Ford Focus

2009 Ford Focus RS: A Legend Returns

BRENTWOOD, July 4, 2008 – The legendary Ford RS performance car brand is returning in the shape of the exciting new Ford Focus RS, which will be previewed on July 22 at the 2008 London International Motor Show.

2009 Ford Focus RS: A Legend Returns

Highlights:
* Genuine RS performance with 300PS
* Quaife Automatic Torque Biasing limited-slip differential and innovative ‘RevoKnuckle’, for assured handling and traction
* Expressive design exudes high performance intent

Ford Focus most improved model in the industry, besting last year’s score by 88 index points

DEARBORN, June 26, 2008 – The Ford Focus is the most improved vehicle in the industry’s top study measuring customer-pleasing design, content, and vehicle performance.

2008 Ford Focus

Highlights:
* Ford and Mercury posted solid improvements even as the industry average declined.
* Ford Escape (gas and hybrid versions combined) joins Focus in top 10 of most improved vehicles.

In J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) StudySM, Focus raised its score over last year by 88 index points – the biggest improvement in the industry.

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.

2008 Ford Focus ECOnetic (UK)

The site's independent panel of judges, representing leading UK transport organisations including the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership and Energy Saving Trust, unanimously declared the frugal Ford as the greenest family-size car available.

BRENTWOOD, Essex, 23 June, 2008 – Ford Motor Company has added a high-tech new automatic transmission to its line-up, one which achieves the fuel economy of a manual gearbox but with the comfort and convenience of a normal auto.

2008 Ford Focus

Highlights:
* Efficiency of a six-speed manual with the convenience of an auto
* As light and sporty as a manual gearbox
* Available on Ford Focus and Ford C-MAX
* On-the-road prices from £18,195

DEARBORN, Mich., June 2, 2008 – Two redesigned Ford vehicles – the 2008 Ford Focus and the 2008 Ford Escape – have been nominated by the editors of WARD’s AutoWorld magazine for WARD’S Interior of the Year awards for their styling, safety, comfort and refinement.

2008 Ford Escape interior

Highlights::
* The 2008 Ford Focus and Ford Escape are competing for “Interior of the Year” honors at the WARD’S Auto Interior Show in Detroit.
* The Focus is nominated in the “Economy Priced Cars under $16,999” category, and the Escape is doing battle in the “Popular Sized Trucks under $34,999” segment.

May Brings Record Sales For Ford Focus, Fusion

DEARBORN, Mich., June 3, 2008 /PRNewswire - FirstCall/ -- For the second time in its nine-year history, Ford Focus sales eclipsed the 30,000-unit milestone in May. Focus sales totaled 32,579, up 53 percent compared with a year ago. Retail sales to individual customers more than doubled (up 105 percent). The first time was October 2001, when industry sales soared in response to zero-percent financing.

2008 Ford Focus

Highlights:
- Ford's redesigned Focus posted record May sales of 32,579, up 53 percent versus a year ago; retail sales to individual customers more than doubled (up 105 percent).

Sporty New Look For 2009

DEARBORN, Mich., May 13, 2008 – The hot-selling Ford Focus debuts a new coupe version for the 2009 model year Wednesday on American’s hottest television show – “American Idol.” This marks the first time Ford has ever revealed a new product on prime time television.

2009 Ford Focus Coupe: To Debut on Wednesday's 'American Idol' Episode

Highlights:
* The 2009 Focus coupe is set to debut on “American Idol” on Fox on Wednesday.

The 2008 Ford Focus was named one of the “Top Ten Coolest New Cars Under $18,000” by the editors of Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com

DEARBORN, Mich., April 29, 2008 – Editors of Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com today named the 2008 Ford Focus one of the “Top Ten Coolest New Cars Under $18,000.” It is the fourth consecutive year that a Ford has been recognized with the honor and the fourth year that the Focus has made the list.

2008 Ford Focus: Named one of the “Top Ten Coolest New Cars Under $18,000” by the editors of Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com

Highlights:

WAYNE, Mich., April 2008 – Ford Motor Company said today that North American production of the Ford Focus will increase by nearly 30 percent in 2008 to keep pace with strong demand for the newly redesigned small car. The new Ford Focus – which delivers 35 miles per gallon and industry-first technology such as Ford SYNC™ – has been a hot seller since it began rolling off the assembly line at Ford’s Wayne Stamping and Assembly Plant in late 2007.

2008 Ford Focus

IRVINE, Calif., April 15, 2008 – Quality surveys provide invaluable data. But for Ford, there’s no substitute for talking directly to customers.

That’s what a group of Ford engineers and plant management personnel did last month when they held a customer clinic for 75 owners of the all-new 2008 Ford Focus in Irvine, Calif.

“There are nuances you can’t catch reading a report,” said Dale Wishnousky, plant manager, Wayne Stamping and Assembly, where Focus is built. “It’s important to hear it directly from the customer.”

BRENTWOOD, Essex, 14 April, 2008 – Advanced systems which alert the driver if a tyre is losing pressure while the car is in motion are providing Ford customers with safer motoring.

Ford's sophisticated tyre pressure monitoring systems detect when a tyre is deflating, and trigger in-car warning systems that enable the driver to stop and check.

Even regular tyres checks can fail to reveal if a tyre is damaged or already punctured. Ford's automated system is able to monitor the tyres at all times when the vehicle is in use and can help to draw the driver’s attention to a problem before it becomes a safety issue.

April 10, 2008 -- The Changan Ford Racing Team is looking forward to the 2008 China Circuit Championship (CCC) series and the opportunity to build on the outstanding success of the Changan Ford Racing Focus race car in its 2007 season. The Changan Ford Racing Focus delivered a strong performance throughout the 2007 season, winning the annual champion of CCC 2007 and the racer’s annual runner-up title. The excellence performance of Focus racing car is fully demonstrated to consumers through the competition which strongly promoted the sales of Ford Focus.

Ford Focus CCC Race Car for China

DEARBORN, Michigan , April 7, 2008 – When it comes to initial vehicle quality, no automaker performs better than Ford.

Highlights:
* Ford catches Honda in initial quality, putting it in statistical tie at the top with Toyota and Honda.
* Ford’s vehicle quality improved 8 percent versus last year.
* Every new car and truck, including the 2008 Ford Focus, launched with improved quality versus its predecessor

The quality of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brand vehicles soared to the top of the charts equaling that of Toyota and Honda, according to the first quarter 2008 U.S. Global Quality Research System (GQRS) study conducted by RDA Group of Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

BRENTWOOD, Essex, 10 March, 2008 – New Ford Focus and Mondeo drivers no longer need their keys ready either to unlock their car or to start its engine.

Thanks to Ford's new keyless entry and ignition technology, the doors unlock automatically as the driver pulls a door handle. Similarly once inside, ignition is triggered at the press of the motorsport-inspired Ford Power button.

Customers using Ford's keyless entry and ignition enjoy more convenience and specific practical benefits. The only requirement is to carry the special transponder key in a pocket or bag.

Ford Focus Retail Sales Up 36 Percent in February, Punctuating Solid Month for Cars, Crossovers

DEARBORN, Mich., March 3, 2008 -- Ford's new Focus and SYNC are connecting with small car buyers. Ford Focus retail sales were up 36 percent in February -- the fourth month in a row of higher retail sales.

Highlights:
- Ford Focus retail sales climbed 36 percent compared with a year ago; redesigned, fuel-efficient small car - and SYNC - are appealing to younger buyers.
- Crossover demand growth continues; Ford Edge up 46 percent; Lincoln MKX up 22 percent.
- Lincoln retail sales up 2 percent.
- Ford, Lincoln and Mercury sales totaled 185,294, down 7 percent. Lower daily rental sales (down 20 percent) accounts for 60 percent of the decline. Retail sales down 6 percent.

Sergio Pininfarina inducted into the European Automotive Hall of Fame

Turin, February 29, 2008 - Three years after the Birdcage 75th, Pininfarina returns with the Sintesi, a new concept car that explores ideas and solutions for the car of the future. A number of cars have their world première on the stands of Pininfarina clients: the new Ford Focus Coupe-Cabriolet, the Alfa Spider Model Year 2008 and the Maserati Granturismo S.

“The Sintesi is not only a testament to the creativeness of our design team,” declared Andrea Pininfarina, Chairman and CEO of the Group, “but it reiterates our historical ability to anticipate stylistic and technological solutions that we will see in the cars of the future.”

DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 28, 2008 – Young buyers hungry for new technology and strong fuel economy are driving higher retail sales of the new 2008 Ford Focus.

Highlights:
* Ford Focus sales are gaining momentum, with three consecutive months of year-over-year retail sales volume increases. February sales are on track to trump February 2007 retail sales.
* Ford’s strategy of simplifying the Focus vehicle line, along with offering affordable industry-first SYNC technology, is paying off.
* Nearly 40 percent of the 2008 model year Focus units sold during the past three months included SYNC. SYNC-equipped Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles sell nearly twice as fast as those without.

COLOGNE, February 29, 2008 - Ford of Europe has become the first vehicle manufacturer to receive the European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation's (ECARF) Seal of Quality. The award is given to products that are suitable for allergy sufferers.

The Berlin-based research organisation awarded its sought-after Seal of Quality to six Ford models for their allergy-friendly interiors - the Ford Ka, Ford Focus (including the Coupé-Cabriolet), Ford C-MAX, Ford Mondeo, Ford S-MAX and Ford Galaxy.

"Ford is the first automobile manufacturer to receive our Seal of Quality," confirmed the chair of ECARF, Professor Torsten Zuberbier.

Upgrades for Ford Mondeo, Ford S-MAX and Ford Galaxy

BRENTWOOD, Essex, 26 February, 2008 – From Britain’s best-loved small cars to multi-award winning hatchbacks, saloons, estates and MPVs, Ford offer an appealing range of desirable models for March 08 registration. Upgrades across Ford Mondeo, Ford S-MAX and Ford Galaxy take centre stage, alongside the arrival of a new Ford Focus plus some compelling incentives across established models like the Ford Ka, Ford Fiesta and Ford C-MAX.

Highlights:
* Compelling prices across the range for ‘08’ registration
* All-new 2.2-litre TDCi engine now available

Dealers across the country are geared up to offer some of their best ever deals - a snapshot of what’s on offer is listed below.

KA from £6,995

Ready for Russia

St. Petersburg, Russia, February 18, 2008 – Production of the new generation Ford Focus got underway today at the Ford plant in St. Petersburg.

Highlights:
* Over 20,000 orders already received for the new car from Russian customers
* Leningrad region governor drives first car from the production line
* 250,000th Ford Focus sold in Russia presented to its new owner

The first car in the new series was driven off the production line by Valery Serdyukov, Governor of Leningrad region and Jim Tetreault, vice-president manufacturing, Ford of Europe.

Previewed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in mid-September last year, the new Focus has clearly caught the imagination of the Russian public, with around 20,000 customers ordering a car already.