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what the ford was that

One Ford, Explained: Jalopnik's Ford Announcement Cheat Sheet

As you already know, Ford dropped a double dose of news on us this morning. First, they lost $8.7 billion during the second quarter of this year. Second, they've officially revealed "One Ford," their global product realignment plan to bring to the United States much of their European lineup that's considered by many to be top-notch. With some seriously long press releases to wade through and items like "North America Long-Lived Assets" to explain, we figured you could use a hand in figuring out what this all means. So, we've put together a quick walk-through of what was said and our explanation — in patented Jalopnik Snap Judgment style — below the jump for all you people out there who just want to be "in the know." More »

Feature

9:40 AM on Thu Jul 24 2008
By Ray Wert
9,483 views, 99 comments

Latest by Grrrrrrrrr: In the past, the attitude of American car makers was that if you wanted a quality car that had the more »

industry news

BREAKING! Ford Reports $8.7 Billion Net Loss For Second Quarter 2008, Bringing Six European Small Vehicles Stateside

Ford's just released two press releases detailing an OMFG $8.7 billion net loss for the second quarter of 2008 (which includes a pre-tax special charge of $8 billion, $5.3 billion of which is for Ford North America). But more importantly to the enthusiast is news they'll be bringing to North America six European small vehicles built off the global B-car and C-car platforms and converting three large truck and SUV plants to building small cars. It's part of something the company's calling "One Ford" which we think has something to do with making every product in every marketplace the same and it looks like the European products are winning out. Dear god, there is yet hope for this company. Full press releases after the jump. Give us a few minutes while we digest this. Also, our Cheerios.

UPDATE: We've dropped the list of vehicles Ford's claiming will be part of the new lineup right after the jump for your convenience — it includes a Mercury small car for 2010, a European small vehicle that will be a "whitespace" entry in North America in 2010 and oh god yes, the European Ford Focus!

UPDATE #2: And the Mondeo! Dear god, it's like manna from heaven! Hmm, doesn't look like that's going to happen.

UPDATE #3: We've put together a full Jalopnik cheat sheet on these two huge announcements from Ford. More »

7:03 AM on Thu Jul 24 2008
By Ray Wert
8,506 views, 95 comments

Latest by n/a: The euro focus, The cargasmic want of many enthusiasts. I can't fricking wait. :D more »

question of the day

What European Cars Should American Car Companies Bring Over?

We're constantly harping on American companies for not bringing over their European cars, but with news that Ford is doing just that, the question has new immediacy. The British Motor Show is a good place to start. The show will witness the debut of the Ford Focus RS, which speaks to a rally heritage we don't have but sorely need. Maybe it's the technology, or maybe we just want the diesel versions of cars we already have. More »

11:40 AM on Mon Jul 21 2008
By Matt Hardigree
3,625 views, 115 comments

Latest by luima: Catterham R500??? more »

industry news

Ford To Build Euro Models Stateside, Reports Wall Street Journal

A Saturday Wall Street Journal report claims Ford is working up plans to retool its North American assembly plants to build a number of European models. Ford hasn't confirmed the report, but it is expected to announce the shift during its second-quarter earnings conference on Thursday. While the paper mentions only the Mondeo specifically, conventional wisdom has the Euro Focus and possibly a C-Max/S-Max joining it. We'll take one with a diesel and 6-speed stick, please. [WSJ via Automotive News (Sub. Req.)]

10:40 AM on Mon Jul 21 2008
By Andrew Stoy
1,992 views, 69 comments

Latest by SeanKHotay: @SeanKHotay: Before the official announcement tomorrow, I need to correct some of my misinformation. Before all this latest hubbub, and while more »

2009 ford focus rs

2009 Ford Focus RS Details Officially Official, Green Machine Lives

Turns out the Electric Green Ford Focus RS we saw last week is more than just a show car. Ford has admitted the little green hulk is essentially the finished vehicle, minus some fine tuning. Now, depending on which side of the fencepost you sit on, an inline-five with 275 HP and 295 lb-ft of torque mated to a six-speed in a car the size of a Focus RS, along with all kinds of fancy suspension trickery, is either a magical, amazing thing OR the obnoxious boy-racer bodywork rubs you the wrong way and totally ruins whatever genius lies underneath. Either way, our Euro brethren will soon have another magnificent compact car to dangle in our faces. Damned forbidden fruit. Full details below.

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9:40 AM on Mon Jul 7 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
17,574 views, 52 comments

Latest by impalpable observer: I'm taking it off the list if it's not going to be AWD. Now, if only Suzuki would put more »

ford focus rs concept

2009 Ford Focus RS Concept; Don't Make It Angry

We finally have some leaked shots of the Ford Focus RS ahead of the London Motor Show, and we're green with envy at any Europeans lucky enough to get the real version when it comes out. Unless it's in the same weirdo neon green as the concept. We know the new RS Focus will generate more than 275 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque from the 2.5-liter Duratec inline five, which should be good for a 0-60 mph time in under six seconds. And that's only the start.

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2:30 PM on Thu Jul 3 2008
By Matt Hardigree
4,888 views, 55 comments

Latest by NovaloadMissesPolar: @layabout: Yeah, I was thinking it would look wicked in black. The dayglo neon green is godawful. more »

2009 ford focus rs

Ford Reveals Focus RS Details, Photos Ahead Of London Debut

Ford's ripped a page from the Opel playbook, releasing some spy-like photos and early details today on the a new Ford Focus RS. The shots are of a lightly camo'ed prototype undergoing performance and durability testing at Germany's famed Nürburgring. The RS is set for its European market launch in early 2009, Ford confirms the Focus RS will be getting front-wheel-drive with a limited slip diff and feature the same turbocharged Duratec 2.5-liter, five-cylinder engine found in the Focus ST, however the RS's Duratec will be optimized to generate over 276 HP and more than 295 lb-ft of torque. We'll be seeing the new Focus RS at the London Motor Show in late July where we're expecting to hear all the details we could ever want about the Ford Focus we don't get over here across the pond — no matter how much we beg for it. Full press release below the jump.

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8:45 AM on Thu Jun 12 2008
By Ray Wert
8,251 views, 27 comments

Latest by n/a: @Gaseous Clay: You got to be kidding...First of all the RS is just not just a bagde of any run more »

2009 ford focus rs

2009 Ford Focus RS: Body By Photoshop?

As Americans, one of our favorite pastimes is complaining about all the cool Ford products the rest of the world gets that we don't. So, ever since rumors started swirling of a Euro-market Ford Focus RS that would be even hotter than the Focus ST, we've been waiting in anticipation to see the forbidden fruit. Suddenly these images have surfaced online, looking quite promising. More »

Spy Photos

9:40 AM on Wed Jun 11 2008
By Mark Arnold
4,141 views, 25 comments

Latest by Hookey: @LV51FER: Hmm, call me Mr Sceptical, but a blown Mustang that does 30(UK)MPG? Maybe if you drive it off the more »

2009 ford focus

2009 Ford Focus Gets Kinetic Design Update For China

Looks like the domestic market Ford Focus will remain the laughing stock of the worldwide Focus product line if these spy photos of Chinese market Foci are any indication. These images point to the integration of Ford's European "kinetic design" styling language seen on the likes of the Verve concept and current Mondeo. You can plainly see the stretched out headlights and gaping maw down below as seen from other Ford fare here on these camouflaged cars.

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Spy Photos

6:00 PM on Tue May 27 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
2,329 views, 35 comments

Latest by LandofMinos and the exploits of Officer Hatstrap: @turbo zero: No but he can talk to a Chinese Focus Confocus says: Man who run in front of Focus will more »

2009 ford focus coupe

2009 Ford Focus Coupe Gets New Look, Lipstick...Still A Pig

We know first-hand how horrible the design of the 2008 Ford Focus coupe truly was. Having spent five days in one we can tell you the best part about the '08 model was being inside of it. Only then could you sink into that relatively comfortable interior and try to forget the horror of witnessing the terrifying design mish-mash that was the exterior of last year's model. But wait, Ford's taken another look at the sheet metal on the 2009 Ford Focus Coupe and given it what the Dearborn-based automaker calls a "sporty new look." We call it lipstick. Although Ford fixed a couple of the most egregious design flaws for the '09 — the deletion and reassignment of the rear spoiler, the new rims and (thank whatever automotive deity you pray to) the delete option on the faux chrome side vents — it only serves to show just how much of a mess the rest of the design truly is. We know Ford's trying to use this year's model to ease the 'merican public into the Fiesta's open-mouthed billy-the-bass front fascia design language, but was it really necessary to bastardize it on this monstrosity of mashed-together metal? Full press release below the jump.

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12:33 AM on Tue May 13 2008
By Ray Wert
10,978 views, 106 comments

Latest by n/a: I saw this being done in clay (no joke). Believe me when I say that most of us @ford are more »

2011 ford focus

European C1 Focus Bound For US, Prayers Being Answered After Five-Year Delay

Nary a week goes by where we aren't forced to look at another affordable, crisp-handling, attractive and unattainable European Ford Focus or derivative and recite that all too familiar prayer of "Ford, if you're listening, bring it over here" while trying to get excited about Bill Gates' Focus Coupe. Sure, we could have purchased a Mazda3 or Volvo S40, which are also based on the C1-platform, but that's besides the point. We wanted a cheap and toss-able blue oval hatch. Now it looks as though deliverance is nigh.

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4:40 PM on Tue Apr 15 2008
By Matt Hardigree
5,591 views, 89 comments

Latest by chrystlubitshi: @rawtoast: hehehe... i would like to hope the same thing... but at 165K my DSM is still starting & running more »

new cars

Ford Summons Black Magic for Focus CC, Gains +6 XP

Ford of Europe hopes that this special "Black Magic" editionFord Focus Coupe Cabriolet will serve as a saving throw in the face of an onslaught of European competitors and raging orcs. What does this "Black Magic" actually entail? The exterior gets the pitch black treatment with a special paint, darker 17-inch alloys and tinted headlights/foglights. The suspension is tuned slightly sportier and you have a choice of either the 145 horsepower 2.0-Liter gas mill or the 136 horsepower 2.0-Liter turbodiesel.

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3:30 PM on Thu Apr 10 2008
By Matt Hardigree
2,357 views, 43 comments

Latest by westfieldind: @Ash78: My 03 SVT Focus manages 170 hp from a 2.0L Zetec, albeit beefed up a bit but still naturally more »

novelties

Seven New Cars We Wish Were April Fools' Day Jokes

[UPDATE: Also check out our top ten list of the best...or was it the worst...April Fools' Day automotive gags.] Occasionally, an automaker likes to have a little fun on April Fools' Day by announcing a car so ridiculous it couldn't possibly be real. Unfortunately, what happens more often than not is that an automaker will announce a car so ridiculous that it couldn't possible be real... and it is. Some are poorly-styled and ill-conceived, while others seem to fill no foreseeable niche other than a need to show they're doing something, anything. Below is our list of new cars that are punch lines to jokes no one ever told (i.e. the least dragon-able new cars). [UPDATE: We've added a poll so you can proclaim the most foolish car of them all] More »

Feature

3:16 PM on Tue Apr 1 2008
By Matt Hardigree
79,923 views, 114 comments

Latest by n/a: The Routan is so named because Volkswagen had the letters already moulded from their Touran badges. As to the BMW X6, more »

And now for todays moment of Zen...

71 comments

ad watch

Donkey Lips Jumps A Ford Focus

All right, I know this is from the week-old Super Bowl, but back then I was busy losing winning tons of money thanks to my prop bets that I am addicted to. I'm just now catching up with the commercials. You guys remember the show Salute Your Shorts? One of the most famous child actors to come out of that series, Michael Bower, better known as Donkeylips, is back, baby, starring in this spot for what appears to be an energy beverage. In the ad, he manages to jump start a Focus ZX5 using his nipples. I can't quit you, Donkeylips. [YouTube]

2:30 PM on Tue Feb 12 2008
By Travis Hudson
1,631 views, 16 comments

Latest by n/a: Anyone else seen that Comcast commercial with the turtles (the Slowskys?) where the husband turtle tells his wife "Why don't more »

novelties

Ford Focus Reborn As Musical Instruments Sounds Pretty Good


Sure, Audi and Hyundai may have dropped millions of dollars on fancy-pants marketing for the Super Bowl, but the real commercial winner is Ford, who launched its part-orchestra TV spot on the other side of the pond today. Yes, the same one I told you about last week. More »

5:45 PM on Mon Feb 4 2008
By Travis Hudson
2,659 views, 29 comments

Latest by bizzychris: Nice commercial. The Focus certainly sounds better than it drives though. more »

gadgets

Microsoft Sync In The Ford Focus SE, The Roundup

I spent the better part of a week, tooling around in a 2008 Ford Focus SE, with one task at hand: to determine whether this newfangled Microsoft Sync system is all it's cracked up to be. I laughed, I cried, I made some calls, and in the end found Sync to be basically sweet. Not that me and Sync didn't have a few spats. At first, I approached the system the same way any average Joe would—I jumped in the car and started playing without picking up the manual or having any prior knowledge of how Sync actually works. That didn't go as smoothly as I was hoping, so I hashed through the manual and got Sync set up to my liking, in as much as I could. And for the final test, I took 'er out for a live road test. [Unboxing, Set Up, Road Test]


4:00 PM on Fri Feb 1 2008
By Travis Hudson
2,093 views, 16 comments

Latest by General Halfshaftery: I think that 'light sand metallic' paint job suits the shape well, and the restyle is growing on me. However more »

novelties

Ford Focus Gutted, Stripped By An... Orchestra?

No chop shops involved here. As part of a UK advertising campaign, 21 different Ford Focus parts have been transformed into 31 musical instruments. The instruments—including a door harp, clutch guitar and bass repurposed from a fender—are played by professional orchestra musicians who don't mind getting up close and person with some of the Focus' bits and pieces. The commercial is the brainchild of composer Craig Richey and sound designer Bill Milbrodt and is set for a television debut on February 4. [WCF]

4:15 PM on Wed Jan 30 2008
By Travis Hudson
831 views, 16 comments

Latest by the good dr zero: @JanTheMan: I've seen it on TV here in Norway for the last week or so as well. But I generally more »

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