-J-P-L-

The 2012 Focus is still a ways off, unfortunately. It doesn't go on sale until early next year (obviously as the model year designation tells us). So I'm a bit surprised Ford has previewed it so early which allows other companies to gauge their development accordingly which may come back to bite Ford (in this case).
This may be partly why we recently found out that Honda was going back to the drawing board on the next Civic. Of course, the benefit to early buzz is that many consumers begin making purchase plans based on this. An with such a segment busting new car like the Focus, Ford is counting on people to wait until its release to buy a new car most likely costing another company a sale but then again maybe costing Ford a 2010/11 Focus sale.

BTW, for comparison to the Focus, Fiesta pricing is...

$13,995 for the base sedan

$15,795 for base hatch (odd that the hatch starts at $1,800 more)

$16,995 for SEL sedan (more for options)

$17,795 for SES hatch (more for options)

It's of course to early for Focus pricing, but as everyone has suggested, you'll be lucky to get a bare bones Focus for around $16K.

-J-P-L-

Looking at the poll, things aren't looking to good for Cruze.

I think it will appeal to more conservative buyers than the aggressively styled Focus. Should do well. And it is leaps and bounds ahead of the Cobalt in build quality and engineering.

And so far, 2 have voted that they wouldn't be caught dead in any of these and would rather walk. If you guys aren't joking, it's time to come back to reality. Your wealth has gotten to ya.

Yeah, this is embarrassing....

Nextourer

Focus hands down. If I were in the market for a compact sedan, it'll be up at the top of the shopping list.