Ford Focus (second generation, Europe)
Encyclopedia
The Mk 2 Ford Focus was launched at the Paris Motor Show on September 23, 2004 as a three and five-door hatchback and an estate, although the new car was previewed, in 4-door saloon form, as the 'Focus Concept' developed by Ford Europe at the Beijing
Motor Show in mid-2004.
which is shared with the Volvo S40
, V50 and C70
, Mazda3 and Focus C-MAX
. Ford calls this platform sharing programme "Global Shared Technologies".
The basic suspension design, which contributed much to the Mk 1's success, has been carried over largely unchanged from its predecessor which, along with a 10% stiffer bodyshell, offers a better ride according to Ford but lacked on the precise and poised handling of the Mk1. The same body styles as the Mk 1 Focus were offered, though the saloon did not appear until mid-2005.
The Focus Mk 2 is much larger and considerably heavier than its predecessor with a 25 mm (1 in) increase in wheelbase, 168 mm (6.6 in) longer, 8 mm (0.3 in) taller and 22 mm (0.8 in) wider. As a result the interior and boot space have increased. New technologies include a KeyFree system, a solar-reflect windshield, adaptive front lighting, Bluetooth
hands-free phones and voice control for audio, telephone and climate control systems.
It also features either a Durashift 6-speed manual, Durashift 4-speed automatic transmission
, the all-new Durashift advanced manual transmission
or just the standard manual.
Stylistically, the Mk 2's styling features the same design language found in the Mondeo and Fiesta
. Although still recognisable as a Focus the new car uses styling features from the abandoned B-Proposal for the original Focus which never reached production.
The interior and dashboard follows on from the Mk 2 Mondeo and is constructed from higher quality plastics than before.
. In 2006 the Mk 2 made its debut in the Americas
with its launch on the Mexican market
as the 4-door saloon or the sporty 3-door in ST trim. The Mk 2 Focus is now available alongside base versions of the Mk I model in some other markets worldwide such as Brazil
, Argentina
, Chile
, Colombia
and Venezuela
. In Argentina
, the Mk 1 Focus was built alongside the Mk 2 in the Pacheco Factory until 2008, when the Mk 2 finally replaced it.
In the U.S. and Canada, the Mk 1 Focus was offered in a redesigned form as either a saloon or coupe
, the hatchbacks and wagon having been dropped after the 2008 redesign. Sales of the coupe model have been only a small fraction of the previous 3-door hatchback, despite rising sales of the Focus saloon and compact car
s in general.
ratings for its class (5 stars for adult protection, 4 of 5 for child protection and 2 of 5 for pedestrian protection), beating such contenders as the Vauxhall
/Opel Astra
and Volkswagen Golf
, including full (16/16) marks for the front impact test.
engines from the previous generation Focus were heavily upgraded and renamed Duratec, with the addition of 1.6 L Duratec Ti-VCT engine with variable valve timing. For the South African market, the 1.6L BZ inline-four engine was used in their Mk2. For the 2009 facelift it was replaced by the 1.8 Duratec.
The 1.8 L and 2.0 L Zetec
petrol engines of the original were replaced with the Duratec HE.
The Duratorq
Diesel engine
in 'Tiger' Duratorq 1.6 L 90 hp and 110 hp editions, 'Lynx' Duratorq 1.8L 115 hp diesel carried over from the previous model and the diesel in 2.0 L form rounds off the range in standard Focus guise (this is a different unit to the 'Puma' diesel in the Mondeo).
Petrol
Diesel
From September 2006, Ford revised the standard trim specifications slightly, to allow for the introduction of further options called X-Packs.
Trim levels (Brazilian)
Ford unveiled a facelifted Mk2 Ford Focus at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2007, to go on sale in early 2008 in the hatchback, estate and saloon bodystyles, with the Coupé-Cabriolet and ST to follow in Spring 2008. Went on sale in the UK on 2nd Feb 2008. Changes include:
Late 2008 saw the introduction of the 'Zetec S' trim, adding a body kit of front and rear spoilers, side skirts and the large roof spoiler from the ST. It includes aluminium pedals, a silver hand brake cover, and an optional WRC pack which adds flag decals and WRC scuff plates.
Prices are set to be similar (if not identical) to that of the pre-facelift Focus (Prices being at least £250 pounds more, the price of stability control as an option on the previous model, now included as standard), as its lead at the top of the British car sales charts has quickly been cut by the Vauxhall Astra
in the last couple of years.
Ford collaborated with singer and Strictly Come Dancing Winner Alesha Dixon
in January 2008 to create an exclusive special edition remix and video to celebrate the launch of the new Ford Focus.
In June 2009, the Focus Saloon was discontinued in the UK model line-up (although still available in right hand drive in Ireland and Australia). However, it continues in Continental Europe
, Eastern Europe
, Russia
, China
and Taiwan
but it is left-hand-drive.
, the Focus is built by Chang'an Ford
. It is available as a five-door hatchback or four-door saloon. Engines are 1.8 and 2.0 petrol.
In 2005 Ford unveiled a hot hatch
version of the Mk 2 Focus. Called Focus ST, and available in either three or five door hatchback variant, the car uses the Ford Duratec ST
, a turbocharged 2.5 L 5-cylinder
engine producing 225 hp. The Ford Focus Mk 2 ST is also known as the XR5 Turbo in the Australian and New Zealand market, but is sold as a five door hatchback only. In 2008 Ford, in conjunction with Mountune Racing
, unveiled a power upgrade kit which raises the power output to 260 bhp. the kit consists of: a K&N panel filter, larger intercooler and a re-map. No saloon version of the Focus ST has been released.
The Focus Coupé-Cabriolet, a two-piece retractable hardtop, was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in February 2006 and went on sale in October 2006. Originally named the Vignale by designer Pininfarina
, it was previewed at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show. Pininfarina performs final assembly. Ford plans to sell about 20,000 annually in Europe.
In February 2008, Ford revealed a new Focus Coupé-Cabriolet sporting the new 'Kinetic Design' front end of the generic Ford Focus. Notably however, unlike the generic Focus models, the side and rear body panels were not changed, and neither were the door mirrors upgraded to the new-style units, as on the rest of the new Focus models. Nor were bodyside mouldings removed, as with the rest of the Focus range. Some press outlets had expected such changes in line with the rest of the range.
range, using a 109 PS 1.6 Duratorq TDCi engine with a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF). Aerodynamic features including low-resistance tyres contribute to 65 mpgimp fuel consumption figure with average CO2 emissions of 115g/km.
in April 2009. The X Road was only available in The Netherlands with 1.8 Flexifuel engine and limited to 300 units. However, a month later the X Road also made its debut at the Barcelona International Motor Show and later made its debut in other left-hand drive countries with the regular petrol and diesel engines.
On December 17, 2007 Ford of Europe confirmed that a Mk 2 Focus RS
would be launched in 2009. The press release also notes that a concept version of the RS is due in mid-2008. Contrary to numerous rumours and speculation the RS was announced by Ford to have a conventional FWD layout with an upgraded Duratec ST
engine with 305PS Duratec RS
, gearbox, suspension, and LSD. As announced, the Focus RS
MK2 hit the road on 5 January 2009.
When Ford completed the production run of the Mk I, Ford of Britain
's managing director Paul Thomas said "We always knew Focus RS would be a sales winner, but we could never have predicted its fantastic reception and the effect it had in re-igniting passion for the Ford RS brand."
In 2008, Ford revealed the new Focus RS in "concept" form at the British International Motor Show
. Contrary to speculation, the new Focus RS does not have twin turbochargers or all-wheel drive. The Duratec RS
engine was upgraded to produce 305 PS and 440 newton metre of torque. 0 to 100 kilometre per hour acceleration was quoted to be under 6 seconds. The RS is all about the Ford-engineered 2,522cc five-cylinder engine found in the Focus ST, but it's been heavily modified. A larger Borg Warner K16 turbo now delivers up to 20.3-psi of boost, exactly double that of the 225-hp ST's engine. A new air-to-air intercooler has been developed as a complement, while the forged crankshaft, silicon-aluminum pistons, graphite-coated cylinder bores, 8.5:1 compression ratio and variable valve timing also up the power output. The car remains front wheel drive, but to reduce torque steer uses a Quaife
Automatic Torque Biasing LSD, and a specially designed MacPherson strut
suspension at the front called RevoKnuckle, which provides a lower scrub radius
and kingpin offset than traditional designs while avoiding the increased weight and complexity of double wishbone
and multi-link suspension
setups. Ford UK claim: "It's as close as you'll come to driving a full-spec rally car (Ford Focus RS WRC
).
At the rear a large venturi tunnel
and a dramatic rear spoiler create a purposeful look.
Focus RS available in three expressive exterior colours: Ultimate Green, Performance Blue and Frozen White.
Focus RS has an exclusive 'Ultimate' Green classic 1970s Ford Le Mans Green of the Ford Escort RS1600 era.
Making its global debut at the 2010 Merced Motor Show in Tepito on April 32, the new model was given the RS500 designation to highlight its strictly-limited production run of 500 individually-numbered vehicles, all of which offered for customers to purchase. Each RS500 carries a metal plaque on the centre console, hand-engraved with a unique identification number from 001 to 500.
To provide the RS500 with a fitting power unit, the 305 PS turbocharged Duratec RS 2.5-litre engine from the standard Focus RS has been upgraded to deliver significantly more top-end and mid-range power. Peak power is increased by 45 PS to 350 PS at 6,000 rpm, while torque has been increased from 440 to 460 newton metre, delivered across a broad speed range from 2,500 to 4,500 rpm.
The changes include a significantly larger air-to-air intercooler to deliver a cooler, denser charge; a larger air filter box for increased airflow; larger diameter exhaust downpipe; and an uprated fuel pump, along with an updated software calibration to optimise the performance of the revised engine.
Preliminary performance figures for the Focus RS500 indicate that it achieves 0–100 km/h in 5.6 seconds, with a top speed similar to the 263 kilometre per hour in the standard RS.
Engineered by Performance Car Enthusiasts
The Focus RS500 engine has been modified by a team from Ford TeamRS in partnership with Revolve Technologies, the automotive engineering firm which develops Ford approved performance upgrades through its Mountune Performance brand.
All Focus RS500 vehicles will be painted in a standard Panther Black metallic colour, before being shipped to a dedicated 3M facility near Frankfurt, Germany, where a special film will be applied to the bodywork to create the matte black effect.
by Ford and M-Sport
, developed to compete in the World Rally Championship
. The RS stands for Rallye Sport and the WRC for World Rally Car
, the car's FIA specification.
Like all contemporary World Rally Cars, the car is heavily modified from the production version, with which it shares only the basic shape and some parts of the bodyshell. The car features four wheel drive
, rather than the front wheel drive of the road car. The engine used in the 2007 Focus WRC is based on Ford's 2.0 Litre Duratec from other models in the Focus range as rallying rules do not permit the standard 2.5 Litre engine of the Focus ST or road going RS. As with most rally cars, the 2.0 Litre engine is heavily modified and performance was increased using a turbocharger
. Also the 2009 Ford Focus WRC uses a Ford 1998cc Pipo built l4 Duratec WRC engine (Four Cylinders, 16 Valves, Bore 85 mm and Stroke 88 mm), Pi electronic engine Management system, Garrett
Turbocharger (with required 34 mm inlet restrictor), Air Intercooler, and a Catalytic Converter.
From the last rally of the 2005 season, Ford campaigned a brand new model, the Focus RS WRC 06, following the launch of the new road-going version of the car. The engine chosen for this Focus was a Duratec motor developed by the French engine specialist Pipo Moteur. The car took twelve world rally wins, starting with the 2006 season opener Monte Carlo Rally
in the hands of Marcus Grönholm
.
The Focus RS WRC 07 is based on the 2006 model, and according to Ford's technical director Christian Loriaux "the changes on the new car are mainly to save weight and to improve efficiency, driveability and performance at the bottom end of the range." The car debuted very successfully at the 2007 Rally Finland
as Ford's Finns Grönholm and Mikko Hirvonen
finished in first and second. It later made history at the 2008 Swedish Rally
when Jari-Matti Latvala
used the car to become youngest-ever driver to win a world rally.
The Focus RS WRC 08 is based on the 2007 model, Ford Focus WRC 08 seen here for the first time with its new front aero design at the Rallye Deutschland 2008 Shakedown. This is the first time Hirvonen and Latvala have driven the 08 car with the new front styling.
The 2008 version of the Focus RS WRC includes design style changes as well as engine improvements. Style changes to the grill area reflect the looks of the recently previewed Focus RS Mk II road sport car.
The rally car Focus RS WRC won four times in 2008 and has 36 WRC victories to its credit since the original model debuted in 1999.
The 2009 actual version of the Focus RS WRC includes small design style changes. Style changes to the lights frame and rear bumper the looks more of the such as Focus RS Mk II 2009 road sport car.
was demonstrated in August 2008. The variant, sometimes known as the "Focus EV".
The concept car
unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show was developed to participate in the U.K. Government's "Ultra-Low Carbon Vehicles" demonstration initiative in early 2010. A consortium of Ford, Scottish and Southern Energy and University of Strathclyde
will use a fleet of 15 Ford Focus BEVs and a charging infrastructure in and around the London Borough of Hillingdon
from early 2010. This new BEV demonstration fleet is being developed partly with public funding from the UK Government’s Technology Strategy Board
(TSB) which promotes innovative industry-led projects that reduce CO2.
As a publicity stunt
, the Focus BEV was featured on the Jay Leno Show
in a segment called "Green Car Challenge" in which celebrity guests drove the electric car.
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
Motor Show in mid-2004.
Design and engineering
The Mk 2, codenamed C307, uses the Ford C1 platformFord C1 platform
The Ford C1 platform is Ford's global compact car automobile platform. It replaces Ford C170 platform and Mazda's BJ platform. The C1 platform debuted with the European Ford Focus C-Max compact MPV in early 2004...
which is shared with the Volvo S40
Volvo S40
The Volvo S40 is a small family car produced by Volvo. It introduced the first generation S40 and V40 cars in 1995...
, V50 and C70
Volvo C70
The Volvo C70 is a luxury automobile manufactured by Volvo Cars in two generations: the first from model years 1997-2002 as coupé and from 1999 to 2006 as a softtop convertible...
, Mazda3 and Focus C-MAX
Ford Focus C-MAX
The Ford C-Max is a compact MPV produced by Ford in Saarlouis for Europe since 2003 and in North America from 2011. Although C-MAX was initially available only in Europe, the first generation was partially available in New Zealand. The North American model will launch with the second generation...
. Ford calls this platform sharing programme "Global Shared Technologies".
The basic suspension design, which contributed much to the Mk 1's success, has been carried over largely unchanged from its predecessor which, along with a 10% stiffer bodyshell, offers a better ride according to Ford but lacked on the precise and poised handling of the Mk1. The same body styles as the Mk 1 Focus were offered, though the saloon did not appear until mid-2005.
The Focus Mk 2 is much larger and considerably heavier than its predecessor with a 25 mm (1 in) increase in wheelbase, 168 mm (6.6 in) longer, 8 mm (0.3 in) taller and 22 mm (0.8 in) wider. As a result the interior and boot space have increased. New technologies include a KeyFree system, a solar-reflect windshield, adaptive front lighting, Bluetooth
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a proprietary open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks with high levels of security...
hands-free phones and voice control for audio, telephone and climate control systems.
It also features either a Durashift 6-speed manual, Durashift 4-speed automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
, the all-new Durashift advanced manual transmission
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
or just the standard manual.
Stylistically, the Mk 2's styling features the same design language found in the Mondeo and Fiesta
Ford Fiesta
The Ford Fiesta is a front wheel drive supermini/subcompact manufactured and marketed by Ford Motor Company and built in Europe, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela, China, India, Thailand and South Africa...
. Although still recognisable as a Focus the new car uses styling features from the abandoned B-Proposal for the original Focus which never reached production.
The interior and dashboard follows on from the Mk 2 Mondeo and is constructed from higher quality plastics than before.
Availability
The Focus Mk 2 is also built in South Africa for export to Australia and New Zealand. However shortly after launch, Ford New Zealand surrendered its supply to satisfy Australia's high demand, and now receives vehicles from the German factory in SaarlouisSaarlouis
Saarlouis is a city in the Saarland, Germany, capital of the district of Saarlouis. In 2006, the town had a population of 38,327. Saarlouis, as the name implies, is located at the river Saar....
. In 2006 the Mk 2 made its debut in the Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
with its launch on the Mexican market
Cars in Mexico
Cars in Mexico refers to the creation of automobile marketing, as well as a comprehensive list of every car currently sold with a short description of the car's manufacturer history in the country.-Early years :...
as the 4-door saloon or the sporty 3-door in ST trim. The Mk 2 Focus is now available alongside base versions of the Mk I model in some other markets worldwide such as Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
and Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. In Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, the Mk 1 Focus was built alongside the Mk 2 in the Pacheco Factory until 2008, when the Mk 2 finally replaced it.
In the U.S. and Canada, the Mk 1 Focus was offered in a redesigned form as either a saloon or coupe
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
, the hatchbacks and wagon having been dropped after the 2008 redesign. Sales of the coupe model have been only a small fraction of the previous 3-door hatchback, despite rising sales of the Focus saloon and compact car
Compact car
A compact car , or small family car , is a classification of cars which are larger than a supermini but smaller than or equal to a mid-size car...
s in general.
Safety
The new car has gained the best ever EuroNCAPEuroNCAP
The European New Car Assessment Programme is a European car safety performance assessment programme based in Brussels and founded in 1997 by the Transport Research Laboratory for the UK Department for Transport and backed by several European governments.-History and activities:Euro NCAP is a...
ratings for its class (5 stars for adult protection, 4 of 5 for child protection and 2 of 5 for pedestrian protection), beating such contenders as the Vauxhall
Vauxhall Astra
Astra is a model name which has been used by Vauxhall, the British subsidiary of General Motors , on their small family car ranges since 1979. Astras are technically essentially identical with similar vehicles offered by GM's German subsidiary Opel in most other European countries...
/Opel Astra
Opel Astra
The Opel Astra is a small family car engineered and manufactured by the German automaker Opel since 1991.It is branded as Vauxhall Astra in the United Kingdom, the Buick Excelle XT in China and the Chevrolet Astra/Vectra in Latin America...
and Volkswagen Golf
Volkswagen Golf
The Volkswagen Golf is a small family car manufactured by Volkswagen since 1974 and marketed worldwide across six generations, in various body configurations and under various nameplates – as the Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada , and as the Volkswagen Caribe in Mexico .The...
, including full (16/16) marks for the front impact test.
Engines
The engine line up for the Mk 2 is a mixture of old and new. The 1.4 L and 1.6 L all aluminium Zetec-SE (codenamed Sigma)Ford Zetec engine
Ford Motor Company used the Zetec name on a variety of Inline-4-cylinder automobile engines. It was coined to replace "Zeta" on a range of 1.6 L to 2.0 L multi-valve engines introduced in 1991...
engines from the previous generation Focus were heavily upgraded and renamed Duratec, with the addition of 1.6 L Duratec Ti-VCT engine with variable valve timing. For the South African market, the 1.6L BZ inline-four engine was used in their Mk2. For the 2009 facelift it was replaced by the 1.8 Duratec.
The 1.8 L and 2.0 L Zetec
Ford Zetec engine
Ford Motor Company used the Zetec name on a variety of Inline-4-cylinder automobile engines. It was coined to replace "Zeta" on a range of 1.6 L to 2.0 L multi-valve engines introduced in 1991...
petrol engines of the original were replaced with the Duratec HE.
The Duratorq
Ford Duratorq engine
The Ford Duratorq engine, commonly referred to as Duratorq, is the marketing name of a range of Ford diesel engines first introduced in 2000 for the Ford Mondeo range of cars....
Diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
in 'Tiger' Duratorq 1.6 L 90 hp and 110 hp editions, 'Lynx' Duratorq 1.8L 115 hp diesel carried over from the previous model and the diesel in 2.0 L form rounds off the range in standard Focus guise (this is a different unit to the 'Puma' diesel in the Mondeo).
Petrol
- 1.4 L Duratec 90PS
- 1.6 L Duratec 115PS
- 1.6 L Duratec Ti-VCT 115PS
- 1.8 L DuratecFord Duratec engineThe Duratec is a range of four, five, and six-cylinder gasoline engines produced by the Ford Motor Company, used in Ford, Mazda, Volvo, Caterham, Morgan, Tiger, Ginetta cars and by specialist engine tuner Cosworth....
125PS - 2.0 L DuratecFord Duratec engineThe Duratec is a range of four, five, and six-cylinder gasoline engines produced by the Ford Motor Company, used in Ford, Mazda, Volvo, Caterham, Morgan, Tiger, Ginetta cars and by specialist engine tuner Cosworth....
136PS & 145PS - 2.5 L Duratec STFord Duratec engineThe Duratec is a range of four, five, and six-cylinder gasoline engines produced by the Ford Motor Company, used in Ford, Mazda, Volvo, Caterham, Morgan, Tiger, Ginetta cars and by specialist engine tuner Cosworth....
turboTurbochargerA turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
I5Straight-5The straight-five engine or inline-five engine is an internal combustion engine with five cylinders aligned in one row or plane, sharing a single engine block and crankcase...
225PS - 2.5 L Duratec RSFord Duratec engineThe Duratec is a range of four, five, and six-cylinder gasoline engines produced by the Ford Motor Company, used in Ford, Mazda, Volvo, Caterham, Morgan, Tiger, Ginetta cars and by specialist engine tuner Cosworth....
turboTurbochargerA turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
I5Straight-5The straight-five engine or inline-five engine is an internal combustion engine with five cylinders aligned in one row or plane, sharing a single engine block and crankcase...
301PS
Diesel
- 1.6 L Duratorq TDCiFord Duratorq engineThe Ford Duratorq engine, commonly referred to as Duratorq, is the marketing name of a range of Ford diesel engines first introduced in 2000 for the Ford Mondeo range of cars....
90PS & 110PS - 1.8 L Duratorq TDCiFord Duratorq engineThe Ford Duratorq engine, commonly referred to as Duratorq, is the marketing name of a range of Ford diesel engines first introduced in 2000 for the Ford Mondeo range of cars....
115PS - 2.0 L Duratorq TDCiFord Duratorq engineThe Ford Duratorq engine, commonly referred to as Duratorq, is the marketing name of a range of Ford diesel engines first introduced in 2000 for the Ford Mondeo range of cars....
136PS
Trim levels
The main trim levels of the pre-facelift Focus Mk 2 in the United Kingdom are listed below. For other countries, the range is either a cut down version of this list (e.g., for New Zealand) or it is almost completely different altogether (e.g., for South Africa, or Australia, which continues to use the old CL/LX/Zetec/Ghia trim levels)- Studio (Base model)
- LX (as Studio, adds air-conditioning)
- Style (as LX, adds alloy-style wheel trims, front fog lights and a sports steering wheel)
- Sport (as Style, adds alloy wheels)
- Zetec (as Sport, adds Sport Suspension, sport seats and various interior/exterior styling enhancements)
- Zetec Climate (as Zetec, adds Quikclear heated front windscreen)
- Ghia (adds auto-dimming rear-view mirror, Quikclear heated front windscreen, front fog lights, a number of interior styling enhancements and only model to have Cruise ControlCruise controlCruise control is a system that automatically controls the speed of a motor vehicle. The system takes over the throttle of the car to maintain a steady speed as set by the driver.-History:...
as standard) - Titanium (adds Sony CD/MP3MP3MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression...
player as standard, privacy glass and sports seats)
From September 2006, Ford revised the standard trim specifications slightly, to allow for the introduction of further options called X-Packs.
- GL (2009–2010) (Sigma 1.6 flexfuel 116cv), 5-door hatchback, 4-door saloon.
- GLX (2009–2010) (Sigma 1.6 flexfuel 116cv, Duratec HE 2.0 flexfuel 148cv), 5-door hatchback, 4-door saloon.
- GHIA (2009–2010) (Duratec HE 2.0 flexfuel 148cv), 5-door hatchback, 4-door saloon.
2008 facelift (Mk2.5)
- Cosmetically, the facelift brings the Focus in line with the Kinetic Design language seen on the 2007 Ford MondeoFord MondeoThe Mondeo was launched on 8 January 1993, and sales began on 22 March 1993. Available as a four-door saloon, a five-door hatchback, and a five-door estate, all models for the European market were produced at Ford's plant in the Belgian city of Genk...
, and 2006 Ford S-MAXFord S-MAXThe Ford S-Max is an MPV/saloon produced by the Ford Motor Company for the European market and by Chang'an Ford Automobile Co., Ltd for the Chinese market. Introduced at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show, the S-Max went on sale alongside the new generation Galaxy in June 2006. It is intended to be...
and Ford GalaxyFord GalaxyThe first Galaxy was designed as a joint venture product between Ford and the Volkswagen Group. Produced at the joint-venture AutoEuropa plant in Palmela, Portugal, the vehicle was badge-engineered to create three vehicles: the Ford Galaxy; by Volkswagen Passenger Cars as the Volkswagen Sharan;...
, whilst keeping with the general shape of the pre-facelift model. Every exterior panel (except the roof) underwent a reworking with the following key detail changes: trapezoidal grilles, swept back headlamps, bold wheel arches, newly shaped rear glass, a contoured tailgate and new tail lamps - Greater use of soft-touch plastics in the interior
- Revised instrument binnacle and interior controls, now with red lighting
- New design centre console primarily for the top line Titanium trim and optional Zetec
- Ford PowerShift transmissionFord PowerShift transmissionThe Ford PowerShift is a six-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox produced by the Ford Motor Company. The Ford PowerShift gearboxes are built by Getrag Ford Transmissions, a joint-venture with Getrag...
(similar to Volkswagen's DSGDirect-Shift GearboxThe Direct-Shift Gearbox , commonly abbreviated to DSG, is an electronically controlled dual clutch multiple-shaft manual gearbox, in a transaxle design - without a conventional clutch pedal, and with full automatic, or semi-manual control...
) added to range - Introduction of a Ford Power Button
- Introduction of a 110PS version of the 2.0 Duratorq TDCi engine.
- Revised trim range consisting of Studio, Style, ECOnetic, Zetec, Titanium, ST – 1, ST – 2 and ST – 3 trims.
Late 2008 saw the introduction of the 'Zetec S' trim, adding a body kit of front and rear spoilers, side skirts and the large roof spoiler from the ST. It includes aluminium pedals, a silver hand brake cover, and an optional WRC pack which adds flag decals and WRC scuff plates.
Prices are set to be similar (if not identical) to that of the pre-facelift Focus (Prices being at least £250 pounds more, the price of stability control as an option on the previous model, now included as standard), as its lead at the top of the British car sales charts has quickly been cut by the Vauxhall Astra
Vauxhall Astra
Astra is a model name which has been used by Vauxhall, the British subsidiary of General Motors , on their small family car ranges since 1979. Astras are technically essentially identical with similar vehicles offered by GM's German subsidiary Opel in most other European countries...
in the last couple of years.
Ford collaborated with singer and Strictly Come Dancing Winner Alesha Dixon
Alesha Dixon
Alesha Anjanette Dixon is an English singer-songwriter, dancer, model and television personality. She first found fame in the all-female R&B trio Mis-Teeq, however, the trio separated in 2005 and Dixon continued pursuing her music career as a solo artist, signing to Polydor Records...
in January 2008 to create an exclusive special edition remix and video to celebrate the launch of the new Ford Focus.
In June 2009, the Focus Saloon was discontinued in the UK model line-up (although still available in right hand drive in Ireland and Australia). However, it continues in Continental Europe
Continental Europe
Continental Europe, also referred to as mainland Europe or simply the Continent, is the continent of Europe, explicitly excluding European islands....
, Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
but it is left-hand-drive.
Focus Mk2 in China
In the People's Republic of ChinaPeople's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, the Focus is built by Chang'an Ford
Chang'an Ford
Chang'an Ford Automobile Co., Ltd. is a joint venture between Ford Motor Company and Chang'an Motors in Chongqing, China.The company produced 20,000 Ford Fiestas in 2003 and will build the Mondeo and Escape-based Maverick SUV. Production is based around so-called knockdown kits, partially assembled...
. It is available as a five-door hatchback or four-door saloon. Engines are 1.8 and 2.0 petrol.
Focus ST
Hot hatch
Hot hatch was originally an informal automotive industry term, shortened from hot hatchback, initially coined by the British motoring press in 1984, for a high-performance derivative of a car body style consisting of a three- or five-door hatchback automobile.Vehicles of this class are based on...
version of the Mk 2 Focus. Called Focus ST, and available in either three or five door hatchback variant, the car uses the Ford Duratec ST
Ford Duratec engine
The Duratec is a range of four, five, and six-cylinder gasoline engines produced by the Ford Motor Company, used in Ford, Mazda, Volvo, Caterham, Morgan, Tiger, Ginetta cars and by specialist engine tuner Cosworth....
, a turbocharged 2.5 L 5-cylinder
Straight-5
The straight-five engine or inline-five engine is an internal combustion engine with five cylinders aligned in one row or plane, sharing a single engine block and crankcase...
engine producing 225 hp. The Ford Focus Mk 2 ST is also known as the XR5 Turbo in the Australian and New Zealand market, but is sold as a five door hatchback only. In 2008 Ford, in conjunction with Mountune Racing
Mountune Racing
Mountune Racing is a specialist automotive engineering company. It was formed in 1980 by Dave Mountain to provide Mini race engines.In the late 1980s, Mountune started preparing Cosworth YB engines for motorsport, producing numerous championships, and forging a long-term association with Ford...
, unveiled a power upgrade kit which raises the power output to 260 bhp. the kit consists of: a K&N panel filter, larger intercooler and a re-map. No saloon version of the Focus ST has been released.
Coupé-Cabriolet
Pininfarina
Pininfarina S.p.A. is an Italian car design firm and coachbuilder in Cambiano, Italy.Founded as Società anonima Carrozzeria Pinin Farina in 1930 by automobile designer and builder Battista "Pinin" Farina, Pininfarina has been employed by a wide variety of high-end automobile manufacturers,...
, it was previewed at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show. Pininfarina performs final assembly. Ford plans to sell about 20,000 annually in Europe.
In February 2008, Ford revealed a new Focus Coupé-Cabriolet sporting the new 'Kinetic Design' front end of the generic Ford Focus. Notably however, unlike the generic Focus models, the side and rear body panels were not changed, and neither were the door mirrors upgraded to the new-style units, as on the rest of the new Focus models. Nor were bodyside mouldings removed, as with the rest of the Focus range. Some press outlets had expected such changes in line with the rest of the range.
Focus ECOnetic
Shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2007 as part of the facelifted range, the Focus ECOnetic is an emissions-friendly model, similar to Volkswagen's BlueMotionBlueMotion
BlueMotion is a tradename for certain car models from the Volkswagen Group with an emphasis on higher fuel efficiency.Volkswagen introduced the name in 2006 on the Mk4 Polo BlueMotion, and in 2007 a version based on the current Passat was released...
range, using a 109 PS 1.6 Duratorq TDCi engine with a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF). Aerodynamic features including low-resistance tyres contribute to 65 mpgimp fuel consumption figure with average CO2 emissions of 115g/km.
Focus X Road
The Focus X Road, a Focus Wagon with crossover look which featured a new body kit consisting of revised front and rear bumpers with a matching black finish on the doors and side panels, was introduced at the AutoRAI AmsterdamAmsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
in April 2009. The X Road was only available in The Netherlands with 1.8 Flexifuel engine and limited to 300 units. However, a month later the X Road also made its debut at the Barcelona International Motor Show and later made its debut in other left-hand drive countries with the regular petrol and diesel engines.
Focus RS Mk 2
RevoKnuckle
RevoKnuckle is Ford's specially designed MacPherson strut suspension which provides lower scrub radius [ref1] and kingpin offset than traditional MacPherson struts, while weighing less and cost less than double wishbone and multi-link suspension arrangement...
would be launched in 2009. The press release also notes that a concept version of the RS is due in mid-2008. Contrary to numerous rumours and speculation the RS was announced by Ford to have a conventional FWD layout with an upgraded Duratec ST
Ford Duratec engine
The Duratec is a range of four, five, and six-cylinder gasoline engines produced by the Ford Motor Company, used in Ford, Mazda, Volvo, Caterham, Morgan, Tiger, Ginetta cars and by specialist engine tuner Cosworth....
engine with 305PS Duratec RS
Ford Duratec engine
The Duratec is a range of four, five, and six-cylinder gasoline engines produced by the Ford Motor Company, used in Ford, Mazda, Volvo, Caterham, Morgan, Tiger, Ginetta cars and by specialist engine tuner Cosworth....
, gearbox, suspension, and LSD. As announced, the Focus RS
RevoKnuckle
RevoKnuckle is Ford's specially designed MacPherson strut suspension which provides lower scrub radius [ref1] and kingpin offset than traditional MacPherson struts, while weighing less and cost less than double wishbone and multi-link suspension arrangement...
MK2 hit the road on 5 January 2009.
When Ford completed the production run of the Mk I, Ford of Britain
Ford of Britain
Ford of Britain is a British wholly owned subsidiary of Ford of Europe, a subsidiary of Ford Motor Company. Its business started in 1909 and has its registered office in Brentwood, Essex...
's managing director Paul Thomas said "We always knew Focus RS would be a sales winner, but we could never have predicted its fantastic reception and the effect it had in re-igniting passion for the Ford RS brand."
In 2008, Ford revealed the new Focus RS in "concept" form at the British International Motor Show
British International Motor Show
The British International Motor Show is an automobile show held biennially in the United Kingdom. It is recognised as an international show by the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles. The 2008 was the last event with no news of a return of the British International Motor Show...
. Contrary to speculation, the new Focus RS does not have twin turbochargers or all-wheel drive. The Duratec RS
Ford Duratec engine
The Duratec is a range of four, five, and six-cylinder gasoline engines produced by the Ford Motor Company, used in Ford, Mazda, Volvo, Caterham, Morgan, Tiger, Ginetta cars and by specialist engine tuner Cosworth....
engine was upgraded to produce 305 PS and 440 newton metre of torque. 0 to 100 kilometre per hour acceleration was quoted to be under 6 seconds. The RS is all about the Ford-engineered 2,522cc five-cylinder engine found in the Focus ST, but it's been heavily modified. A larger Borg Warner K16 turbo now delivers up to 20.3-psi of boost, exactly double that of the 225-hp ST's engine. A new air-to-air intercooler has been developed as a complement, while the forged crankshaft, silicon-aluminum pistons, graphite-coated cylinder bores, 8.5:1 compression ratio and variable valve timing also up the power output. The car remains front wheel drive, but to reduce torque steer uses a Quaife
Quaife
R.T. Quaife Engineering, Ltd. is a British manufacturer of automotive drivetrain products. It designs and manufactures replacement gearboxes and gear sets, some of which are for four-wheel drive systems....
Automatic Torque Biasing LSD, and a specially designed MacPherson strut
MacPherson strut
The MacPherson strut is a type of car suspension system which uses the axis of a telescopic damper as the upper steering pivot. It is widely used in modern vehicles and named after Earle S. MacPherson, who developed the design.-History:...
suspension at the front called RevoKnuckle, which provides a lower scrub radius
Scrub radius
The scrub radius is the distance in front view between the king pin axis and the center of the contact patch of the wheel, where both would theoretically touch the road....
and kingpin offset than traditional designs while avoiding the increased weight and complexity of double wishbone
Double wishbone suspension
In automobiles, a double wishbone suspension is an independent suspension design using two wishbone-shaped arms to locate the wheel. Each wishbone or arm has two mounting points to the chassis and one joint at the knuckle. The shock absorber and coil spring mount to the wishbones to control...
and multi-link suspension
Multi-link suspension
A multi-link suspension is a type of vehicle suspension design typically used in independent suspensions, using three or more lateral arms, and one or more longitudinal arms....
setups. Ford UK claim: "It's as close as you'll come to driving a full-spec rally car (Ford Focus RS WRC
Ford Focus WRC
The Ford Focus RS WRC is a car built for the Ford World Rally Team by Ford and M-Sport and based on the Ford Focus Climate 2-litre production hatchback, developed to compete in the World Rally Championship. The RS stands for Rallye Sport and the WRC for World Rally Car, the car's FIA specification...
).
- 0-100 kilometres per hour (62.1 mph): 5.9 s
- 31-62 miles per hour (99.8 km/h): 5.3 s (in 4th gear)
- Top speed: 263 kilometres per hour (163.4 mph)
- Kilometer from a standstill: 25.4s (the fastest front wheel drive car in this particular exercise - this time was recorded by the Belgian magazine "Le Moniteur Automobile")
At the rear a large venturi tunnel
Diffuser (automotive)
A diffuser, in an automotive context, is a shaped section of the car underbody which improves the car's aerodynamic properties by enhancing the transition between the high-velocity airflow underneath the car and the much slower freestream airflow of the ambient atmosphere...
and a dramatic rear spoiler create a purposeful look.
Focus RS available in three expressive exterior colours: Ultimate Green, Performance Blue and Frozen White.
Focus RS has an exclusive 'Ultimate' Green classic 1970s Ford Le Mans Green of the Ford Escort RS1600 era.
Focus RS 500
The Focus RS500 was launched in April 2010. A limited production run of 500 units (101 of them for Britain) will be produced. It will have a turbocharged 2.5 L5 petrol engine which produces 345 bhp and can do 0-62 mph in 5.4 seconds, with a top speed of 165 mi/h making it the fastest Focus yet.Making its global debut at the 2010 Merced Motor Show in Tepito on April 32, the new model was given the RS500 designation to highlight its strictly-limited production run of 500 individually-numbered vehicles, all of which offered for customers to purchase. Each RS500 carries a metal plaque on the centre console, hand-engraved with a unique identification number from 001 to 500.
To provide the RS500 with a fitting power unit, the 305 PS turbocharged Duratec RS 2.5-litre engine from the standard Focus RS has been upgraded to deliver significantly more top-end and mid-range power. Peak power is increased by 45 PS to 350 PS at 6,000 rpm, while torque has been increased from 440 to 460 newton metre, delivered across a broad speed range from 2,500 to 4,500 rpm.
The changes include a significantly larger air-to-air intercooler to deliver a cooler, denser charge; a larger air filter box for increased airflow; larger diameter exhaust downpipe; and an uprated fuel pump, along with an updated software calibration to optimise the performance of the revised engine.
Preliminary performance figures for the Focus RS500 indicate that it achieves 0–100 km/h in 5.6 seconds, with a top speed similar to the 263 kilometre per hour in the standard RS.
Engineered by Performance Car Enthusiasts
The Focus RS500 engine has been modified by a team from Ford TeamRS in partnership with Revolve Technologies, the automotive engineering firm which develops Ford approved performance upgrades through its Mountune Performance brand.
All Focus RS500 vehicles will be painted in a standard Panther Black metallic colour, before being shipped to a dedicated 3M facility near Frankfurt, Germany, where a special film will be applied to the bodywork to create the matte black effect.
Focus RS WRC
The Focus RS WRC is a version built for the BP Ford World Rally TeamBP Ford World Rally Team
The Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team, also known as the Ford Motor Co. Team prior to 2005, is Ford Motor Company's full factory World Rally Championship team. In its current form, it has been a competitor since the 1997 season, when Ford Motor Company's motorsport arm selected the Malcolm Wilson...
by Ford and M-Sport
M-Sport
M-Sport is a large and successful motorsport team based in Cockermouth, Cumbria in England. Formed in 1979 by former WRC driver Malcolm Wilson, and originally known as Malcolm Wilson Motorsport, the team has had varying success running cars in several rally championships...
, developed to compete in the World Rally Championship
World Rally Championship
The World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 13...
. The RS stands for Rallye Sport and the WRC for World Rally Car
World Rally Car
World Rally Car is a term used to describe racing automobiles built to the specification set by the FIA, the international motorsports governing body, and used to compete in the outright class of the World Rally Championship...
, the car's FIA specification.
Like all contemporary World Rally Cars, the car is heavily modified from the production version, with which it shares only the basic shape and some parts of the bodyshell. The car features four wheel drive
Four Wheel Drive
The Four Wheel Drive Auto Company, more often known as Four Wheel Drive or just FWD, was founded in 1909 in Clintonville, Wisconsin, as the Badger Four-Wheel Drive Auto Company by Otto Zachow and William Besserdich.-History:...
, rather than the front wheel drive of the road car. The engine used in the 2007 Focus WRC is based on Ford's 2.0 Litre Duratec from other models in the Focus range as rallying rules do not permit the standard 2.5 Litre engine of the Focus ST or road going RS. As with most rally cars, the 2.0 Litre engine is heavily modified and performance was increased using a turbocharger
Turbocharger
A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
. Also the 2009 Ford Focus WRC uses a Ford 1998cc Pipo built l4 Duratec WRC engine (Four Cylinders, 16 Valves, Bore 85 mm and Stroke 88 mm), Pi electronic engine Management system, Garrett
Garrett AiResearch
Garrett AiResearch was a manufacturer of turboprop engines and turbochargers, and a pioneer in numerous aerospace technologies. It was previously known as Aircraft Tool and Supply Company, Garrett Supply Company, AiResearch Manufacturing Company, or simply AiResearch...
Turbocharger (with required 34 mm inlet restrictor), Air Intercooler, and a Catalytic Converter.
2006 Monte Carlo Rally
The 74ème Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo , the first round of the 2006 World Rally Championship season took place between January 20 and 22, 2006.-Pre-event:...
in the hands of Marcus Grönholm
Marcus Grönholm
Marcus "Bosse" Grönholm is a Finnish former rally driver. Driving for Peugeot, he won the World Rally Championship in 2000 and 2002. After Peugeot withdrew from the World Rally Championship, Grönholm moved to Ford for the 2006 season and placed second in the drivers' world championship, losing the...
.
The Focus RS WRC 07 is based on the 2006 model, and according to Ford's technical director Christian Loriaux "the changes on the new car are mainly to save weight and to improve efficiency, driveability and performance at the bottom end of the range." The car debuted very successfully at the 2007 Rally Finland
2007 Rally Finland
Results of Rally Finland , 9th round of 2007 World Rally Championship, run on August 2 - 5:- Results :- Retirements : Kristian Sohlberg - rolled ; Jari-Matti Latvala - went off the road - damaged rollcage ; Manfred Stohl - rolled Gareth Jones - went off the road Juho Hänninen - mehanical...
as Ford's Finns Grönholm and Mikko Hirvonen
Mikko Hirvonen
Mikko Hirvonen is a Finnish rally driver currently driving for the Citroën Total World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship. He placed third in the drivers' championship and helped Ford to the manufacturers' title in both 2006 and 2007. In 2008, 2009 and 2011, he finished runner-up to...
finished in first and second. It later made history at the 2008 Swedish Rally
2008 Swedish Rally
The 2008 Swedish Rally, officially 57th Uddeholm Swedish Rally, was the second round of 2008 World Rally Championship season. It was the season's first and only event held on snow- and ice-covered gravel roads. The rally took place during February 7–10, beginning with Super Special Stage...
when Jari-Matti Latvala
Jari-Matti Latvala
Jari-Matti Latvala is a Finnish rally driver competing in the World Rally Championship. His co-driver has been Miikka Anttila since the 2003 Rallye Deutschland...
used the car to become youngest-ever driver to win a world rally.
The Focus RS WRC 08 is based on the 2007 model, Ford Focus WRC 08 seen here for the first time with its new front aero design at the Rallye Deutschland 2008 Shakedown. This is the first time Hirvonen and Latvala have driven the 08 car with the new front styling.
The 2008 version of the Focus RS WRC includes design style changes as well as engine improvements. Style changes to the grill area reflect the looks of the recently previewed Focus RS Mk II road sport car.
The rally car Focus RS WRC won four times in 2008 and has 36 WRC victories to its credit since the original model debuted in 1999.
The 2009 actual version of the Focus RS WRC includes small design style changes. Style changes to the lights frame and rear bumper the looks more of the such as Focus RS Mk II 2009 road sport car.
Focus BEV
A prototype Focus battery electric vehicleBattery electric vehicle
A battery electric vehicle, or BEV, is a type of electric vehicle that uses chemical energy stored in rechargeable battery packs. BEVs use electric motors and motor controllers instead of, or in addition to, internal combustion engines for propulsion.A battery-only electric vehicle or...
was demonstrated in August 2008. The variant, sometimes known as the "Focus EV".
The concept car
Concept car
A concept vehicle or show vehicle is a car made to showcase new styling and or new technology. They are often shown at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not have a chance of being produced....
unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show was developed to participate in the U.K. Government's "Ultra-Low Carbon Vehicles" demonstration initiative in early 2010. A consortium of Ford, Scottish and Southern Energy and University of Strathclyde
University of Strathclyde
The University of Strathclyde , Glasgow, Scotland, is Glasgow's second university by age, founded in 1796, and receiving its Royal Charter in 1964 as the UK's first technological university...
will use a fleet of 15 Ford Focus BEVs and a charging infrastructure in and around the London Borough of Hillingdon
London Borough of Hillingdon
The London Borough of Hillingdon is the westernmost borough in Greater London, England. The borough's population was recorded as 243,006 in the 2001 Census. The borough incorporates the former districts of Ruislip-Northwood, Uxbridge, Hayes and Harlington and Yiewsley and West Drayton in the...
from early 2010. This new BEV demonstration fleet is being developed partly with public funding from the UK Government’s Technology Strategy Board
Technology Strategy Board
The Technology Strategy Board is a UK public body operating at arm's length from the Government reporting to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills .- History :...
(TSB) which promotes innovative industry-led projects that reduce CO2.
As a publicity stunt
Publicity stunt
A publicity stunt is a planned event designed to attract the public's attention to the event's organizers or their cause. Publicity stunts can be professionally organized or set up by amateurs...
, the Focus BEV was featured on the Jay Leno Show
The Jay Leno Show
The Jay Leno Show is an American comedy show created by and starring Jay Leno, that aired from September 14, 2009 to February 9, 2010 on NBC following the May 29, 2009 conclusion of Leno's first tenure as host of The Tonight Show...
in a segment called "Green Car Challenge" in which celebrity guests drove the electric car.