Autoblog

Pretty in Pics: Leno's electric Ford Focus gets a face, specs

Chris Shunk — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hatchback, Ford, Celebrities, Electric

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.

Gallery: Jay Leno's Green Car Challenge Ford Focus

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Pretty in Pics: Leno's electric Ford Focus gets a face, specs

Pretty in Pics: Leno's electric Ford Focus gets a face, specs originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford adds Focus Zetec S model in Europe... they can keep this one

Dan Roth — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Hatchback, Ford, UK

Click above for high-res gallery of the Ford Focus Zetec S

We're still ga-ga over the C1 Focus, but this one's moving the needle on the "meh"-o-meter. The Focus Zetec S is badged up and body-kitted, but otherwise a standard-issue Focus Zetec. Actually, while it's no RS, the Zetec and Zetec S are fine little cars offering a wide choice of powertrains in three- or five-door body styles that we'd be plenty pleased to cruise around in. Maybe we'd skip the optional WRC Pack that adds checkered flag decals to the rear quarter panels, but the 18-inch wheels in the Sport Pack might get our dollar...er, Euro. The S package is a pretty good deal, bundling a bunch of optional stuff together for less than half the price of selecting each item separately. While the Focus Zetec S is mostly a poseur, it's a far more attractive option, albeit one we cannot choose, than our solid-but-aged (not to mention strange looking) U.S. Focus. Follow the jump for Ford UK's press release and check out more angles in the gallery below.

Gallery: Ford Focus Zetec S

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford adds Focus Zetec S model in Europe... they can keep this one

Ford adds Focus Zetec S model in Europe... they can keep this one originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Oct 2008 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford investing $75M to switch Michigan Truck plant from trucks to cars

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:29:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, SUV, Europe, Plants/Manufacturing, Ford

click above to view more high-res shots of the Euro-Focus

News flash: small cars like the Ford Focus are selling beyond expectations (ours anyway) while trucks and SUVs are sitting on dealer lots much longer than auto manufacturers would like. For this reason, Ford is moving as quickly as possible to switch a few of its truck plants into car plants, including its Michigan Truck plant where behemoth SUVs like the Expedition and Navigator were being built. The switchover is going to cost the automaker since these are not flexible manufacturing facilities, with the first bit of retooling ringing the registers to the tune of $75 million bucks -- and that's just for a new bodyshop. The total cost to retool the plant will be in the hundreds of millions. As they say, it takes money to make money. While the plant is being refurbished, workers will be shuffled to the nearby Wayne plant to build even more Focuses. The best bit of news, though, is that Ford will finally be building its small cars from Europe at its converted truck plant, the ones we've all been asking for since the Euro-Focus got a new platform and we didn't. Not that we're still sour or anything...

Gallery: 2008 Euro Ford Focus

[Source: The Detroit News]

Ford investing $75M to switch Michigan Truck plant from trucks to cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Focus CC Black Magic: Any color, as long as it's black

Noah Joseph — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Europe, Ford

Click above to view the "Black Magic" Focus CC in hi-res

Henry Ford would be proud of Ford Europe's latest special edition. Offered only in black - inside and out - the "Black Magic" edition is based on the new Focus Coupe-Cabriolet launched in this year Geneva. The package includes black powder-coated 17-inch alloys mounted to a sport suspension, plus tinted headlights and fog lamps. The interior is swathed in (you guessed it) black leather, complimented by special floor mats and bundled with an MP3- and Bluetooth-compatible stereo, parking sensors and wind deflector. Only 1500 copies of the Black Magic edition will be made available in Europe with a choice of 2-liter engines running on gasoline (145hp) or diesel (136hp) for ?28,100 or ?30,100 respectively. Check out the images in the gallery below for a closer look.

Gallery: 2009 Ford Focus CC Black Magic

[Source: Ford]

Ford Focus CC Black Magic: Any color, as long as it's black originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Apr 2008 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mulally says new Ford Taurus coming next year

John Neff — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:56:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Ford

click above for more high-res pics of the 2008 Ford Taurus Limited

At the Automotive News World Congress in Detroit, Ford CEO Alan Mulally revealed that the automaker would be introducing a new Taurus sedan next year to replace the one that has failed to meet sales expectations despite a number of substantial improvements and a new name. Mulally said in his speech, "The new Taurus is the one we should have made originally." He clearly concedes that the current Taurus is not what the market wants, but as to what Ford should have made originally, we can't say with confidence what he's referring to. The current Taurus is a supremely competent sedan wrapped in a supremely ho-hum package, so we expect next year's Ford Taurus to be more stylish inside and out, as well as be made available with a range of turbocharged, direct-inject EcoBoost engines to augment the currently available 3.5L V6.

Mulally also reiterated in his speech Ford's intent to commonize platforms and models that are sold across the pond from one another. He even specifically mentioned the Ford Focus, saying it would eventually be the same as the European Focus. We've been wanting a hard date for when this will happen, as enthusiasts in the U.S. have been wailing with fists for the Euro version of the Focus to be sold in the U.S. since it debuted. While a firm time-table still eludes us, at least we have confirmation that one day our Focus will be as cool as theirs.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Gallery: 2008 Ford Taurus Limited AWD

Mulally says new Ford Taurus coming next year originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First pics of new Euro Ford Focus Wagon

Alex Nunez — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 08:17:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Europe, Ford

Click image for photo gallery

While Ford has yet to formally release official photos and details relating to the new variants of the updated Euro Focus, the overseas media has been doing a knockup job stealing the Oval's thunder. First, it was Auto Express spilling the beans on the new Focus ST. Next up is the Focus Wagon, courtesy of Autoweek.nl (via our compadres at Autoblog Spanish). As you're probably aware, the Focus station wagon is now an overseas-only body style, and what a shame that is, because it's a snappy-looking one at that. As with the regular Focus and Focus ST, the latest Ford Europe design elements are on display here. A host of engine/trim levels will be available, too, including an Econetic-branded version that should deliver 54 US mpg and carbon dioxide emissions of just 115 g/km. On top of the green-themed car, expect a variety of gasoline, diesel, and flex-fuel offerings depending on market.

[Source: Autoweek.nl via Autblog Spanish]

Gallery: 2008 Euro Ford Focus Wagon

First pics of new Euro Ford Focus Wagon originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Nov 2007 08:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Frankfurt 2007: European Ford Focus goes Kinetic

John Neff — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:41:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Budget, Hatchback, Ford

click above image to view full high-res gallery of the new European Ford Focus

Ford of Europe's Executive Designerer Martin Smith has seen his "Kinetic" design language sweep across the company's product line ever since it debuted on the Iosis Concept two years ago in this very city. That design has finally reached the Focus, which will soon be wearing new "Kinetic" design cues like its siblings the Mondeo, S-Max and many others. What this means is a new front end with Iosis-inspired headlights, a larger lower air intake and more sculpted hood. From our perspective on the show floor, it looks fantastic. Normally you can tell when a car receives a mid-cycle enhancement; it's just obvious the new design cues weren't part of the original plan. The new Focus, however, looks whole, like it was meant to look this way from Day 1.

The Focus also gets a new interior that appears significantly upgraded in both design and the materials used to make it. But that's not all, just like with the Dodge Journey, the new Euro Ford Focus will also be available with a six-speed double-clutch transmission when ordered with the 2.0L Duratorq TDCi diesel engine that produces 134 HP.

Finally, Ford also revealed the Focus Econetic (it's the blue Focus in the gallery), which is basically for customers who want a Focus but also desire driving a greener car. Using off-the-shelf technology, Ford has managed to engineer the Focus Econetic to emit 115 grams/kilometer of CO2. It's powered by a squeaky clean 1.6L Duratorq TDCi diesel producing 107 HP and exhaling through a diesel particulate filter.

Gallery: 2008 Euro Ford Focus

Continue reading Frankfurt 2007: European Ford Focus goes Kinetic

Frankfurt 2007: European Ford Focus goes Kinetic originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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