R&T - 7/28/2016
http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/news/a30138/ford-cancels-2016-focus-rs-prodution/
Reports say that 220 customers have had their 2016 Ford Focus RS canceled, to be replaced by a 2017 model.
The Ford Focus RS might just be the hottest mass-market enthusiast car of the year, and if you're a frequent reader of this site, there's a very good chance you want one. Unfortunately, it seems Ford won't be able to meet the initial demand. As a result, many customers now fear that their cars will be delayed.
Ford cancelled 220 orders for the 2016 model year Focus RS, bumping them to the 2017 model year run, according to a report from The Truth About Cars . There's no clear answer as to precisely why model-year 2016 production has been halted, though it seems to be related to a summer shutdown at Ford's plant in Saarlouis, Germany, where the Focus RS is built.
A Ford representative reportedly told a Los Angeles dealer that the reason for the shutdown was "economic turmoil" in Europe, though a different Ford spokesperson denied this in correspondence with TTAC.
"Focus RS demand around the globe has exceeded expectations," Ford representative Dan Jones told TTAC. "These 220 customer units that were scheduled for [model year 2016] are now going to be rescheduled into [model year 2017], and as these orders will be prioritized, customers will experience almost no delay in delivery of their vehicle."
Jones told TTAC that workers at the Saarlouis plant have a scheduled three-week holiday, which ends August 15th. Despite Jones's reassurance, TTAC also notes that various members on Ford enthusiast forums are worried that their cars will be delayed significantly. Some Australian RS buyers have already reported delays.
Since the Focus RS is a car long awaited by enthusiasts, it's likely received far more pre-orders than most run-of-the-mill Fords. High demand, plus the amount of attention the Focus RS continues to receive, plus the unclear reasoning behind Ford's model-year switch, is certainly adding up to some anxiety among those excitedly awaiting the delivery of their new Ford hot hatch.
http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/news/a30138/ford-cancels-2016-focus-rs-prodution/
Reports say that 220 customers have had their 2016 Ford Focus RS canceled, to be replaced by a 2017 model.
The Ford Focus RS might just be the hottest mass-market enthusiast car of the year, and if you're a frequent reader of this site, there's a very good chance you want one. Unfortunately, it seems Ford won't be able to meet the initial demand. As a result, many customers now fear that their cars will be delayed.
Ford cancelled 220 orders for the 2016 model year Focus RS, bumping them to the 2017 model year run, according to a report from The Truth About Cars . There's no clear answer as to precisely why model-year 2016 production has been halted, though it seems to be related to a summer shutdown at Ford's plant in Saarlouis, Germany, where the Focus RS is built.
A Ford representative reportedly told a Los Angeles dealer that the reason for the shutdown was "economic turmoil" in Europe, though a different Ford spokesperson denied this in correspondence with TTAC.
"Focus RS demand around the globe has exceeded expectations," Ford representative Dan Jones told TTAC. "These 220 customer units that were scheduled for [model year 2016] are now going to be rescheduled into [model year 2017], and as these orders will be prioritized, customers will experience almost no delay in delivery of their vehicle."
Jones told TTAC that workers at the Saarlouis plant have a scheduled three-week holiday, which ends August 15th. Despite Jones's reassurance, TTAC also notes that various members on Ford enthusiast forums are worried that their cars will be delayed significantly. Some Australian RS buyers have already reported delays.
Since the Focus RS is a car long awaited by enthusiasts, it's likely received far more pre-orders than most run-of-the-mill Fords. High demand, plus the amount of attention the Focus RS continues to receive, plus the unclear reasoning behind Ford's model-year switch, is certainly adding up to some anxiety among those excitedly awaiting the delivery of their new Ford hot hatch.
