focus RS to make its way down under. Smaller cars/hatches just have a stigma associated with them Down Under - they're not brute, heavy, and macho like a Falcon/Commo. I can live with that.

Nice choice on the Mini John Cooper Works! I was looking at those the other day - fine bit of gear.

I went from an ED and an EA into a 2000 Golf GTI and ever since the only regret I've had is why I didn't do it sooner. It's not super powerful, but it's so refined and quiet and would outhandle the boats any day and use less fuel doing it. It has countless forms of engineering ingenuity plus there is an absolutely huge market worldwide for the little suckers; plethora of off-the-shelf chips, aftermarket bits, cheap OEM parts, any upgrade you can think of.

Throw up some pics of the JCW

AWD is not a must either. Plenty of FWD will outpace AWD cars around a circuit.

[Cobra]

New Focus RS would be a great FPV Focus but I think it's been confirmed that it won't be coming to Australia. Shame as it looks awesome and has great power. It is however a bum dragger, so if we wait till there's an AWD version (if ever) then it might be a wait worth it. We could however be waiting a very long time. I think FPV plan to make their own hot Focus out of the XR5 at some point down the track though.

[GT0132]

Apart from 2 or 3 TC/TE Cortinas I owned in the 70's/80's I've always owned the larger family Fords either 6's or V8's

While I love the GT and the V8 BOSS, I think there's certainly a place for an FPV version of the smaller Fords. Remember many of the the smaller Fords have some grand history ....Mk1 Cortina, RS2000 Escort, Sierra Cosworth to name a few.

An FPV Focus would be a great seller IMO. In fact I would have thought FPV would have gone that route before an FPV Territory IMO

No disrespect to Terry owners but the FPV Territory F6 does nothing for me. I can't associate the word "performance" with a 4WD like I can a small 4cyl Ford.


My 2c

[TadKa]

I asked Rod Barrett about it a month or so ago.
Definantly won't happen until the Focus is made here.

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by TadKa

I asked Rod Barrett about it a month or so ago.
Definantly won't happen until the Focus is made here.

Which makes perfect sense anyway. I also agree with the comment that AWD is not necessary.

I stupidly brought the new CAR magazine while at the airport the other day ($16AU WTF!) it has a write up of the new focus RS. Now that is a hot hatch.

Also the previous focus RS was FWD and more than a match for many AWD cars.

[want-a-XY]

they should use the trick LSD that's in the Focus RS in europe. no need for AWD then

[OJ_Pursuit]

If they released that Focus RS in oz, I would definitely buy one!

[V8 EF Fairmont]

Definitely

[Wretched]

It is either the RS or no thank you.
I can't imagine FPV putting in the R&D or even have the know how like team RS did in Europe for the RS Focus.

[Cobra]

Originally Posted by Wretched

It is either the RS or no thank you.
I can't imagine FPV putting in the R&D or even have the know how like team RS did in Europe for the RS Focus.

FPV putting R&D into making a decent focus seems like doubling up to me. If they are going to make a decent focus and can't get the RS, then atleast use a number of it's components. It's not that I don't have faith in FPV, remember they have prodrive backing them, it's just that the less money they spend on R&D, the more money they have to spend on better compnents which have already been researched and developed to a large extent.

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by Cobra

FPV putting R&D into making a decent focus seems like doubling up to me. If they are going to make a decent focus and can't get the RS, then atleast use a number of it's components. It's not that I don't have faith in FPV, remember they have prodrive backing them, it's just that the less money they spend on R&D, the more money they have to spend on better compnents which have already been researched and developed to a large extent.

Yeah agreed, or just cut and paste the FoE RS into the focus here.

Better yet get all the R&D from the euro guys, build it here along side the rest of them and export it back to the poms in RS form and sell it here in FPV form; just swap the badges.

[geckoGT]

Awd is a must to be competitive.. FPV focus would be a bigger success than the VX-R i would think..

I disagree with this one, FWD is much better now than years gone by, I drove a VW Jetta Turbo and it had some serious get up and go with no torque steer. Sure our Mini has some decent torque steer but a lot of that is because it only has traction control, not DSC and a LSD which virtually eliminates torque steer in the JCW enhanced Mini's. The new LSD's that are out now are sensational. I also must add that the DSG semi auto gearbox in the VW is the best I have ever driven, end of story. Fluid smooth in drive (better than the ZF 6spd) but lightning fast in manual mode, all without the slushiness of a torque convertor (because it has an automatic clutch).

This final drive and gearbox would be my pick for the "FPV Focus", DSG type box with an advanced LSD. That way you have fast gear changes (turbo on boost longer) or the option of auto in stop/start traffic without the weight of AWD.

No disrespect to Terry owners but the FPV Territory F6 does nothing for me. I can't associate the word "performance" with a 4WD like I can a small 4cyl Ford.

I agree completely, the money they spent on developing the Force 6/8 and Territory, they could have done a well sorted Focus and made a packet out of it. I have absolutely no doubt a FPV Focus would out sell the Force and Teriitory lineup at least 5 times over. I know for a fact that if the FPV focus existed, we would still have two FPV's in our driveway instead of one and a Mini.

Australia's been behind the ball in this segment for too long. The XR5 is Ford's only answer, the next best option would be to hope for a Ford Focus RS to make its way down under. Smaller cars/hatches just have a stigma associated with them Down Under - they're not brute, heavy, and macho like a Falcon/Commo. I can live with that.

This is where I am going to challenge the general consensus of this forum. To the overall public of australia, is a hatch a stigma? Or is popular opinion of running cost and environmental effects shifting that stigma to the "brute macho" cars. I know most of the people that ask me about the ute ask how I afford to run it, yet they see the Mini as "so cool" and say they would kill to have one, if only it had a bit more room (which focus has).

I asked Rod Barrett about it a month or so ago. Definantly won't happen until the Focus is made here

I do not understand this logic at all, why reinvent the wheel. They are importing the Focus by the thousands, they have the perfect donor vehicle in the ford line up with the RS. FPVing it would be an easy task not involving a hell of a lot of R&D. Give it some wheels in the style of the F6, a new front and rear bar that has design elements taken from the new FG range (not exactly the same, just using the same themes but different to the RS, lose the RS wing and give it something a bit more Aussie in taste) and some minor tweaks to the interior and you would have me positively salivating. Instead they seem intent on spending a fortune on a line of vehicles (falcon) which always seems to be bordering on extinction in todays economic climate. They seem to be thinking about how things were 5 yrs ago instead of in 5 yrs time when it comes to planning new line ups.

One thing I think that any new FPV Focus line up must include is both a 4 door and 2 door model. Not all of the buyers of hot hatches are those without kids and can live with a 2 door.

[MoreHPformyXR6]

Originally Posted by geckoGT

The new LSD's that are out now are sensational. I also must add that the DSG semi auto gearbox in the VW is the best I have ever driven, end of story. Fluid smooth in drive (better than the ZF 6spd) but lightning fast in manual mode, all without the slushiness of a torque convertor (because it has an automatic clutch).

This final drive and gearbox would be my pick for the "FPV Focus", DSG type box with an advanced LSD. That way you have fast gear changes (turbo on boost longer) or the option of auto in stop/start traffic without the weight of AWD.
.

Spot on I drove my Aunty's 2007 3 door 2007 VW GTI last month with the DSG box and it they a great bit of kit and then some and the some more (im all modes amazing including manual mode) I didnt notice any torque steer in this baby, such a fun car to drive and the barkes are also AWESOME or ORSM for this forum hehe. To bad I have to drive to NSW to drive this great car. I had never driven a car with DSG box b4 but do yourself a favour and try it.
:

Showing my mechanical inability again lol. In layman's terms what are the main differances/advantages of DSG over traditional autos? DSG is obviously a quicker and smoother change but what causes that to be the case?

[Ives]

Originally Posted by MoreHPformyXR6

Showing my mechanical inability again lol. In layman's terms what are the main differances/advantages of DSG over traditional autos? DSG is obviously a quicker and smoother change but what causes that to be the case?

There's a good article explaining the DSG gearbox here http://www.carbibles.com/transmission_bible_pg2.html

I'm pretty sure someone here has the Mk.V Golf R32... Rodp (?)

[MoreHPformyXR6]

Originally Posted by Ives

There's a good article explaining the DSG gearbox here http://www.carbibles.com/transmission_bible_pg2.html

I'm pretty sure someone here has the Mk.V Golf R32... Rodp (?)

Thanks mate I read it all down to DSG but my heard hurt when I started to read up on the CVT transmissions.

[Nikked]

the RS focus in the topgear mag would be good with some FPV badges on it...

[Rodp]

Originally Posted by geckoGT

Without starting a small car bashing session from the die hard V8 fans, is todays economic climate of high fuel prices and interest rates changing the way people look at performance cars.

I know from a personal point of view that both Tori and I expect our cars to be a bit special, life is too short to drive boring cars. When we were deciding to buy a new car we wanted something that was smaller, more economical but still had great performance. We looked at the Golf GTI, Focus XR5, HSV VXR, Honda Civic Type R and Mini Cooper S (all turbo hatches that could be put on the road for less than $50k), we ended up buying the Mini Cooper S JCW. I seriously like the Focus but it did not have some elements that we are after. I also like the HSV VXR but did not like that it was so thinly disguised as a HSV (they can't even be bothered getting rid of the Opel badge on the steering weel).

If FPV had released a hot Focus, a XR5 with more performance and more interior and exterior wow factor, I really believe I would have been sold on it. Are there others that have previously bought large performance cars that are now more in the market for smaller turbo weapons? Looking around and noticing the number of Golf GTI's and R32's, Focus XR5's, WRX's etc, I would say that FPV are missing out on a large market and need to get with the times.

What do you all think?

I went to the hatch. I purposely avoided the FWD route and the turbo route (I'll probably have to comprimise next time around...) and bought an R32. I came from a V8, and if anything, the fun factor in the R32 has increased for me - which I never thought possible.

I feel the Focus RS would do well here, and if it arrived in the near future, I'd put it on the short list for my next car. My first car was a 1.3l Escort, and from then I've owned no less than 15 large 4 door cars (with the majority of them housing a V8) and my current small hatch is more fun than all of them combined.

The reports on the current RS are good, perhaps FPV could add a sophisticated cup holder so it can proudly wear an FPV badge but to be honest, I don't think it'll really matter. The RS has a legacy that starts to rival the GT, so offer it at a realistic price and start shipping them over! What are Ford waiting for? Everytime you see a thread on here about the new RS, there are potential buyers drooling over them. Convert them into $$'s!

[Rodp]

Originally Posted by Ives

There's a good article explaining the DSG gearbox here http://www.carbibles.com/transmission_bible_pg2.html

I'm pretty sure someone here has the Mk.V Golf R32... Rodp (?)

Spectacular gearbox. Has Grandpa mode and balls to the wall mode. Auto blips throttle on downchanges. Took a few mates from work out in it the other day, put the stereo up and told them to tell me what gear I was in. They never even knew it had changed gears.

Brilliant box, but expensive if something goes wrong out of warranty. Hopefully the RS is around in 3 years. :P

[Ives]

I hope they'll review the Focus RS in Top Gear Season 12.

[TUF_302]

I think a Focus with an FPV badge would be sweet!, make it AWD, bigger turbo, and some bigger breaks and we would have a great little monster!

[Feathers]

Absolutely.
A tough Focus would be the only thing that would get me out of the Falcon, but I still couldn't let the BA go.

[J_Tank]

I live and work over on the North shore of Sydney. In my day to day driving I see more Golf GTi's/R32's than I see XR/FPV's and SS/HSV's put together. I probably see more minis that I do FPVs. While only a small and somewhat suspect corner of the car market, and perhaps more Eurocentric than the rest of the community there is a market out there.

[4Vman]

An FPV Focus is a great idea, the Gay/Female market is currently untapped.

[Rodp]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

An FPV Focus is a great idea, the Gay/Female market is currently untapped.

The gay market is apparently fulfilled by the Ford Ute. The females can battle over the Focus and the Ka.