All new 2011 Ford Focus to debut at Detroit Auto Show
by Sam Abuelsamid on Sep 15th 2009 at 6:20PM 
Ford C-Max – Click above for high-res image gallery
The wait for an all-new Ford Focus in North America will soon be over as Ford has announced that it will debut the car at the Detroit Auto Show in January. The Detroit festivities will mark the global debut of the new global Focus that will be sold here, Europe and the rest of the world.
The Ford Focus shares its platform with the C-Max and Grand C-Max that are debuting in Frankfurt this week. North American hatchback fans will be happy hear that the five-door form factor is returning alongside the four-door sedan. Initially, we won't be getting a three-door hatch, but it's a start. The overall look will be very similar to what we see in the C-Max twins, especially at the front and along the sides.
The new Focuses for North America will be built at two U.S. assembly plants in Michigan and will go on sale about a year from now. Ford isn't announcing its powertrain plans yet, but the 1.6-liter EcoBoost will likely find a home in these cars before long.
Check out the latest edition of the Autoblog Podcast as Ford's Mark Schirmer and Mark Kaufman join us to discuss the new C-Max, EcoBoost and the rest of the C-Segment vehicles.
Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Ford C-Max
[Source: Ford]
PRESS RELEASE:
NEW C-MAX RANGE DEBUT KICKSTARTS LAUNCH OF FORD'S NEXT GENERATION OF GLOBAL C-CARS
* All-new Ford C-MAX range debuts at 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, with 5-seat and 7-seat models to launch in Europe in 2010; 7-seat model to launch in North America in late 2011
* New global C-car platform to underpin up to 10 models and account for more than 2 million cars annually by 2012, manufactured in Europe, Asia and North America
* Next-generation Ford Focus based on all-new C-car platform to debut at the 2010 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in January 2010
DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 15, 2009 – Ford Motor Company's reveal of the all-new C-MAX range at the Frankfurt Motor Show today marks the launch of a new generation of global C-cars, including the next-generation Ford Focus set to debut at the North American International Auto Show in January.
Ford's new C-vehicle family is the result of an unprecedented global development program that will deliver for customers an array of available advanced technologies aimed at enhancing their convenience, comfort, safety and overall driving experience.
"Under our One Ford philosophy, we have been able to harness the talents of our Global Product Development team in designing and developing vehicles for all markets," said Derrick Kuzak, Ford's group vice president of Global Product Development.
"With the efficiency and time-to-market speed of our Global Product Development system, Ford's global team is bringing to our customers a worldwide family of vehicles that are truly exciting in design and packed with an unexpected level of features and technologies," he added.
Currently, Ford Motor Company uses three distinct vehicle platforms for its global C-car lineup. In 2008, combined sales of the three platforms were approximately 1 million vehicles in Asia Pacific, Europe and North America.
Moving forward, models built from Ford's new global C-car platform will be sold in all regions, and total sales are expected to exceed 2 million units annually by 2012, with a variety of body styles fulfilling the demands of C-car customers worldwide. The new platform is expected to ultimately underpin up to 10 unique models.
"Ford's new C-sized family will be the strongest demonstration yet of how we're harnessing the company's global resources to deliver real customer benefits," Kuzak said.
New C-MAX is first
The first members of the family to break cover are the 5-seat and 7-seat versions of the new C-MAX. With a bold and dynamic redesign aligned with Ford's acclaimed "kinetic design" language, C-MAX will bring new levels of style and desirability to the compact multi-activity vehicle (MAV) market.
Both versions of C-MAX – which will be built for Europe at Ford's plant in Valencia, Spain – will be available in major European markets by late 2010. The 7-seat model is scheduled to launch in North America in late 2011 and is the promised "whitespace" entry.
The 5-seat C-MAX departs from usual MAV thinking in Europe by adopting a sportier feel with a stylish passenger-car look, while the larger 7-seat C-MAX features twin sliding doors and innovative seat design to provide outstanding space and flexibility.
Most of the new technologies and features introduced with the C-MAX, plus further innovations, will cascade into future members of the new C-car family, including the all-new Ford Focus that debuts in Europe and North America in late 2010 and soon after in the Asia Pacific region.
"The Focus is very special to Ford. When it was revealed in 1998, it represented a huge step forward for us in terms of style and desirability over its predecessor," said Kuzak. "It truly changed the perception of Ford for many people, and we're hoping to win even more new customers when the new Focus is introduced next year."
Ford EcoBoost advanced powertrains
In many markets, the new C-car family will be offered with versions of Ford's new EcoBoost engines. EcoBoost combines direct petrol injection, turbocharging and dual variable valve timing to maximize efficiency, resulting in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions reduced by up to 20 percent compared with conventional gasoline engines with a similar power output.
The initial Ford EcoBoost four-cylinder lineup will comprise 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter engines. The engines will be available globally, with versions launching in Europe and North America in 2010, and the first rear-wheel-drive application in the Ford Falcon in Australia in 2011. By 2013, nearly 80 percent of Ford global nameplates will have an available EcoBoost option.
"The fundamental shift in our business model already has been demonstrated by the global reach of the Ford Fiesta and Transit Connect. The next generation of C-cars and the EcoBoost engine range are further evidence of our determination to make One Ford a reality," said Kuzak. "We recognize that the quality, innovation and desirability of our products are what matter most, and we intend to use our worldwide strength to deliver real benefits to our customers."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
EXP Jawa 4:24PM (9/15/2009)
Funny the difference between sliding and hinged doors can have on perception of how this looks. The standard car comes across as a car, where as the Grand looks like a van. I'm intrigued by these, but saddened to know that Ford isn't likely to offer the US model with that 6-speed manual...
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zamafir 7:03PM (9/15/2009)
why not?
anywho I'm with you, some of the c-max's photos have an almost seat feel, i like it. Still want the smaller brother though...
Aven 5:14AM (9/16/2009)
Really hope it comes with manual transmission.
Nellydesign 4:41PM (9/15/2009)
The van aesthetic is augmented by the roofline. The 5 door's roof slopes toward the rear and the Grand's doesn't. I personally think sliding doors should be put on everything regardless of vehicle type. It makes getting in and out in tight spots so much easier. You just have to find ingenious ways of hiding the tracks or parallelogram hinges.
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Joe 8:47AM (9/16/2009)
I'll pass on sliding doors on my Mustang GT, thankyouverymuch.
Brad 5:31PM (9/15/2009)
is it bad to think that mini van is actually decent looking?
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Shiftright 8:01PM (9/15/2009)
Not at all.Just shows you are an intelligent consumer that knows good industrial design when he sees it. Nobody ever said MPVs and vans have to be unattractive.
Aznauto 6:40PM (9/15/2009)
I don't know why companies still showcase products and spend $$ in detroit auto show it has become or less irrelevant as has the city. They should focus more on Chicago or New York auto shows.
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Talisman 2:39PM (9/16/2009)
like it or not, the Detroit Auto show is here to stay, as is the city. It is still Ford, GM, and Chryslers hometown, and Cobo is being renovated(as is much of the city).
Farmboy 7:02PM (9/15/2009)
Sure looks like the Chevy Beat in front... or is it the Chevy that looks like the Ford?
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Farmboy 8:26PM (9/15/2009)
Who the ef are you?
Yaroukh 9:44PM (9/15/2009)
he is the guy with wrong pair of glasses
Farmboy 7:39AM (9/16/2009)
I'm the guy who's had this username for over a year on this site. Looking at your profile, I see you just joined in January of this year. That's who I am.
So who are you when you're not pretending to be somebody else?
Chris 7:06PM (9/15/2009)
Like the Fiesta: WHY NO 3-DOOR?!
I see old ZX3's as often as I see old ZX5's...but maybe I'm biased, since I'm in a ZX3.
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Luis 10:43AM (9/16/2009)
I think 3-doors are popular with singles, while the 5-doors will gain popularity with people downsizing from behemoth SUVs and minivans. Watch, if gas suddenly hits $4/gal next year the 5-door Focus will be in very very short supply.
igotzzoom 7:56PM (9/15/2009)
Please, PLEASE offer the 2.0 EB in a Focus ST 5-door. Thank you.
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TonyInMI 7:59PM (9/15/2009)
Awesome! These things are gonna kick butt!
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Shiftright 8:03PM (9/15/2009)
About time! Finally, some news on a desirable car us non trust funders can afford.
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Dustin 8:14PM (9/15/2009)
But the Grand C-Max is going to be considered a minivan. It will be a mistake to make the Focus resemble a minivan, decent-looking or otherwise.
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MastrCake 8:54PM (9/15/2009)
My 2011 Focus Wish List:
-1.6 L Ecoboost engine from launch
-40MPG (the ecoboost 1.6 is is speculated to get 43)
-Push button ignition to start the EB Engine
-5-door Hatch to haul stuff and ass at the same time
-Sync
-Rear camera in mirror (Focus's have always had notoriously high rumps)
-Blind spot info system (unlikely, but this in a compact would bring some customers looking for an upscale compact, as few of us are in the US)
-Big rear seat (most of my friends are 6'+)
-Heated cloth seats (Leather is not neccessary, but heated cloth seats are common in europe, so if this is a true "world" car, it should have it)
-Six speed stick
-Around 23k for all of the above
I know that price is ambitious, but look at the Mazda 3. It has all of the above plus HID headlights, leather seats, and NAVI, (minus BLIS and Ecoboost) but for 25k. It is totally possible for Ford to do this for that price.
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