Should Ford Focus be renamed 'Ford Laser'?

FalconXV · 05-10-2017, 12:43 AM

http://www.top10cars.com.au/editoria...ck-ford-laser/

Obvious question. Didn't work for the Nissan Pulsar, but that was a coma-inducing box of blandness. The whole Powershift debacle is wreaking havoc on Focus sales, so maybe the next-gen should be called Laser? What do you reckon?

Mr Brooksy · 05-10-2017, 01:02 AM

I reckon Ford should produce a quality car and sort out their issues before they worry about changing a model name.

I mean really, who is going to be convinced now days that a Ford Focus in every other country is a Ford Laser here? Just so they Ford can say "oh no, what affected Focus doesn't affect Laser"? Maybe a handful of those who know nothing about cars or use the internet. Australians are not as dumb as some in the US car giant boardrooms think.

Great models around the world have had issues in their past. But you don't see BMW saying "oh, that Bangle designed 7 series was a terrible looker, let's throw away the 7 series name just so it no longer effects sales." No they make the next model a much better car and the name gains credibility and history.

Imagine if Ford did that with Mustang after the Boss...

malazn mafia · 05-10-2017, 09:38 AM

For a start they could give us real European made , instead of trying to palm off their factory seconds thai range , without dropping the price tag to match.

Vesper Martini · 05-10-2017, 10:29 AM

No "Laser" sounds pretty lame in 2017

b0son · 05-10-2017, 10:39 AM

The bigger issue is brand perception, and it ain't great.

Fairlane 500 · 05-10-2017, 03:48 PM

Reminds me of the old saying...

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet"

Sadly though,

these things are not roses & they will never smell as sweet.

**DJR-351** · 05-10-2017, 05:01 PM

Nope, chuck it all in the bin and head back to the drawing board is the best practice.....

whitelion65 · 06-10-2017, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fairlane5OO

Reminds me of the old saying...

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet"

Sadly though,

these things are not roses & they will never smell as sweet.

Bring out the Binford 3200 Turd Polisher 😉

Joe5619 · 05-10-2017, 06:57 PM

The Focus name is damaged in this Country... They need to call the next new small car anything but Focus!!!

Syndrome · 05-10-2017, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe5619

The Focus name is damaged in this Country... They need to call the next new small car anything but Focus!!!

How about Meteor - the Focus with a boot!

aussie muscle · 05-10-2017, 09:26 PM

When i think Ford Laser i think of the horrible turd from the 80s. no thanks. stop living in the past.

Joe5619 · 06-10-2017, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussie muscle

When i think Ford Laser i think of the horrible turd from the 80s. no thanks. stop living in the past.

hahahahaha, now this made me laugh.. Are you talking about the 80's when Laser was KING of the small cars??

We could always live in the present with Ford's small car 10+ in the sales chart. And before the "profit" people come alone with their comments, give it a rest, you all know Focus's current sales position is a joke!!

Vesper Martini · 06-10-2017, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe5619

hahahahaha, now this made me laugh.. Are you talking about the 80's when Laser was KING of the small cars??

That's because it was a Mazda 323 - and that's still a great car.

But by year 2000 Laser was unpopular despite being pretty much the same as the Mazda.

barra240t · 06-10-2017, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussie muscle

When i think Ford Laser i think of the horrible turd from the 80s. no thanks. stop living in the past.

The Laser was a very important and successful car for Ford and Australia. Your comment on the Laser being a "turd" is very disrespectful. Do you know how many jobs it created? Do you know how many Ford sold?

Itsme · 06-10-2017, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barra240t

The Laser was a very important and successful car for Ford and Australia. Your comment on the Laser being a "turd" is very disrespectful. Do you know how many jobs it created? Do you know how many Ford sold?

Damn right the laser was successful, my wife still has her 2000 model in VGC, these cars are bullet proof if well maintained, best little car for reliability.

The turd name belongs to the Focus imo.

NX74205 · 06-10-2017, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Officemanager

The turd name belongs to the Focus imo.

Nope. Focus is an awesome car to drive. If I wanted a small car the Focus would be my choice.

Itsme · 06-10-2017, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NX74205

Nope. Focus is an awesome car to drive. If I wanted a small car the Focus would be my choice.

If it was such an awesome car then why do ford want to rename the brand?

Windsor220 · 05-10-2017, 09:55 PM

They can keep the Focus name but they need to do something to reassure the public that the current model is ok. Focus has a decent rep around the world.

danzvtil · 05-10-2017, 10:18 PM

I wouldn't want to tarnish the laser name with any pos ford builds today. I've owned 3 lasers in my time.

Bill M · 05-10-2017, 10:44 PM

I saw a Chinese Ford Escort LHD under test in SE Melbourne last week, maybe resurrecting another old name ?

FalconXV · 05-10-2017, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill M

I saw a Chinese Ford Escort LHD under test in SE Melbourne last week, maybe resurrecting another old name ?

I would only approve of an Escort revival if it was done like this : https://www.behance.net/gallery/4902...r-Dissertation

FordsForever · 06-10-2017, 08:06 AM

I would say it all depends on the market for the car, if you are targetting 18 - 25 yr old woman looking for their first car then using Laser might work...but like many others whenever I hear it I think of those crap boxes from the 80's.

Brazen · 06-10-2017, 09:25 AM

Just ditch this segment altogether and bring out a decent ASX sized SUV

4dlvr · 06-10-2017, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brazen

Just ditch this segment altogether and bring out a decent ASX sized SUV

eco sport?

Syndrome · 06-10-2017, 12:00 PM

How about calling it the Persephone?

barra240t · 06-10-2017, 12:46 PM

Leave Laser on a high note, let the name rest. Ford need to rebuild the Focus name and image, the currently Focus is an amazing car, but the public have zero idea on the new auto gearbox, specs, etc, Fords efforts are pathetic to say the least.

FalconXV · 07-10-2017, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barra240t

Leave Laser on a high note, let the name rest. Ford need to rebuild the Focus name and image, the currently Focus is an amazing car, but the public have zero idea on the new auto gearbox, specs, etc, Fords efforts are pathetic to say the least.

I think Focus is tarnished beyond recovery. As article states, it’s no longer the sharpest or boldest in its class. Laser has some equity, mostly
Positive dem what I’ve observed...

Fast Eddie · 06-10-2017, 12:59 PM

And Badge Engineering the Focus ST, and the Mondeo for point, into the XR5-Turbo to "make it relatable" to other XR (Falcon) models worked, didn't it?

b0son · 06-10-2017, 09:26 PM

Surprised people aren't asking for it to be called Fairmont.

boss351290 · 06-10-2017, 10:18 PM

I bought my daughter a base model focus manual. I think it is a great car. Handles just as good as a xr falcon. Very well built and with the 1.5 turbo it's very torquey at low revs which makes it easy and smooth as you don't have to rev the hell out of it to make it go.

I think there problem is the price. There $25000 plus for the base model which is very well equiped I must say.at this price point it's a bit like milk. If you can get it for $2 a bottle, why would you pay $2.50. Great car just needs to be the same price as competition otherwise it will get overlooked all the time.