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20-05-2011, 06:29 PM
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Chairman & Administrator
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New Focus Introduces Kinetic Design Themes and Innovative Powershift Transmission
February 27 2009
* Ford Focus gets dynamic new look with 'kinetic design' styling cues
* Interior enhanced with premium soft-touch materials and textiles
* New instruments with soft red illumination a feature of new Focus interior
* USB/iPod connectivity standard on all Focus models
* Ford introduces innovative PowerShift 'automatic' gearbox with the Duratorq TDCi turbodiesel engine to offer customers real-world fuel efficiency and excellent driving performance
* Six-speed PowerShift automatic gearbox excels in urban driving conditions with refined automatic shift control and slow speed 'creep'
* Fuel efficiency and performance are qualities of the four-cylinder engine range – Focus TDCi turbodiesel with PowerShift delivers fuel consumption of just 5.9L/100km (combined urban and extra urban)
* Focus offers customers in Australia the convenience of fuel choice ranging from E10 flexifuel capability (90 per cent petrol / 10 per cent ethanol) to diesel with B5 capability (5 per cent bio-diesel)
* Quality features include premium centre console, one-touch power window control, cruise control, sunroof and dust/pollen filter
* New Focus available in four series levels – CL, LX, TDCi and Zetec – and in five-door hatch and four-door sedan bodystyles, depending on series
* Interactive vehicle dynamics – Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and traction control – is standard on LX, TDCi and Zetec models
"The Ford Focus has been an enormous success for Ford around the world. We are very proud of the Focus, its technology, its reputation, its qualities and its greater influence as a leader in design and driving dynamics. It is a very special car to us.
When Focus was launched in Europe in 1998, it changed the perception of Ford for many customers and commentators. We've seen much the same effect in Asia Pacific and Africa as the character and quality of Focus has left an indelible positive impression on our customers.
The launch of new Focus brings with it a dynamic new look identified by distinctive headlamps and a confident posture. These changes are aimed at keeping Focus at the top of its segment and reflect the character of a car that provides customers in Asia with many class-leading qualities and exceptional fuel efficiency.
Along with the new exterior look, we have also taken the opportunity to improve the quality and comfort of the interior, and have added more function and contemporary features.
Driving quality has always been a Focus forte, and our engineers in Asia Pacific and Africa worked with engineers in Europe to refine new Focus into a better car to drive in the urban city and on the open highways. We firmly believe the introduction of Focus TDCi with innovative PowerShift automatic transmission is exceptionally well suited to Asia.
Add to all of that the fact that the Focus offers a high level of occupant safety, affordability and excitement, and we believe the new Focus is more compelling than ever."
John Parker, Executive Vice President
Asia Pacific and Africa, Ford Motor Company
The new Ford Focus - Introduction
"The Focus developed for Australia shares the same body structure technology and drive-train refinement with the Focus in Europe. The focal point for our development of the new Focus in Europe and in Australia was crystal clear: to make it look as good as it drives. In addition, we introduced new technologies from our larger cars to make its driving quality even better and to keep the new Focus at the top of its segment,"
Gunnar Herrmann, C-Car Vehicle Line Director, Ford of Europe
Ford has celebrated the tenth anniversary of the global Focus nameplate with the release of a dynamic new model, incorporating a fresh new exterior and upgraded interior, along with some impressive new features and technologies, which combine with acclaimed driving excellence to keep Focus at the front of the small car market.
Originally launched in Europe in 1998, Focus has become a global success story for Ford, and manufacturing sites have expanded to include North America, South America and Asia-Pacific.
Focus has been a significant influence on the automotive world:
* It was the first and – to date – the only car in the world to be acclaimed "Car of the Year" in Europe and in North America
* It has won more than 80 awards in Europe and more than 30 awards in Asia Pacific
* Focus is the best selling car in the UK and has been every year since 1999
* Focus has quickly risen in favour in China where it is now a Top-10 best-selling model
The new Ford Focus for Australia will go on sale early in the second quarter, following its debut at the Melbourne International Motor Show, and will be available in five-door hatch and four-door sedan bodystyles across a revised model line-up.
The new LV-series Focus will be offered in four core models for the Australian market – the Focus CL is the lead-in model, followed by the contemporary LX and TDCi models, and the exciting Focus Zetec derivative.
Ford 'Kinetic Design'
The most influential visual enhancement to the new Ford Focus is its dramatic new front featuring 'kinetic design' elements.
Rather than just update a bumper or grille as many manufacturers do, Ford's Asia-Pacific and Africa design team working in Australia took a 'whole vehicle' approach in applying kinetic design form language to the exterior.
Kinetic design elements such as the large trapezoidal opening below the bumperline, new bonnet with defined contours, and new upper grille (with larger Ford badge) dominate the new Focus front design.
It is more expressive, more athletic and more in keeping with the overall on-road character of new Focus. In all, the new Focus is visually confident and modern.
"We wanted to ensure that the new model was still recognisably a Focus, but was also identifiable as a new-generation Ford," said Martin Smith, Ford of Europe's Executive Director for Design.
"I'm very happy with the results, as the new car has greater presence and stronger lines, which reinforce its driving dynamics credentials."
A Quality Experience
Inside Ford's new Focus, the emphasis is on improving the quality of materials and enhancing comfort levels.
The evidence is clear to see and feel. The black soft-touch dash pad, along with the soft-touch upper door trims, contrast beautifully against a tan coloured inner roof lining to visually lighten the Focus interior, while the dark dash greatly reduces windscreen reflection in bright sun conditions common in Australia.
The driver now sees large-face tachometer and speedometer set deeply into individual binnacles. Positioned above are small-face water temperature and fuel gauges, with each surrounded by a silver bezel.
Between the two large gauges is an LCD information screen displaying time, outside temperature, tripmeter and odometer. The LCD screen also displays menu options for distance to empty, average speed, and average fuel consumption.
A revised centre stack and redesigned window and mirror switches accompany new intuitive controls for air conditioning, heater and ventilation system. At night, the centre stack controls are illuminated in soft red light which is more soothing (versus the stark white of the previous generation Focus).
A new premium centre console has been designed with an emphasis on improved comfort and function. It features a moveable soft armrest which slides forward 80mm, two cup holders with butterfly lids, a coin holder and a card holder.
The 107kW 2.0-litre Duratec engine continues to power petrol Focus models – CL, LX and Zetec – and can be matched to either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission.
In addition, Ford debuts its innovative six-speed PowerShift automatic transmission in Focus TDCi, in combination with the potent 100kW / 320Nm 2.0-litre Duratorq turbodiesel engine.
This drive-train combination offers impressive fuel efficiency with no compromise to driving performance, thanks to its impressive torque output of 320Nm – peaking to 340Nm during brief overboost periods.
Enhanced Safety – Ford Intelligent Protection System
A key strength of the Ford Focus has always been its no-compromise approach to safety, which includes the Ford Intelligent Protection System. The new Focus maintains a robust list of standard active and passive safety features, including its rigid, reinforced passenger cell.
To enhance the overall Focus safety package, larger exterior side mirrors improve driver's side visibility. The Focus range also benefits with a clever automatic hazard warning light activation system, which warns following drivers of emergency braking manoeuvres.
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) safety technology is standard across the Focus range, while Focus LX, TDCi and Zetec models also offer interactive vehicle dynamics as standard equipment. This adds DSC, Traction Control and Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) to assist the driver to maintain vehicle stability during all driving situations.
The Focus Driving Experience
The Ford Focus has always been acclaimed for its driving quality, particularly its precise steering control and chassis balance, and the new range remains true to this heritage.
The new Focus TDCi with Duratorq turbodiesel engine introduces an all-new transmission system that combines impressive fuel efficiency and dynamics of a manual gearbox, with the driving ease of a quality automatic.
The new Ford PowerShift transmission is an innovative, six-speed, double-clutch automatic transmission available with the 2.0-litre Duratorq common rail turbodiesel engine. The six-speed PowerShift automatic is extremely refined, shifting smoothly through its six-speed gearing more efficiently than a conventional automatic transmission.
PowerShift convincingly demonstrates a high degree of driving comfort and agility in congested urban driving, as well as proving more fuel efficient than a conventional torque converter automatic transmission.
This efficiency is realised with a fuel consumption rating of 5.9L/100km (combined urban and extra urban according to ADR 81/01) from its 2.0-litre Duratorq turbodiesel engine, which leads the way against similarly-equipped small car competitors.
Recommended retail pricing* for the new LV Focus range:
Focus CL 5-door hatch 5-speed manual $21,990
Focus CL 4-door sedan 5-speed manual $21,990
Focus LX 5-door hatch 5-speed manual $24,290
Focus LX 4-door sedan 5-speed manual $24,290
Focus Zetec 5-door hatch 5-speed manual $27,290
Focus TDCi 5-door hatch 6-speed manual $28,290
Options
Automatic transmission (including PowerShift automatic) $ 2,000
Prestige paint $ 320
Leather trim (Zetec only) $ 1,600
* Excluding dealer delivery and statutory charges
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