Focus ST Broken Bonnets

[JD]

Recently I have seen a couple of new Focus ST Estates driving around, and both of them I have seen, have what appear to be "popped" bonnets

I thought they might have something wrong with them, but I have just seen this picture below, and it also has the popped bonnet look.

Does anyone know what has gone on with Ford here, have they designed something wrong? or is there a common part that is failing?

[pops and bangs]

It's apparently "normal", looks st though.

[CoolC]

The "normal" Focus looks even worse, too much space above the badge makes the bonnet appear popped.

[IdiotH]

Typical of Ford and the Focus.

Utterly brilliant cars, just with one or two obvious flaws. The last model suffered from bumpers that weren't painted to match the car.

[waterwonder]

It's so the car meets the latest pedestrian safety stuff.

Hopefully they'll find a more elegant solution ASAP.

[GoneAnon]

Thanks guys - we've had the wife's Focus for a year now and never noticed this!

[Mastodon2]

Wow, that does look rubbish. How much safer does that really make the car?

[Fubar1977]

"They all do that, Sir" ...sorry

I still can`t believe they apparently charge around £650 for a headlight
according to another PH`er (the one who collided with a deer)

[WeirdNeville]

Mastodon2 said:

Wow, that does look rubbish. How much safer does that really make the car?

At a guess it allows the bonnet to move down and back to cushion a pedestrian if they get hit, rather than 'jamming' against the shtt line and becoming rigid. Same as they way hard points within the engine bay are now more recessed so a pedestrian can intrude further into the cavity before they sustain serious injury.

[northwest monkey]

CoolC said:

The "normal" Focus looks even worse, too much space above the badge makes the bonnet appear popped.

That's just weird looking - and annoying now I've seen it!

It doesn't help with the bonnet having a cut-out bit. If this was straight & the badge was a bit lower it wouldn't look as obvious.

What the headlamps need are these..

[Fubar1977]

northwest monkey said:

That's just weird looking - and annoying now I've seen it!

It doesn't help with the bonnet having a cut-out bit. If this was straight & the badge was a bit lower it wouldn't look as obvious.

What the headlamps need are these..

Now THAT would make them worth £650!

Or possibly not...

[darren f]

Reminds me of the early Mk 3 Escorts that used to uncouple the bonnet skin from the support 'webbing' below resulting in a permanent 'he's left his bonnet unlatched' look. Ford's solution was to stick it back together using epoxy, I went for the racing look using bonnet pins!!

[C.A.R.]

You could lose a child in that bonnet gap.

Maybe that's where the safety aspect comes in? If you get hit it just swallows you up...

[busta]

WeirdNeville said:

t a guess it allows the bonnet to move down and back to cushion a pedestrian if they get hit, rather than 'jamming' against the shtt line and becoming rigid. Same as they way hard points within the engine bay are now more recessed so a pedestrian can intrude further into the cavity before they sustain serious injury.

The same affect could easily be achieved without leaving such an obvious gap. Just re-jig how the shut lines meet. I assume the grille is plastic anyway, so not overly hard in an impact.