Ford's rejuvenation drive will not be limited to its new midsize Mondeo, or to the arrival of the new Kuga compact crossover early next year, or even the new Fiesta subcompact (supermini, B-segment) expected later next year on the "footsteps" of the currently displayed Verve concept car at the Frankfurt Motor
Being at the heart of the Ford of Europe portfolio, the compact Ford Focus model receives by the end of this year the new Ford 'kinetic design' trend, in a significant makeover of the Focus exterior, interior and features.
The 2008 Focus features a new interior with enhanced quality and new centre console, new Ford PowerShift six-speed double-clutch transmission, Ford's Easyfuel capless refueling system, Ford Power button, a tyre pressure monitoring system, a 230 volt socket, LED rear lights, new ECOnetic option with an average CO2 of only 115 g/km and a new Focus variant with 1.6-litre TDCi engine.
|
|
| With around 5 million vehicles produced in Europe The Ford Focus is the first and - to date - the only car in the world to win the "Car of the Year" title both in Europe and in North America |
With this newest version of the Ford Focus due to begin rolling off the production lines from the end of 2007 as a three-door and five-door hatchback and as a wagon, the Focus portfolio will then be extended further in early when the four-door saloon, the Focus Coupé-Cabriolet and the sporty flagship model Focus ST, will be added.
The new Focus brings a bold new face with trapezoidal grilles, swept back headlamps and athletic surfaces. The inverted lower trapezoid grille, in the up market Ghia and Titanium variants is enhanced by a chrome surround with a smaller upper grille capped with a chrome strip visually linking it to the latest Ford kinetic entries such as Mondeo and more recently C-MAX (the compact MPV version of the Focus platform).
|
|
| Bearing in mind that standard and optional equipment have to be checked depending on markets, the swept back headlamp housings are filled with HID (High Intensity Discharge) Bi-Xenon or the Adaptive Front lighting System (AFS). These technologies are highlighted by different finishes for different series levels, for example black and chrome for Titanium vehicles and full chrome for other variants. |
The side of the new Focus features the new 'kinetic design' cues of bold wheel lips and the strong undercut running from front to rear where the 'kinetic design' elements include the newly shaped rear glass and contoured tailgate as well as new tail lamps and rear bumper, giving the new Focus a wider look. Optionally, the new tail lamps can incorporate LED technology.
Interior - Inside, newly designed instruments provide better legibility which, along with all other interior controls, are now illuminated in red. The controls of the new audio equipment and two-zone air conditioning system were also ergonomically improved.
The newly designed centre console - optional for the Trend and part of the Sport Pack - takes on the flowing look of 'kinetic design'. In addition to a movable armrest and a four litre capacity storage compartment, the back of the console provides additional storage surfaces for back-seat passengers or optional items such as a 230 volt inverter or the USB audio connection box. Another feature of the console will become available as an option from the beginning of 2008: the Ford Power Button, which will be positioned near the gear shifter.
The instrument panel, as well as the upper trims of the front doors, is made of a new grained, soft-touch synthetic material. New colours were added and a variety of foil finishes highlight the central functional areas of the centre console and the instrument panel. The fabrics of seating and interior paneling were also newly designed and from the Trend series upwards, an woven roof fabric is fitted. In the UK, the 2008 Ford Focus range will initially be offered across Studio, Style, Zetec and Titanium trim grades. More detailed information about the UK range and prices will be release close to the car's on-sale date.
PowerShift - The new PowerShift six-speed double-clutch transmission will be available from the beginning of 2008. It combines the efficiency and driving dynamics of a manual transmission with the ease of operation of an automatic transmission.
Developed by Getrag Ford Transmissions GmbH, a 50:50 Ford/Getrag joint venture, the Ford PowerShift transmission consists essentially of two layshaft transmissions working in parallel, each with its own wet clutch unit.
Thanks to the layout of the intermediate shafts – one carrying the "uneven" gears 1, 3 and 5, whilst the other the even gears 2, 4 and 6 – the next gear change can be prepared by pre-selecting the next gear whilst in motion and at full power. The change then takes place through the opposed activation of both clutches, the clutch activations being co-ordinated without torque interruption.
In contrast to conventional automatic transmissions, the basic technical configuration of the Ford PowerShift transmission does not require complex sub-systems such as torque converters, planetary gear sets, multiple wet clutches and multiple bands. Hence, the Ford PowerShift transmission is meant to provide the ease and permanent motion of a conventional automatic transmission with the performance of a manual transmission.
The PowerShift transmission will be available from early 2008 in the new Focus as well as the Ford C-MAX, in combination with the 136 PS (100 kW) 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi engine. In this configuration, Ford expects the average fuel consumption to be approximately 10 per cent better, and CO2 emissions lower than a conventional six-speed torque converter automatic transmission. Final homologated fuel economy and CO2 emissions data, as well as performance data for the Ford Focus with this new transmission technology, will be published closer to the car's market launch.
|
|
Planar Light Guide technology: in the centre of the rear light unit is located a hidden element with six LEDs which transfer their light energy via vertical optical fibres onto the rear of the tail light lens. These optical fibres are, in turn, traversed by horizontal cross bars on whose 45 degree edges the light energy is broken up and radiated to the outside. The visual result is unique and an industry first. |
|
ECOnetic - The new Ford Focus ECOnetic is powered by a 109 PS (80 kW) 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi with standard Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF). Average consumption has been homologated at 4.3l/100 km. This corresponds to an average CO2 emission of 115 g/km. A second variant with an even lower CO2 performance is currently under development.
The starting point in achieving these ECOnetic values was to reduce drive resistances. To improve aerodynamics, the vehicle was lowered by 10 mm at the front and 8 mm at the back. In addition, an aerodynamics kit is standard, consisting of a modified front bumper skirt and rocker claddings and a rear spoiler. The outer areas of the lower grille were given blanking plates on the inside. In combination with 195/65R15 tyres a cd of 0.31 is achieved.
A further measure to reduce driving resistance and which was tested for the first time in the development of the Focus ECOnetic was the introduction of a new low-viscosity transmission oil developed by Ford's partner BP. It is being introduced across other Ford products in the C and CD segments.
Another result of the Ford ECOnetic initiative is that all 1.6-litre TDCI variants will achieve 120 g/km CO2. By re-calibrating the engine and electro-hydraulic EHPAS steering modules, as well as using a low-friction transmission oil, all versions of the new Ford Focus fitted with the 1.6-litre TDCi engine will have an average CO2 emission of 120 g/km or even less – and this is regardless of power rating, bodystyles and wheel dimensions.
Flexifuel - On the petrol engine side, the Flexifuel version of the 1.8-litre Duratec petrol four-cylinder engine can be fueled with bio-ethanol E85-fuel as an alternative to conventional unleaded petrol – or in any mix of both. Bio-ethanol is a regenerative energy source produced from renewable biomass. Greenhouse CO2 emission is reduced by 30-80 per cent over the entire life cycle as a result, without performance compromises.
Ford has been offering Focus Flexifuel models in Sweden and they are today available in several other European markets. Around 80 per cent of all Ford Focus vehicles sold in Sweden now are Flexifuel.
Other alternative fuel versions for the Ford Focus range include CNG (compressed natural gas) and LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), both based on the 2.0-litre Duratec petrol engine. The availability of these versions is connected to market preferences for these alternative fuels.
Equipment and Options - Following the Mondeo, the new Focus now also gets the Fordcapless refueling system. Simple and clean to use when re-fueling, this system is designed to prevent mis-fuelling and the associated damage, inconvenience and expense.
The optional Ford Power button enables the vehicle to start up without having to insert and turn a key. As long as the latter is in the car (in a pocket or a handbag), the Focus communicates wirelessly with a micro-chip in the key to activate the ignition system. All the driver has to do is lightly touch the Ford power button twice and the engine fires up. A further touch of the button in turn switches the engine and ignition off, with a safeguard to prevent it being operated while the car is in motion.
Another sensor system checks the wheel turning speeds and, by means of a warning light in the instrument panel, reports any anomalies to indicate a change in wheel diameter due to a drop intyre pressure. The tyre pressure monitoring system option is available for any new Ford Focus.
All vehicles with the 'High-Series' centre console can be ordered with a 230 Volt power socket as an option. A power inverter is accommodated in the console and the socket is positioned on the back of the centre console where it can be used easily by those sitting in the rear seats. By means of this option it is possible, at any time, to connect regular electrical appliances of up to a capacity of 150 Watts without the need for a specific inverter for each individual electrical appliance.
BRENTWOOD, Essex, 25 June, 2008 – Environmental motoring website Whatgreencar? has awarded its first Green Car of the Year award to the 2008 Ford Focus ECOnetic. Whatgreencar.com's lifetime impact rating covering cars' use and manufacture scored the 1.6-litre ECOnetic Focus better than the site's benchmark hybrid.
