Unification was the first Escort, which has a stretch can be attributed to the golf class. Ford Motor - the only one of the giants, was not frightened not just start in Russia «screw» building, but also to build near St. Petersburg «from scratch» plant up to full production cycle. In 1998, the Ford Focus made a sensation of its excellent handling, unusual design, known as the «new facet».

In contrast to the design, construction of single-mindedness, he could not boast - front-wheel drive has already proved its usefulness, and 1.1-1.3 liter engines in the power of 48-84 hp and front disc brakes with booster and even became common. On the other hand, the blessing for producers of consumer time is not yet require them to «jump above head», so simple design and, consequently, low price, is a priority.

In the first year in England was sold 543 thousand vehicles, but this finest hour came two years later, when Khan Mikkola at polutoralitrovoy version power 140 hp won the supermarafone London, Mexico City 17 000 miles in length. Suddenly, utilitarian Escort was the best advertisement for hatchback Capri, which has become analogous to «Mustang» and with the motto «This is a car that you always promised yourself».

In the dynamics of innovation, are equipped with in «masthead» 126-strong performance of the engine gave way to cult «Yankee», but its four-bearing body with a large rear door is not only an excellent design, but functionality is not snivsheysya overseas «æåðåáöó». What's even rated on the «historic home» - Ford Capri was the first European car (piecework assembly «Rolls-Royce», «Fiat» and some other cars in the beginning of the century does not count), published in the United States under the brand name Mercury.

The first half of this decade have left Ford for final approval as the main producer of medium-class cars. At this stage, the main competitor was Opel, which, in addition to «escorts», «Taunus» and «Capri», was the new family of Granada. However, go Ryusselhayma was subkompaktny Kadett, and the presence of gaps in the model number of the sector, which became, after the energy crisis sverhpopulyarnym was tantamount to suicide.

Fortunately, the director was sitting in a chair Lee Yakokka, predvidevshy this situation. In his insistence in Valencia was built plant, which since 1976 began production peredneprivodnogo midget hatchback Fiesta, which became European favorite.

And in 1980 appeared a new peredneprivodny Escort with several types of body, became the «Car of the Year» and released millions of sales in just 13 months. Third avtobestsellerom Sierra became a fully independent suspension, with original and very spacious and aerodynamic verified, the body, to a large extent compensated for the outdated classic layout.

Today

Recent history of Ford Europe clearly divided on the «before» and «after». In the first stage, the company has evolved, so to speak, the vector of Japanese working in the interests of «average» consumer. Such a strategy is a well-lived: in 1985, Scorpio, Mondeo and in 1994 won the title of «Automobile of the Year», the latter has become more and the first «global car», his platform was used by the U.S. to Australia.

However, it seems that after all the designers have replaced Scorpio soulless computers, the benefit of Ford and it went to a pioneer - the first computer in a research center in Birmingham came back in 1956. Computerization of the design components and assemblies has helped create a wonderful family of motor Zetec, but for excessive passion for electronics design was quite damaging.

In the late 80's - early 90's completed a long-term process of the final market saturation, pragmatists «have been on a horse», and that Alex Trotmen successful managers in Europe, became the first «neamerikantsem», led the entire transnational concern, it is legitimate. Climbing «at the top», he immediately announced a change of priorities - and started «after», comparable to the impact on the development of the automotive industry with the emergence of Ford Model T.

Ford Motor - the only one of the giants, was not frightened not just start in Russia «screw» building, but also to build near St. Petersburg «from scratch» plant up to full production cycle. In 1998, the Ford Focus made a sensation of its excellent handling, unusual design, known as the «new facet». Whiffy adventures step towards a carefully calculated marketing event: «washing» zubovnogo fed to grinding, and replacing them podospela as well as possible in time.

A «new facets» a mass of followers, and Focus named «Car of the Year» on both sides of the Atlantic. The original stylistic decision has not exhausted itself, and today, more than that, it became the basis for corporate identity, previous «brand» designers not practiced ever.

Today's market requires a supersaturated diversity and ensure its own and troublesome, and costly. Since the early 90-ies of the problems solved, or in cooperation with other «economical» (minivan Galaxy - a product of joint work with Volkswagen), or just under a license using someone else's product under its brand (Ford Maverick went to the line side by side with a Nissan Terrano II ).

Globalization continues: Jaguar, but for him and the Mondeo, diesel will be an interesting set up in cooperation with Peugeot, Mazda and acquires the status of «corporate» vendor platforms. Ford Europe headed Nick worthy skills to cope with maintaining the credibility of one of the leading automakers Old World - in 2002 in Germany, Spain, Belgium, Portugal and Russia were issued 1 397 946 cars, plus another 128 521 units in the Brazilian, Malaysian and Indian subsidiaries, which partly reproduces the European model range.

Focus also lived in America, but in 2005 should expect retaliatory course - already zasvechennaya prospective Futura should be the new Mondeo, even with hybrid drive according to the order. And in some future there will be neither European nor American «Ford», but one - the World.