actually Mazda was responsible for development of small car platform under the previous Ford product plan so the next Focus and Volvo S40 will be a Mazda rather than the other way around.
although so much as changed since last year at Ford who knows what it will be. For what is it worth, the 323/Protege will be replaced in 2004 a year before the European Focus will be replaced and maybe 3 years before the US Focus will be updated. This tell me that Protege replacement is further in the development cycle than Focus so if there is any platform sharing, it will be a Mazda design. Just simple deductive reasoning...
