Should Ford Focus be renamed 'Ford Laser'?

[NX74205]

Originally Posted by solarite_guy

Some love it, some hate it. There is very little if any in between.

I loved it. I used to own a Laser; I have old Laser brochures somewhere in my house that I've kept since I was a kid.

But Laser is Laser; Focus is Focus. They are different cars and should be kept distinct and separate. Laser is a Mazda-based small car built by Ford Australia (until they went full import later on). Focus is a car designed and manufactured by Ford of Europe, and only became a global car in this generation.

Focus, in Australia, at least, is the replacement for the Laser, just as it replaced the Escort in the small car class in Europe. The first generation Focus is new from the ground up and shared nothing with a Laser. It is not a Laser, because it is not a Mazda-based car that all Lasers were.

No, as far as I'm concerned, the Focus name stays, as does Mondeo, for that matter.

Originally Posted by barra240t

Mondeo needs to change to Fusion asap. It is such an underrated car and we need to set it up to go against Opal Commodore.

I don't think so. In this medium sized segment, nothing can touch the Toyota Camry. That just has to be accepted. For whatever reason, Toyota can pump out whitegoods much cheaper than any decent car manufacturer like Ford or Mazda, and thus the Camry has that segment cornered, leaving the rest to battle for second place.

Yes, Mondeo is underrated, but to suggest that it's because of the name is silly. Calling it the 'Fusion' isn't going to change anything but the badge, and frankly, if you look at the Fusion closely, while it appears to be the same car as the Mondeo, it really isn't and lacks some of the features that Mondeo have, not the least of which is that Fusion is only available as a sedan. Fusion also isn't a name that is known at all in Australia, and in North America, it's a run-of-the-mill mid size fleet special, whereas the Mondeo has a slightly more upmarket positioning both here and in Europe.

Originally Posted by FalconXV

I think the European versions are more reliable than the Thai ones. Maybe they implemented the fixes sooner than the Thai versions. Makes you wonder though - Fiesta has been UK best seller for years - with Powershift and if it was plagued with anything near the amount of problems ours were, irs unimaginable it could stay their best seller for long...

Or because Europeans are real drivers who drive manual cars.

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by Chopped

I hear the Cruze badge is up for grabs

Not a bad name actually in reality its a 2nd gen Daewoo Lacetti

I can imagine they would have sold SFA if it wasn't re named

[barra240t]

Originally Posted by NX74205

I don't think so. In this medium sized segment, nothing can touch the Toyota Camry. That just has to be accepted. For whatever reason, Toyota can pump out whitegoods much cheaper than any decent car manufacturer like Ford or Mazda, and thus the Camry has that segment cornered, leaving the rest to battle for second place.

Yes, Mondeo is underrated, but to suggest that it's because of the name is silly. Calling it the 'Fusion' isn't going to change anything but the badge, and frankly, if you look at the Fusion closely, while it appears to be the same car as the Mondeo, it really isn't and lacks some of the features that Mondeo have, not the least of which is that Fusion is only available as a sedan. Fusion also isn't a name that is known at all in Australia, and in North America, it's a run-of-the-mill mid size fleet special, whereas the Mondeo has a slightly more upmarket positioning both here and in Europe.

But surely Ford would want Mondeo to do much better than what it is doing? It's like they are purposely putting their head in the sand thinking its going ok. Calling it Fusion would at least reset the car. Mondeo is upmarket here? Mondeo is NOWHERE here. Renaming to Fusion will pretty much create a new model from a car that is already here. In saying that, Ford would need to back it up with a proper program and stick to it for at least 1 year.

All I'm saying is Holden are going to pump the Opal Commodore into the public like you wouldn't believe, just wait and see. While Ford will be watching on the side line realising they should have maybe done something with a model they already have right now and will knee jerk react (like always) when it is way too late.

This thread is a pretty important topic. Focus can rebuild, it isn't too late, but Ford really need to move on it. There is ZERO things wrong with the current 1.5L automatic, it is a dream to drive and is very competitive with other makes out there.

Ranger and Mustang are not the only cars in their line up and they need to wake up before it is too late.

I can rant forever on this topic! Just the passion for the brand

[NX74205]

Originally Posted by barra240t

But surely Ford would want Mondeo to do much better than what it is doing? It's like they are purposely putting their head in the sand thinking its going ok. Calling it Fusion would at least reset the car. Mondeo is upmarket here? Mondeo is NOWHERE here. Renaming to Fusion will pretty much create a new model from a car that is already here. In saying that, Ford would need to back it up with a proper program and stick to it for at least 1 year.

While I agree Ford's advertising and promotion could be better, I don't agree that calling it the Fusion would change anything. In fact, I think calling it the Fusion would make it worse, because Fusion is unknown here. Price and supply may be issues affecting Mondeo sales at the moment. I don't think the badge it wears has anything to do with it. If anything, it isn't the Mondeo badge that's the issue, it's the Ford badge, and Ford are working hard to change that image by producing some brilliant cars like the Mondeo.

As for being upmarket, it may not be a "premium" car by any stretch of the imagination, but it definitely is more "upmarket" than a Camry.

[Bossxr8]

Do people actually realise that the Mondeo is either 2nd or 3rd in mid size cars sales?

Why would they change it now, it's done pretty well. Outsells a lot of competitors.

[Vesper Martini]

Medium carsales is led by Camry about 2000 a month, C class has climbed to nearly half of that, 3rd is jostling between Mazda 6 & Mondeo 300-400 per month.

The best hope for the future is to pick up disgruntled Commodore buyers but I think C-class is grabbing those.
Commodore is the only car performing in the large car segment.

[NX74205]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

Medium carsales is led by Camry about 2000 a month, C class has climbed to nearly half of that, 3rd is jostling between Mazda 6 & Mondeo 300-400 per month.

The best hope for the future is to pick up disgruntled Commodore buyers but I think C-class is grabbing those.
Commodore is the only car performing in the large car segment.

Technically, the C-class isn't in the same class according to the FCAI. It's classed in the 'Medium Over $60K' segment, whereas the Mondeo is 'Medium Under $60K' so I think we can discount the C-class. After all, I doubt many would cross-shop a C-class with a Mondeo.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Do people actually realise that the Mondeo is either 2nd or 3rd in mid size cars sales?

Why would they change it now, it's done pretty well. Outsells a lot of competitors.

I tend to agree with this. It sells well enough in a segment that battles for sales against the SUV's that are in the same price bracket.

Whilst I actually prefer the Fusion name, it just sounds more masculine, Ford have spent the last 10 years establishing the Mondeo name plate in this market, to change now would be a waste. The same analogy applies to the Focus. Sadly for Ford, they will just need to ride out the current stigma that surrounds the nameplate.

The other thing to consider is that whilst the Camry smashes the segment sales wise, those numbers are "unnatural". In the same way the Commodore and Falcon were force fed into dealers and onto fleets, the Camrys dominance of the medium segment comes down to the similar need to keep the factory ticking over. Whilst I believe the imported Camry will still be the segment leader in the coming years, it wont be to the level that it has enjoyed for the last few decades.

[stock1991]

wish I had taken pics of my 81 ka laser. was a 5 door t/bar I paid 500 for put 30 000kms on it and sold it for 600, I did the brakes.

[danzvtil]

Originally Posted by stock1991

wish I had taken pics of my 81 ka laser. was a 5 door t/bar I paid 500 for put 30 000kms on it and sold it for 600, I did the brakes.

My first car was an 83 KB also with tbar auto which used to leak 1lt of trans fluid a month. The gearbox and oil looked brand new, the fluid never stayed there long enough to get dirty. Good times.

[Sprintey]

Combine with Mazda again - they are killing it in small & SUV classes, sales to private buyers, resale etc. A new Laser!

Carla Zampatti sticker pack - you know you want to see it again

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

Combine with Mazda again - they are killing it in small & SUV classes, sales to private buyers, resale etc. A new Laser!

Carla Zampatti sticker pack - you know you want to see it again

Mazda are doing very well here but not anywhere else. Especially Europe. Australia is a real anomaly for them.

[au2000]

at the end of the day, if ford care about focus, they just have to man up wear it on the chin re the power shift issues, show buyers that they actually care about buyers & will do the right thing, problem is that they don't care about it. plain & simple, I wonder if the Ranger & Mustang were not saving their asses, would they be this flippant about the focus issues?
I guess they are in a catch 22 in a way, they don't want to admit fault of the powershift auto, but if they highlight that the new auto focus does not have it then they have admitted the previous one is at fault. but without highlighting that there is a new auto box, no one will really touch the new model due to the negative press over the previous auto..

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Mazda are doing very well here but not anywhere else. Especially Europe. Australia is a real anomaly for them.

It's a shame cause they do have good cars in this small segment.

[FalconXV]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Mazda are doing very well here but not anywhere else. Especially Europe. Australia is a real anomaly for them.

I wouldn’t say they’re tanking anywhere, otherwise how could they fund the technology they’re developing like HCCI engines?

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by FalconXV

I wouldn’t say they’re tanking anywhere, otherwise how could they fund the technology they’re developing like HCCI engines?

They seem to struggle with money. They recently refinanced 5 billion dollars.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by FalconXV

I wouldn’t say they’re tanking anywhere, otherwise how could they fund the technology they’re developing like HCCI engines?

By diverting funds from elsewhere, and borrowing money. They have wanted to bring the rotary back but can't afford to divert cash and resources.

[FalconXV]

Another reason this could work is Laser is to Ford what corolla is to Toyota. Reliable and old, trusty.

[b0son]

It helps that the Corolla name has been used consistently. Laser hasnt for 15 years.

If you restarted the Big Rooster fast food chain, do you honestly expect some fleeting nostalgia from a small demographic to drive sales?

[DJR-351]

Originally Posted by b0son

If you restarted the Big Rooster fast food chain, do you honestly expect some fleeting nostalgia from a small demographic to drive sales?

or Hey Hey it's Saturday maybe?