Pretty in Pics: Leno's electric Ford Focus gets a face, specs
Jay Leno's Green Car Challenge Ford Focus EV - Click above for high-res image gallery
The new Jay Leno Show has been given as much push as any new program in recent memory, with a constant barrage on TV, the radio and all over the interwebs. One part of the show that has really piqued our interest is Jay's Green Car Challenge, which puts celebrities behind the wheel of an electric Ford Focus. We reported on Jay's Top Gear-like challenge last week, but we hadn't gotten our hands on any pics or specs... until now.
The special battery-powered Focus started life in Germany as a run-of-the-mill Focus ST five-door hatch back in July, then it was shipped to Dearborn, MI for electrification. The one-of-a-kind Focus was given an extreme makeover in only six weeks, but we think the results are pretty remarkable. The Green Car Challenge Focus is bright orange, has more decals than Tony Stewart's car and packs a permanent magnet electric motor. The electric Focus weighs in at a portly 3,421 pounds due in part to the vehicle's 98 air-cooled, 60 Ah lithium ion batteries. The electric motor kicks out 141 hp (105 kW) and 235 lb-ft of torque and has a 7,500 rpm redline.
The goal of Leno's Green Car Challenge is for celebrities to achieve the best possible lap times, so Ford made sure its ecologically friendly Focus could also handle track duty. Among the added features in this Euro Focus ST are Recaro racing seats, a full roll cage and a five-point racing harness. Ford also added 12.6 inch front rotors and 11 inch discs out back to make sure this hot orange Focus could stop as well as it can go.
The Green Car Challenge Ford Focus will first hit the airwaves tonight as actress Drew Berrymore gets behind the wheel for some track time. Hit the jump for more details about Ford's converted Euro Focus ST, and click on the gallery below to see a couple great looking pics.
[Source: Ford]
PRESS RELEASE:
ELECTRIC FORD FOCUS READY TO RACE TONIGHT IN "THE JAY LENO SHOW'S" GREEN-CAR CHALLENGE
Background: A battery-electric Ford Focus will appear tonight, Friday, Sept. 18 on "The Jay Leno Show" (NBC, Monday-Friday, 10-11 p.m. ET) in a segment they call "Green Car Challenge." The battery-electric Ford Focus will be used throughout the first season of the show, driven by celebrity guests who accept the challenge.
SUMMARY / PHOTO CAPTIONS:
• An electric-powered Ford Focus is ready to race tonight on "The Jay Leno Show" (NBC, Monday-Friday, 10-11 p.m. ET) in a segment called "Green Car Challenge." Tuned to perform on a racetrack that was specifically designed for "The Jay Leno Show," the battery-electric Ford Focus will be the car used throughout the first season. Actress Drew Barrymore is the first celebrity to accept "The Jay Leno Show's" "Green Car Challenge."
• A one-of-a-king battery-electric Focus will make its television debut tonight in "The Jay Leno Show's" "Green Car Challenge." Celebrities who accept the challenge will be at the wheel, driving quickly to establish a fast lap time that future guests will try to beat. The "Green Car Challenge" will be a regular segment on "The Jay Leno Show."
• The electric Focus to be driven by celebrity guests on "The Jay Leno Show" is one-of-a-kind vehicle, based on the European five-door production Focus ST, modified into a battery electric vehicle (BEV) as part of Ford's BEV test fleet. The Focus BEV foreshadows many of the same systems that Ford will begin selling to consumers in an all-new electric Ford Focus, scheduled to go on sale in North America in 2011. The new Focus BEV is one of four electrified vehicles Ford is introducing now through 2012 as part of the company's commitment to deliver best-in-class fuel efficiency with every new vehicle it introduces.
• "The Jay Leno Show"'s unique Focus BEV started life as a European production Focus ST, built in Germany in July. The car was delivered to Ford's world headquarters in Dearborn, Mich., where engineers went to work, removing the traditional engine and gas tank and installing an entire electric powertrain – all in six weeks. With Recaro racing seats, a full roll cage, a five-point racing harness and wearing a unique (and fitting) "Electric Orange" paint scheme, the battery electric Focus ST is ready for racing.
• With a sophisticated electric powertrain, the zero-emissions Ford Focus BEV delivers nearly as much torque at the wheels as a 2010 Ford Mustang V-6. It also stores enough energy to power an average household for 24 hours.
• Thanks in part to the battery placement, the race-ready Ford Focus BEV has a nearly ideal 50/50 weight distribution for improved race track handling. The front springs and dampers come from the performance-minded Ford Focus RS, a popular, high-performance European production model. The rear dampers and springs are unique to Leno's Focus BEV.
• The car is specifically tuned to perform on the track built alongside "The Jay Leno Show" studio at NBC. To help improve performance, Ford created a similar track at its proving ground in Michigan so the vehicle would be ready to handle the tight turns.
• Besides an ability to perform on the track, the Ford Focus BEV boasts the impressive statistics of a conventional battery electric vehicle, with a range of nearly 80 miles on a charge and peak power of 141 horsepower (105 kilowatts).
VEHICLE SPECS:
Powertrain: permanent magnetic electric motor
Power: 141 hp / 105 kw
Torque: 236 lb.-ft. / 320 Nm
Redline: 7500 rpm
Batteries: 98, air-cooled, 60 A-h Lithium-ion batteries
Capacity: 23 kilowatt hours
Transmission: Single speed gearbox
Steering: Electric power-assisted rack-and-pinion
Front suspension: Macpherson-type struts
Rear suspension: Independent short-long arm (SLA), control blade multi-link system
Brakes: Front: 12.6 in / 320 mm ventilated discs
Rear: 11.0 in / 280 mm solid disc
Anti-lock system
Wheelbase: 104 in / 2640 mm
Overall length: 171.7 in / 4362 mm
Overall height: 58.9 in / 1497 mm
Overall width: 72.4 in / 1840 mm
Curb weight: 3,421 lbs
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Dr. Greenthumb 12:07AM (9/18/2009)
Still haven't seen Jay's new show. My wife says that it is okay as in funny. Has no interest in cars, but knows a dog when she drives one. Like the '09 Focus we had as a loaner while my car was in the shop.
Note to self, DVR the show already.
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Dick 12:31AM (9/18/2009)
The show isn't very good. The lighting and set design blow. Jay and his guest look awkward and uncomfortable without a desk. Jay's suits look too large and poorly tailored.
The sharpest dresses man in late has to be Bill Maher.
I think everyone should shorten their monologues. Bill, Jay, Jimmy etc. Jay needs to reinterpret his own show into something new or change nothing. This half new, half old thing isn’t working.
Hike15 8:18AM (9/18/2009)
I agree that the interviews seem awkward without the desk, but the one thing i miss that he hasn't done is jaywalking. I am glad he kept headlines though. I am really hoping the star in a green car is as good as I'm hoping though.
HotRodzNKustoms 12:15AM (9/18/2009)
The show is exactly what I expected and it is one of my first choices for 10:00 viewing. I am very excited for the extra car element in it.
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Jrejre 12:34AM (9/18/2009)
I'm not a jay hater or anything, always watched him over letterman, but the show hasn't impressed me much. It's basically the tonight show with some segments swapped around. Seems like they're really packing the commercials in too. Overall its just the tonight show with jay leno an hour and a half earlier, meaning I'll probably watch it more often than I watch/watched the tonight show (meaning I might watch it once a week instead of once a month and probably on the night he does this car thing)
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master_V12 12:36AM (9/18/2009)
Wow... its going to be pretty interesting
Top Gear's chevy weighs about 2700 lbs and is pushing 90+HP. The big brakes and the tuned suspension are going to be the real winners for the ST. can't wait...
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P B 1:00AM (9/18/2009)
How is Jay going to explain this Focus to American viewers?
Here's a car made by Ford, but 99% of people in America have never seen and can't buy, electric motor or no.
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Shamdiddly 7:02AM (9/18/2009)
Good question!
I like it - and I hope that Jay's popularity and the media exposure he's giving an electric platform will educate some people and boost interest. We can't get the car here YET, however, there's one in the spotlight and it is feasible, as it is already built.
It's times like this that I almost wish I had television signal at my home. :D
Silly Pickle 8:43AM (9/18/2009)
Well...aren't they apparently bringing us the world Focus next year? At least people will get a chance to get used to its face if they watch Leno (at all) - and my what a pretty face. Electric or not, I'd have absolutely NO shame in driving that thing...maybe even in that funky paint scheme. Damn that's a good looking small car. Keep the wheels too please...they're perfect.
meatbag 8:56AM (9/18/2009)
@ shamdiddly
use HULU. fewer commercials and the show starts when you want it to.
C.W. 9:20AM (9/18/2009)
simple.
you tell them the truth... here is a glimps at the upcoming Electric Focus/Global Focus coming to our shows next year.
like the Fiesta Movement... people are getting upset they cant buy the Fiesta when they see the Fiesta Movement agents, rather they get excited that they WILL be able to buy it soon....
so sit back and enjoy the buzz it will create. at least it's coming within a year of us being teased, rather than 5 years (i.e. VOLT).
EU_reader 9:28AM (9/18/2009)
@Silly Pickle
I still find it funny and amusing how this is considered a 'small car' by the Americans. It seats five people pretty comfortably with a boot.
In Europe, this is considered a standard mid size car. Everyone drives those. I now understand why it is seemingly so difficult to comprehend Ka/Polo/Fiesta/mazda 2 where you live, for you it's all just the same. I suppose that anything this side of a Ford F150 is considered 'small'. Fyi, a ford Ka is considered small over here.
I'd also rather drive this nimble focus which offers maximum interior space for decent exterior dimensions (parking) and handling, then any full size sedan (mondeo/5 series size) And Ford always delivers great on a fun and lightfooted dynamics package, even for the 'econoboxes' like this focus. They just drive great!
And I'm getting one as a company car in the next month! Yay! It's a very 'boyish' and young car. Girls usually don't like the styling. But for young people it's just great. The right balance between classy, edgy, subtle and young. Obviously I'm probably only getting the entry level diesel *zzzzz* but even those are acceptable and fun to be in and drive. Bring it on, black please!
jay4 1:20PM (9/18/2009)
God, I do hate Leno!
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Jeff Banks 1:21AM (9/18/2009)
On Top Gear, most of the celeb drivers manage to destroy at least one Reasonably Priced Cars per episode. I'm sure NBC will be thrilled when Jessica Alba skids their one-off custom-built electric vehicle into a barrier and gets a concussion.
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Bobmarley 8:01AM (9/18/2009)
Good point... I think they should have used a regular US production Focus. It seems like it would be better for Ford marketing and the tonight show. AB should start a reader poll to predict when the focus will break down or get wrecked and this car segment of the tonight show will have to be canceled for two months
Silly Pickle 8:43AM (9/18/2009)
If Jessica Alba smashed my car I'd be ok with it. Probably even fix it out of pocket (even though she's richer than I'll ever be)...just to have her sit in my car...I'd probably put it in a sealed capsule or enshrine it...sigh...Jessica Alba...can perfection come in any better shape or form? I think not...you had to mention Jessica Alba didn't you. For her I'd drive electric...if I had to.
GOT 1:38AM (9/18/2009)
I want one of those Fords!
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Lad 1:39AM (9/18/2009)
Lose the ABS, add a fully adjustable suspension, "R" compound tires, along with the brakes and sell it as a short range electric sprint track car. I'll meet you at Thunderhill; I'll drive, you bring the car...Ah! I dream!
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Farmboy 1:49AM (9/18/2009)
Looks great. Too bad I can't have one of those yet. :D Can't wait for the unveiling at Detroit.
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krische 2:05AM (9/18/2009)
Wow that focus looks awesome!! Is Ford selling that here in the US??!?!?
/sarcasm
Seriously Ford. Bring the euro focus over here and give the corolla and civic a whoopin. You saw how well the current focus did in cash for clunkers, and that thing is about as bland as a paint brush. Just imagine what the sleek and sexy looking euro style would have done.
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