2011 Ford Focus preview

[mercury maid]

http://www.motorauthority.com/two-us...ord-focus.html

Can't wait to see this on sale. Hope the electric version comes here.

As the second model developed under Ford’s new global design strategy (the first being the new Fiesta), the next-generation Ford Focus will be manufactured at Blue Oval plants at all corners of the globe. In addition to its regular haunts in Europe, the Focus will be manufactured in Australia and China and today Ford has confirmed that it will be produced in the U.S. by next year.

Ford will spend around $550 million to transform its former Michigan SUV plant to produce the car, and in 2011 the site will start churning out an all-electric version. The particular plant formerly was responsible for the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs and will support more than 3,200 jobs once Focus production ramps up.

Ford has confirmed that both the sedan and five-door hatchback versions of the European-developed Focus will be sold in the U.S., and there’s a strong chance that it may be joined by other small-car variants such as the C-Max crossover. This computer generated rendering gives us a possible new look for the car, showing that its styling will likely be influenced by the Fiesta compact.

Engines expected for the car will rely on turbocharging for a combination of power and efficiency, with a 1.6L EcoBoost four-cylinder slated to crank out 180hp (134kW). Despite the potent output, engineers are targeting 20% better efficiency than a naturally aspirated engine of similar performance.