The Focus is Ford’s No. 2-selling model in Europe after the Ford Fiesta. Last year the Focus was the No. 4-selling volume compact in the region with 215,2017 sales. It trailed the Volkswagen Golf, Skoda Octavia and Opel/Vauxhall Astra, according to data from market analyst JATO Dynamics.
Ford’s Farley has previously predicted reduced European volume with the new Focus as the company focuses on higher-margin sales.
Ford said it had reduced the number of orderable configurations on the new Focus by 92% versus the previous car. Configurations have been cut from 360 in some markets to as few as 26.
This complexity reduction helps Ford lower and control costs while ensuring Focus customers can more easily and quickly find the model that meets their needs. n the UK, Ford’s largest European market, the Focus will be priced from USDS24,600 for the base Style version. The top-of-the-line Focus Vignale will be about USD2,000 more.
All versions of the new Focus were designed and engineered at Ford’s technical center in Cologne, Germany. European models will continue to be built at Ford’s factory in Saarlouis, Germany, while the automaker’s plant in China will make the sedan for both the local market and for the U.S., Ford announced last year.
