[oilburner]

Exactly. Also, if anyone looks beyond the hyperbole and actually compares a S40/V50 to the new Focus then they will see two very different cars, the Volvo is much more like a shrunken V70 than a rebadged Focus.

Plus, you get WHIPS, the 2.4 5 pot and Volvo look/feel in the S40/V50.

To be honest, as Volvo engineers have so much input into Ford's platform development now, you could equally argue that the Focus is a re-badged Volvo without the good Volvo bits. The fact that the new Focus ST will use the T5 engine rather than any Ford technology says it all really.

Isn't it true that Ford had a candiate new platform for the next Mondeo and Volvo refused to use it for the next gen S60/S80/V70? So, Ford had to accept a new platform design based on Volvo technology instead... With Volvo being about the only profitable part of the entire Ford Motor Company, I have no worries about the future of Volvo the brand or its unique design philosophy.