Ford is planning on introducing the Focus Electric to the European market and undoubtedly Ford is watching the local market but there seem to be no plans at present to bring the Ford Focus Electric to Australia any time soon. However petrol and diesel versions of this Ford Focus should arrive in Australia later this year.

Although Ford unveiled the Focus Electric at the beginning of January its official launch isn’t until later this year and when it does hit the showroom floor it will certainly be competitive with other electric cars that are or will be available by the launch date.

The Ford Focus Electric will offer a mile-per-gallon equivalent better than Chevrolet Volt and competitive with other battery electric vehicles. A full recharge is expected to take three to four hours at home with the 240-volt charge station –half the charge time of the Nissan Leaf.

While the Focus Electric will see the introduction of new features and technologies – including a unique version of the MyFord Touch driver connect system especially for electric vehicles, a new value charging feature powered by Microsoft and a smartphone app called MyFord Mobile that helps plug-in owners control their vehicles remotely – the Focus Electric draw on the current Ford Focus for it’s overall design.

Much of the steering, braking and handling that is found in the current petrol version of the Ford Focus will find its way into the Focus Electric but with no relatively noisy petrol engine to add to the noise level owners of the Focus Electric will discover a new level of in-car comfort.

The Electric Focus will also bring all the driving pleasure associated with it’s conventionally powered siblings. The all-electric powertrain and single-speed transmission provide immediate responsiveness and smooth acceleration when the driver pushes down the accelerator, up to a top speed of 136 km/h

Charging the battery
Ford believes that the majority of Focus Electric users will recharge their vehicle at home on a daily basis using a specially designed charging unit that can be plugged straight into a normal power outlet. That means that the cost of hard-wiring a recharging unit into the owner’s home electrical system is done away with and if the owner moves house all he has to do is unplug the charging system at his or her old residence and then plug it in when they get to their new home.

Batteries are included
Focus Electric will be powered by an advanced lithium-ion battery system engineered by Ford in cooperation with supplier LG Chem. The battery system utilizes heated and cooled liquid to help maximize battery life and fuel-free driving range.

Thermal management of lithium-ion battery systems is critical to the success of pure electric vehicles. Focus Electric uses an advanced active liquid cooling and heating system to precondition and regulate the temperature in its larger, more complex lithium-ion battery system.

The active liquid system heats or chills a coolant before pumping it through the battery cooling system. This loop regulates temperature throughout the system against external conditions.

On hot days, chilled liquid absorbs heat from the batteries, dispersing it through a radiator before pumping it through the chiller again. On cold days, heated liquid warms the batteries, gradually bringing the system’s temperature to a level that allows it to efficiently accept charge energy and provide enough discharge power for expected vehicle performance.

Charging the vehicle
Ford believes that most Focus Electric owners are likely to recharge the vehicle several times a day so that’s why Ford worked with supplier Yazaki to provide an industry-standard five-point plug that is ergonomically comfortable to hold as well as durably and distinctively designed.

The plug handle uses a matte-finished black rubber that allows for a comfortable, non-slip grip. The plug head is shielded with a protective glossy white plastic.

When the cord set connector is plugged into the vehicle’s charge port, which is conveniently located between the driver’s door and front wheel well, it activates a light ring that loops around the port twice in acknowledgement of connectivity.

The light ring then illuminates in quadrants as the vehicle charges. Flashing quadrants represent charge in progress and solid-lit quadrants show stages of charge completion. In the unlikely event of a fault, the entire ring will flash. When the entire ring is solidly lit, the vehicle is fully charged.

Off-peak rates
The new Focus Electric offers a unique value charging feature, powered by Microsoft, to help owners in the U.S. charge their vehicles at the cheapest utility rates, lowering the cost of ownership.

“Value charging allows our customers to reduce their electricity costs by taking advantage of off-peak or other reduced rates from their utility without a complicated set-up process,” said Ed Pleet, manager, Ford Connected Services Organization. “This is a ‘set it and forget it’ approach for the customer to reduce energy cost.”

The tool is designed to help customers avoid unnecessary expense by providing an optimized charge. In the future, these smart charging habits will help utility companies understand and better manage the demands placed upon the electric grid because of electrified vehicles.

Behind the steering wheel
Focus Electric owners will be provided with a suite of driver information systems – on-board and off-board – designed to help them manage the recharge process, manage the most eco-friendly route on-board, monitor battery state of charge and maximize energy efficiency to optimize their driving range.

This carefully engineered set of tools is designed to give Focus Electric the edge over competitive products, providing new electric vehicle owners the information they need to enjoy all the freedom gas-free driving has to offer.

Among these tools is a unique execution of MyFord Touch driver connect technology. Thoughtfully developed for electric vehicle owners, it offers innovative presentation of vehicle information, such as battery state of charge, distance to charge point, the corresponding range budget and expected range margin. The system’s MyView feature allows drivers to access even more vehicle data including the electrical demands of vehicle accessories such as air conditioning, which can impact driving range.

Just as the growing leafy vine of first-generation SmartGauge™ with EcoGuide represents fuel efficiency in the Ford Fusion Hybrid, the cluster display in Focus Electric uses blue butterflies to represent the surplus range beyond one’s charge point destination – the more butterflies there are, the greater the range.

Ford designers were inspired by the phenomenon known as “the butterfly effect,” in which a small change, like choosing to drive an electric vehicle, can have an enormous impact. To reinforce the message, at the end of each trip a display screen provides distance driven, miles gained through regenerative braking, energy consumed and a comparative gasoline savings achieved by driving electric.

The cluster is also integrated with the MyFord Touch map-based Navigation System using the vehicle’s center stack 8-inch touch screen. After adding their driving destinations, including their next charge point, into the vehicle’s Navigation System, the vehicle will coach drivers on how to achieve the desired range – or if travel plans need to be adjusted. The on-board Navigation System provides an EcoRoute option based on characteristics of efficient EV driving.

What Ford hasn’t revealed
Ford has yet to announce the range for the Ford Focus Electric but it’s reasonable to expect that you might get around 160km on a single charge. The warranty on the battery that holds the power for the Focus Electric has not been announced either. With the cost of these batteries being as high as they are you would hope that Ford plans on giving a decent warranty on them.

The rally is the opening round of the Finnish Rally Championship. Friday’s opening leg contains five special stages covering 98.47km, while Saturday’s action comprises a further five speed tests covering 132.99km.

Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally team drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen and team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila will drive a leg each in the two-day snow and ice rally based in Rovaniemi, as the final part of the squad’s pre-season testing schedule.

Hirvonen will drive the Fiesta RS WRC on the opening leg of the rally before Latvala takes the wheel for the second day.

The Arctic Rally will conclude the Fiesta RS WRC’s comprehensive test and development programme ahead of its FIA World Rally Championship debut at Rally Sweden (10 – 13 February) next month.

But that’s beginning to change. Toyota want you to buy their Rukus and turn it into anything you want. Holden want you to buy their Barina Spark and decorate it to the max and now Ford would like to show you what you can do with the Ford Focus.

To do that Ford in the United States handed a Ford Focus to their own aftermarket division and two external aftermarket companies and asked them to give the car a makeover and here is what they got back.

Ford Focus by FSWerks
The modifications you see in the image above start with 19-inch DPE R16 wheels matched with Continental ExtremeContact DW tyres and a 3dCarbon roof wing.

From there, performance cues include an FSWerks stainless steel performance exhaust that provides maximum flow and kilowatts.

An FSWerks cold air intake and engine cover further set this car apart. The Focus was lowered by 76mm and uses a coil-over kit by H&R Springs, offering superior ride quality and an aggressive stance.

Ford Focus by 3dCarbon
The Focus by 3dCarbon is sure to grab attention with its sinister looks, complemented by 3M’s unique VentureShield™ Paint Protection Matte Finish Film, installed by California C.A.R.S.

Smoked-out windows with 3M window film add to the tough but elegant look. The wrap film can easily be installed and removed to update the look of the car.
Except for the glossy black bonnet, the rest of the black body panels have a film foil wrap with a satin appearance.

The 20-inch Series KM650-KMC wheels also feature the glossy black finish, highlighted by a red pinstripe. This 3dCarbon Focus rides on FK452 Falken tyres, the true definition of an ultra-high-performance tyre.

It also sports a 3dCarbon roof wing that delivers enhanced looks and additional aerodynamic benefits. Sports springs by H&R Springs deliver better handling and ride comfort, while an FSWerks “cat-back” exhaust offers style and functionality.

Ford Focus by Ford Vehicle Personalisation
A Focus developed by Ford Vehicle Personalisation shows just what can be done when customers add Ford Custom Accessories into the mix.

Working from a Focus covered in white tri-coat paint with hints of Caribbean Blue, the car features a new white body kit with an expressive concept graphic on the side panels.

Caribbean Blue accents are applied throughout the car, including headlights, mirrors, wheels and foglight bezels. Liquid silver paint was also applied to the roof spoiler, mirrors, headlights and foglights, showing off extra attention to detail.

“We created a theme of an all-white vehicle with bursts of Caribbean Blue accents running throughout, which lends itself to many of the current trends seen in fashion,” Ford Vehicle Personalisation chief designer, Mark Conforzi, said.

“White with dimension is a hot trend in Europe, and we found ways to incorporate that into our Focus in a manner that perfectly fits the vehicle.”

The interior uses a black and white theme featuring all-leather seats with accent stitching. The steering wheel also showcases white and black leather, and the centre console uses soft-touch white paint. Etched scuff plates and aqua accent lighting round out the interior treatment.

Ford’s Transit Connect Taxi is built on a dedicated commercial vehicle platform that’s been tested to Ford’s tough truck standards. Both the interior and exterior are built tough to handle the hard life that every taxi has to face.

The Ford Transit Connect Taxi is powered by a fuel-efficient four-cylinder petrol motor.

The Transit Connect Taxi will be available towards the end of this year.

In a time when many large car makers have struggled to survive … and only done so with the help of governments around the world … the fact that Ford made a full year net profit of $2.7 billion is very news-worthy. That’s a $17.5 billion turnaround from a year ago.

The next-generation Ford Focus made its worldwide debut today and now we can see the basis for Ford’s global C-cars for this is the common platform for them all. The Focus comes in both four-door sedan and five-door hatchback body styles and they will begin rolling off the production line in Europe and North America late in 2010 for a market launch early in 2011.

The new Focus will be nearly identical in all markets, with 80 percent parts commonality around the world.
“The new Ford Focus is a clear demonstration that our ONE Ford strategy is providing global consumers with great products that harness the best of Ford Motor Company,” said Alan Mulally, Ford’s president and CEO.

“The efficiencies generated by our new global C-car platform will enable us to provide Ford Focus customers with an affordable product offering quality, fuel efficiency, safety and technology beyond their expectations,” he added.

Simultaneous launch in Europe and North America
Production of the next-generation Ford Focus will begin simultaneously in Europe and North America in late 2010, with individual market launches starting early in 2011. Launches in Asia, Africa and South America will follow. Initial production will be concentrated at the Saarlouis (Germany), Michigan (United States) and Chongqing (China) Assembly Plants.

The new Focus will be one of up to 10 unique models to be built from Ford’s new C-car platform, which is expected to generate total sales in all regions of 2 million units annually by 2012. The first of these will be the new Ford C-MAX and Ford Grand C-MAX – unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show – for launch in Europe in the second half of 2010.

“Global customers increasingly want smaller cars with outstanding fuel economy, but without sacrificing any of the style, technology, connectivity and driving quality they demand from larger vehicles,” explained Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s group vice president of Global Product Development.

“Our next generation of C-cars – led by the exciting new Focus – will clearly show that Ford is ready to meet that challenge,” said Kuzak.

Engineered without compromise
The new Ford Focus has been developed by a global team, led from Ford’s European small and medium vehicle center of excellence in Merkenich, near Cologne, Germany, with powertrain development led by a similar team at Ford’s technical center in Dunton, England. The vehicle has been engineered without compromise to meet all customer and legislative requirements of the major worldwide markets.

In developing the vehicle for global markets, the product team in Europe was able to call on the experience acquired from recent programs like the much-acclaimed new Ford Fiesta, and was supported by the expertise of vehicle and powertrain technology specialists located in Ford’s engineering center in Dearborn, Mich.

Ford’s global development and sourcing strategy made it possible to provide a level of performance and feature content that is unrivaled for this vehicle segment and surprising even to drivers of larger, more premium vehicles.

Taking kinetic design to the next level“The all-new Focus is at the center of convergence for automotive trends,” said J Mays, Ford group vice president of Design and chief creative officer. “We’ve designed it with an acute understanding of global customers, yet it’s tailored for each individual region. Focus combines the best from Europe, North America and Asia to deliver a level of emotional driving enjoyment never before experienced in a car this size.”

The two models share a sporty and dynamic character, marking the next evolution of Ford’s acclaimed kinetic design form language, which has contributed to the growing popularity of the company’s latest small and medium cars.

The kinetic design approach uses bold vehicle designs to capture the feeling of energy in motion, so that cars look like they are moving – even when they are standing still.

With its striking front end, sleek profile, dramatic rising beltline and athletic stance, the new Focus clearly telegraphs the rewarding driving experience that awaits customers when they take to the road.

This dynamic quality is reinforced by the distinctive design of the interior. The new Focus has an extremely modern, cockpit-style interior, with the stylish center console wrapped around the driver and providing outstanding access to the vehicle’s major controls and display panels.

A key element of the interior is the quality of craftsmanship. The cabin’s bold and contemporary graphics, the sculptured shape of the soft-touch instrument panel and the choice of superior trim materials all help to give occupants the feeling that they are traveling in a premium-class car.

Unmatched driving quality
When it was introduced in 1998, the original Ford Focus brought new levels of agility and responsiveness to the C-segment. The all-new Focus plans to raise the benchmark once more, targeting class-leading driving quality that blends outstanding steering precision and road feedback with significantly improved refinement and ride control.

To deliver this performance, engineers have updated the innovative suspension concepts from prior models, developing optimized new designs for the “control blade” multilink rear suspension and the semi-isolated front and rear subframes.

The chassis design is complemented by a completely new Electric Power Assist Steering system, which has been carefully tuned to deliver pure and precise responses at high speed while remaining light and maneuverable for parking.

Ford’s European driving dynamics specialists have also enhanced cornering stability and agility with the introduction of an advanced Dynamic Cornering Control system, which uses “torque vectoring” techniques to transfer power between the drive wheels to deliver reduced understeer, improved traction and better turn-in.

All global customers will benefit from the same quality of dynamic performance in the new Focus. Identical chassis and suspension architecture is being used for all markets, except for minor regional tuning differences, such as local tire specifications.

Efficient powertrains deliver performance with outstanding economy
The engaging driver appeal of the new Ford Focus is magnified by a powertrain range that delivers spirited performance and targets outstanding levels of fuel economy and CO2 emissions.

The global powertrain lineup for the new Focus will include a range of state-of-the-art Ford EcoBoost™ four-cylinder turbocharged direct injection (DI) engines – including the 1.6-liter unit in Europe and a choice of advanced and improved Duratorq TDCi common-rail diesel engines, all of which offer reductions in fuel consumption of between 10 and 20 percent compared to the outgoing models.

For the NAIAS preview, Ford is showing a completely new 2.0-liter gasoline engine for the North American market that features DI and Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) for enhanced performance and fuel efficiency. The new 2.0-liter DI Ti-VCT engine is up to 20 horsepower more powerful than the current 2.0 Duratec I-4 unit while contributing to projected fuel economy gains of more than 10 percent.

To maximize the performance and economy advantage enjoyed by the new Focus, the 2.0-liter DI Ti-VCT engine is mated with the latest dry-clutch six-speed Ford PowerShift automatic transmission. This transmission uses an advanced dual-clutch design, which alone can help to reduce fuel consumption by up to 9 percent compared to a traditional four-speed automatic.

The dry-clutch PowerShift transmission is based on more efficient manual gearbox technology, and does not require the additional weight and complexity of torque converters, planetary gears and oil pumps used in conventional automatics. Electronically controlled twin clutches shift gears quickly and smoothly, providing the seamless flow of torque plus the refinement and ease of operation customers expect from a premium automatic transmission.

Ford also has confirmed plans to begin building a full, battery electric vehicle in 2011 at its Michigan Assembly Complex, for sales in North America. It will be the company’s first battery electric passenger vehicle.

Intuitive technology enhances convenience and safety
The next-generation Focus will bring C-segment customers around the world an array of advanced technologies generally found in larger, more premium vehicles. The global scale of Ford’s C-car program makes more technologies and features economically viable than ever before for cars in this segment.

The technology package of the new Focus promises not only clear leadership in the C-segment, but also includes features customers in larger, more premium segments would find surprising.

The new technologies have been designed to be simple and highly intuitive to use, while enhancing both convenience and safety for the vehicle occupants.

Within the cockpit, the most significant innovation is the company’s next-generation driver connect technology, MyFord, which provides the driver with a state-of-the-art combination of controls and display screens to operate the key vehicle features. On high series vehicles, the MyFord system includes an 8-inch touch screen, allowing the driver to control a wide range of functions via a clear and intuitive color display.

MyFord is complemented by a new generation of Ford’s powerful SYNC® connectivity package, which includes a sophisticated voice control system, Bluetooth and satellite navigation, along with connection points for a wide variety of external devices and media players.

Other available safety and convenience technologies include keyless entry and “Ford Power” start button, a rearview camera and a semi-automatic parallel parking system that automatically steers the vehicle into a parking spot.

Strength and safety
The Focus platform provides an incredibly strong and stiff structure, which not only benefits vehicle dynamics and refinement but also provides the basis for enhanced crash performance.

High-strength steels are used extensively in the next-generation Focus body shell. High-strength steels comprise 55 percent of the body shell, and more than 26 percent of the vehicle’s structure is formed from ultra-high-strength and Boron steels – significantly more than any other Ford product. These advanced materials help the structure meet the most stringent crash legislation across world markets, while minimizing the vehicle’s weight.

The structural integrity of the body shell is also reflected in its torsional rigidity, which is 25 percent greater than the current North American Focus.

Quality and craftsmanship in every detail
With global customers now demanding a more premium experience from small- and medium-sized vehicles, achieving outstanding levels of quality and craftsmanship was a primary objective for the new Focus.

Ford says that the new Focus will make significant strides in reducing cabin noise, promising a quiet cabin environment. This refinement complements the fresh new interior design and higher craftsmanship levels to create a premium feel akin to larger vehicles.

Each component in the vehicle that the customer will touch, see, hear or even smell has been subjected to rigorous analysis to ensure that it will exceed an owner’s expectations. Particular attention has been given to the quality of interior trim materials, and the color matching, gaps, flushness and tolerances where one part meets another.

Across the majority of vehicle attributes, Ford has developed a global DNA standard that defines the exact attributes a part should have to meet the quality requirements of the brand. Examples include the sound the door makes when it is closed, requiring special attention to the door structure and latch mechanism, and the design of a steering wheel, right down to the thickness of padding and size of stitching on the rim.

This meticulous attention to detail is also reflected in Ford’s global manufacturing strategy for the Focus, with consistent standards and processes being applied in every one of the assembly plants, wherever they are located in the world.

“We believe the new Ford Focus will provide consumers with an unmatched driving experience, together with an unrivaled ownership experience,” said Jim Farley, Ford group vice president, Global Marketing. “The Focus brand always has been very special to Ford, and this new global model shows our commitment to developing another generation of exciting and appealing cars.”

The Ford Fusion topped a field of 23 contenders that included the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, BMW-7 series and Mercedes-Benz E Class.

But then Ford USA hasn’t made a pre-tax profit in any quarter since the beginning of 2005 so I guess doing one in this quarter really is a big deal after all.

The faulty switch can cause fires and, while only 1.1 million vehicles are know to have the switch fitted the additional 3.4 million vehicles are being recalled in an effort to reassure customers that their vehicles are safe.

Reuters is reporting that Ford’s sales in January are down 42.1 percent. General Motors has reported a drop in January sales of 49 percent, Toyota has dropped 34 percent and Nissan is down around 30 percent.

Now let’s wait and see what the Australian industry’s figures look like.

In the short-term it’s probably a good thing too because it really did look as though Congress wanted to tip a whole pile of money down a bottomless pit and it would have had little effect on the ability of the Big 3 manufacturers to survive.

Ford really didn’t want the money on the terms that the Government wanted to impose. Ford is already cashed up and is working hard to actually build cars that people want to buy. The number of hybrids that are currently in production or on the drawing boards is a credit to the company and will benefit the environment and the consumer.

General Motors … well they wanted more money for themselves than what Congress was prepared to give all three manufacturers. Sure they have some great hybrids on the market and even have a full electric car coming down the line but there’s something fundamentally wrong with a company of that size that finds itself in the mess that it’s in and we’re probably better off without it.

I’ve seen reports that GM is already working with its lawyers to arrange  Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection but you have to wonder just how long they have left.

Chrysler … now here’s a company that just has to be totally clueless and shows it. They’re in a financial mess and plan to close a whole bunch of plants in the next few months … which is a good thing. They also have two hybrids about to hit the market place … but both aren’t in models that sell in big numbers and that’s probably just as well.

You see, among the plants that Chrysler plans to close are the ones that produce those two hybrids so no sooner will they go on sale than the plants will close and the hybrids will go out of production leaving Chrysler with no hybrids on showroom floors and none that are even close to production.

How could a company like Chrysler be so out of touch with reality?

I guess that all along I was wondering why anyone in their right mind would want to spend $14 billion dollars to prop up some companies that were totally out of touch with everything that’s going on around them.

I’m sure someone will pull a rabbit out of the hat and the deal will be back on but I really can’t see that as being good for anyone because it’s simply perpetuating a failed business model and the current mess will only resurface a few years down the track.

The plan is … well if you listen to Ford’s CEO the plan is highly involved and it’s a very reason why the US government should bail them out … but to give it to you in a nutshell the plan is to build cars that are as good or better than what other manufacturers are producing and cars that people actually want to buy.

Think about it for a moment and I’m sure that you’ll be just as puzzled as I am with this plan. Surely building cars that people actually want to buy is the basic business plan of any car maker so why has it taken this economic collapse to get Ford to actually wake up to reality?

You do have to wonder about the people in charge of Ford and General Motors at times … are they in touch with reality or are they high on their own PR spin?

The front end has been refined to improve drag and reduce lift. The engine output has been increased by 15 horsepower and just to add a touch of class to the beast sequential turn lights have been brought back from an earlier time.

I still think that the dashboard lets this car down … it also seems to have been brought back from an earlier time.

The dashboard design looks a little dated to me.

The big three manufacturers in the US are reported to be planning on approaching the White House for a bail out similar to what the banking and finance industry received recently.

And globally Toyota has slashed its profit forecast by 68%.

Can things get any worse for Ford and General Motors? I’m sure they can and I’m sure they will.

Late last week several respected news sources in Japan announced that the sale as definitely going to happen and now the hunt is on to find a buyer. While many think that a local Japanese company will pick up Ford’s share there are rumours that the Indian car maker Tata Motors is also interested in buying into Mazda.

Only time will tell but don’t be fooled into thinking that an Indian car maker who seems intent on producing the cheapest car in the world isn’t interested in a share of a Japanese car manufacturer. Tata has already bought Jaguar and Landrover from Ford.

About all I can tell you is that it’s definitely a Ford and I may have more details for you later in the week.

I can now tell you that it’s a 1932 Ford Coupe and you will often see it around the various car shows on the Fraser Coast.

The new F-150 will only return about 15 miles to the gallon around town. For us down here in Australia that’s about 15.68 litres per 100km and that’s economy?