Last year, the sales volume of American cars in the Chinese market has made some progress, reaching a total of more than 1.94 million, achieving a year-on-year growth of 6.6%, which is the fastest growing car series in China in 2021 except for domestic cars. Although most of the sales still belong to SAIC-GM Group, but the performance of Ford Group is actually quite strong, compared with the decline of the former, Ford achieved positive growth of 3.7%, with total sales of 625,000 vehicles, of which the Lincoln brand accounted for 90,000 vehicles, the rest from the Ford brand. The growth in 2021 also allows Ford to regain confidence, after all, the brand has been in a state of decline in The country for a long time, this time it is a small counterattack, and Ford is also hitting iron while it is hot, in addition to the new generation of Mondeo, this year will also launch a four-cylinder Focus.
The current Fox
In fact, the new four-cylinder Focus has been exposed overseas, the front face has changed relative to the current model, the details of the front grille shape have changed, the headlight group is sharper, and the same-color trim in the bottom fog light area has been changed to silver chrome trim, which is more sporty overall. The rest of the exterior does not see much difference at present, and the exhaust uses a one-sided double-out design.
The interior design is simple and technology- and the horizontal layout of the center console matches a certain sense of hierarchy through lines and different materials, the suspension type large-size central control screen in the middle is very conspicuous, the physical buttons are minimized in the car, and the original rotary gear shift mechanism is changed back to the gear rod type, which is more controlled. The texture design of the seat looks more complicated, and these details control can actually greatly improve the sense of quality.
Of course, the most critical part of this update is the core powertrain, it is reported that the new Focus will use 1.6L and 1.6T two four-cylinder engines, the former matching 6MT/6AT transmission, and the latter will match the 8AT transmission. The three-cylinder engine used in the current model will be completely abandoned, which is undoubtedly pleasing to consumers.
Fox once left a strong mark in the history of Chinese cars, around 2013-2014 is its most brilliant period, when the monthly sales of this model reached more than 30,000 units, countless times won the top spot in the car market, Langyi can only bow to the wind, at the end of the life of that generation of models, can also reach tens of thousands of sales. But all this came to an abrupt end after the arrival of the three-cylinder Fox.
After the replacement in 2018, Fox is fully equipped with three-cylinder engines, which also buried the future of Fox, from tens of thousands of vehicles to the current two or three thousand units, and sales fell. In the past two years, Ford has made a lot of efforts in the Chinese market, launching a new model Sharp, EVOS, domestic explorer, etc., and sales are gradually picking up, but Fox, the old hero, has never been able to stand up again, so this four-cylinder replacement is more necessary.
After the replacement of the four cylinders, Fox's combat effectiveness will also become stronger, the old rival Langyi will undoubtedly feel pressure, although the sales of this model look very good, but recently due to the reduction of the door incident Langyi has also suffered a lot of doubts, while saic Volkswagen brand reputation in the country is also gradually declining, for Fox may also be an opportunity.
It is reported that the new Focus will be launched in the second quarter of this year, but it is uncertain whether Fox will raise the price after the four-cylinder engine is replaced.