The current generation American Focus rivals the Chrysler Sebring in its inadequacy as a vehicle, but it does come with SYNC and a serviceable interior, which appears to have been enough to dupe Americans into buying it. In contrast, the Euro Focus looks, drives and feels like an Audi.

Like the Ford Fiesta, the third generation Focus will continue American Ford's policy of actually selling good cars by importing them from Europe. It's currently unclear which engines, transmissions and body styles (ooh, a convertible!) will be offered in which countries, but maybe if we whine loud enough we could actually see a diesel engine/manual transmission option arrive in the land of the free and the home of ever less mediocre cars. [via Next Autos]

According to Ford's product czar Derrick Kuzak, a new Focus based on the C1 will be here eventually. This is going to allow for quicker production, reduced costs and blah blah blah. How long? It looks as though it'll be sometime in 2010 as a MY 2011 Focus ...maybe.That's apparently how long it takes to fit SYNC into it. Let's look at that wish list we made when the Euro C1 focus debuted:
1. Katie Couric Gets, Then Loses Prime-time News Job
2. Arrested Development never goes off the air
3. Successful Serialization of Friday Night Lights
4. Rachel Bilson falls in love with cars, becomes Jalopnik contributor.
5. We get to use the poster from Gone Fishin' in a post
6. C1-based Ford Focus

[Source: AutoNews via eGMCarTech]