2008 Ford Focus Pricing Announced

We've all been hankering for a new Focus for a while now. We loved the Focus when it first rolled off the assembly line (Focus won Automobile of the Year in 2000.) Since then, though, Ford's small car has become a bit dated. OK, really dated.

The 2008 model will be the first update to the Focus line since a freshening in 2003. The styling, while certainly new and unique, hasn't won many fans in our office. New safety features include standard side and side curtain air bags, but the really exciting upgrade is the Ford Sync system. The Focus is the first member of the Ford family to get the cool new technology, which integrates all of the car's electronics and makes them accessible through voice commands. The Sync will also connect to cell phones and portable music players.

Prices for the new Focus start at $14,695. If the options stay in line with last year, a fully loaded Focus will run about $19,000. Even if it is a bit strange looking, we don't think Ford will have any problem selling lots of the cars. The real question is whether or not the new Focus can capture our affection the way the first one did.