Is it time for a FPV Focus?

[geckoGT]

Without starting a small car bashing session from the die hard V8 fans, is todays economic climate of high fuel prices and interest rates changing the way people look at performance cars.

I know from a personal point of view that both Tori and I expect our cars to be a bit special, life is too short to drive boring cars. When we were deciding to buy a new car we wanted something that was smaller, more economical but still had great performance. We looked at the Golf GTI, Focus XR5, HSV VXR, Honda Civic Type R and Mini Cooper S (all turbo hatches that could be put on the road for less than $50k), we ended up buying the Mini Cooper S JCW. I seriously like the Focus but it did not have some elements that we are after. I also like the HSV VXR but did not like that it was so thinly disguised as a HSV (they can't even be bothered getting rid of the Opel badge on the steering weel).

If FPV had released a hot Focus, a XR5 with more performance and more interior and exterior wow factor, I really believe I would have been sold on it. Are there others that have previously bought large performance cars that are now more in the market for smaller turbo weapons? Looking around and noticing the number of Golf GTI's and R32's, Focus XR5's, WRX's etc, I would say that FPV are missing out on a large market and need to get with the times.

I do believe there will always be a large market for XR8, XR6T, F6 and GT, but I am not sure that they should forget about the performance small car market. I know that since we have had the Mini Cooper S JCW, we love it. Handling a FPV can not hold a candle to, good interior appointments and the best bit is we can drive it like a performance car and still get 7L/100km, show me a FPV that can do this. $70 a week in fuel compared to $140 with the same driving style is a big saving.

What do you all think?