Arkaign
Lifer
Part of the beauty of the current Focus is that it's still on the MK 1.5 platform that is the original Euro spec. The suspension is slightly looser than the Euro spec, but the suspension geometry and compatibility is identical. You can bolt-on all the SVT handling components if you wish, or even beyond.
I like the current / global Focus Mk2 / C1, though it does have a notable drawback : weight. Our Focus and all of the MK 1/1.5 are ~2550-2650lbs. The C1 are 3000+. That has an effect you can feel when driving it. Driving an SVT Focus back to back with a Volvo C30 or MazdaSpeed3 (C1 vehicles), it's just not as crisp or nimble. That's not to take anything away from the C1 vehicles, but it's worth noting some positives on our current option.
It takes some $, but you can turbo the Duratec 2.0 in the Focus, put some performance suspension/handling components on, and you have a decent sport compact. It sort of defeats the purpose of our current Focus though, which is to be a viable option in the economy car segment, a task at which it is class leading in many areas. Styling and the factory availability of higher performance models is a sticking point though. There is no counterpoint to the Civic Si / GTI / etc. I think Ford was smart in this regard though, sales of the high-performing Cobalt SS aren't exactly stellar, and probably add little to the bottom line if anything.
With the Fiesta taking over entry-level duties for Ford, and the next-gen Focus going global and moving upscale, perhaps Ford will give a performance model another shot in a couple of years.
