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The audacity of hope

Posted by Uncle Mark | March 04, 2009 | In contributing editors ford humor

Bonjour from Geneva!

Right now, the US auto industry needs change, change we can believe in. Enter Ford’s ‘Iosis Max’ concept car that they are currently showing around.

There are no major technical innovations or gizmos (though I think it looks beautiful) and the car is pretty close to the new global Focus that Ford will unleash next year (let’s hope production versions aren’t toned down by the grey suits in accounting).

So why is this important? Well, for the first time in ten years, the US will get largely the same Focus that Europe gets. This is significant because, after Europe and the U.S. got the same car in the late 1990’s, Ford upgraded the car in Europe while it let the U.S. version go to hell in a hand basket.

As a proud ex-owner of one of the first original Focus’s to roll off the production line in Europe (though mine was the eponymous silver color, as opposed to the puke green pictured above, that seems in vogue at the moment … yeugh!), I can tell you that the Focus was (and is) a hell of a driver’s car, while also being practical, economical and easy to own and get serviced. So at a time when a Honda Civic or VW Golf look like good car buys for many US drivers, it’s nice to see Ford coming up with a worthy adversary.

But here’s the best thing:

The hatchback is the favored package in Europe, perfect for both young, suave, sophisticated urbanites like myself as well as couples and young families. But in the US, Ford, in their infinite wisdom, only used to offer the (hideous) sedan and the (okay) coupe, not the hatch. However, this time around, Ford is planning to sell the hatch in the states - hoorah!

So, if you are in the market for a small / mid size, when the new Focus comes out, try one and buy one; it comes with the Uncle Mark seal of approval (as long as it ain’t green).

Love,

Uncle Mark

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