Car&Driver asks Jim Farley "Where does the Fiesta fit in

2078 Views 4 Replies 3 Participants Last post by azulejost, Dec 23, 2009

GhiaFan

Discussion Starter · Dec 19, 2009 (Edited)

Where does the Fiesta fit in and how are you going to position it and price it relative to Focus?
We want to position the Fiesta as a vehicle with a very different character. The basic personality of Fiesta is very different from Focus or Fit or Yaris. It’s not a commodity product, and we’re not trying to please everyone. It’s a product with a design that tells people you don’t want a washing machine.

People in the U.S. are buying much more expensive B, C, and C/D cars. Look at the transaction price over the past five or six years: Civic is a $20,000 car, Fit is a $16,000 or $17,000 car. The Corolla is a $15,000 car and the Camry is a $17,000 or $18,000 car. The reality is that you don’t have to make a car that’s for everyone. Mazda 3 showed that. If you make a car with a strong personality, there will be a group of people who really appreciate it. And if you combine that unique personality with our dynamics, and our design, and our technology, and you offer specification levels that attract buyers from segments above you, there’s a huge number of downtraders in the U.S. There’s a lot of downsizing going on, not just because of the economy but because of a lot of other reasons, one of which is that the products have got a lot better

The Future is Focus-ed: Ford to Bring 10 Focus Variants to U.S. Over Next Three Years - Car and Driver Blog

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azulejost

· #2 · Dec 19, 2009

Interesting article. I anticipated a similar personality between the Fiesta and Focus but apparently that is not the case. Comments coming out of Dearborn during the NAIAS preview event at Ford seemed to suggest the new Focus is going to be quite good which seems like the same personality as the Fiesta to me. This should all be much clearer in just over 3 weeks.

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Marc

· #3 · Dec 19, 2009

Interesting. They may start building the great S-Max when the Mondeo and Fusion merge. Which is not unlikely.

As for those 10 Focus-based cars, here’s our best guess as to their future identities: Focus sedan, wagon, three- and five-door hatchbacks, and convertible/coupe; Kuga/Escape and Mercury Mariner small SUVs; C-Max and Grand C-Max mini-minivans; and a Lincoln premium small car, perhaps based on the C concept from the ‘09 Detroit show.

C&D forgot the Transit Connect, which is also Focus-based and will be produced in the US (now: Turkey). So delete either the 3 door Focus or the Lincoln.

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GhiaFan

Discussion Starter · #4 · Dec 23, 2009

azulejost said:
Interesting article. I anticipated a similar personality between the Fiesta and Focus but apparently that is not the case.

Mr.Farleys similar personality traits between the Fiesta and Focus was directed towards the current North America Focus.

I understand the next Focus will share some Fiesta personality.

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azulejost

· #5 · Dec 23, 2009

GhiaFan said:
Mr.Farleys similar personality traits between the Fiesta and Focus was directed towards the current North America Focus.

I understand the next Focus will share some Fiesta personality.

That does make more sense. Thanks for clearing it up for me.

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