As we are nearing closer and closer to the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, which will be held for the public from September 15 to 25, automakers are slowly releasing more details about their plans.
To
day, Ford revealed that it is planning four global product presentations in Frankfurt including "a new design concept" and what the company described as "details of the next Focus performance car".
Ford is widening the options for UK buyers of the all-new 2012 Focus by confirming the availability of a new entry-level model called Studio which will be priced at £13,995 when it arrives in September.
The company said the new Studio will replace the Focus Sport, a final special edition of the previous model that has been on sale since October 2010 reacting sales of 15,000 units.
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As digital music sales rise, compact discs seem to be heading the way of the cassette –for those of you old enough to remember them, that is. For example, in the UK digital sales account for 98% percent of the market. That’s evolution: just as the cassette made the 8-track player obsolete and then gave its place to CD-players, now purely digital content is making CD players a thing of the past. Read more »
Ford is going full force with its latest generation Focus that is currently available in a variety of body styles including a five-door hatchback, a four-door sedan, a station wagon and a pair of MPVs that carry the C-MAX moniker.
A three-door hatchback is on its way while we have also heard talk about a convertible and possibly a compact coupe model.
Enter the world of independent designer David Cardoso whose previous work on conceptual studies includes the Renault Twist, Audi Hydron concept, Cobalt coupe and the Mitsubishi Flexis.
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Ford's Vsevolozhsk Plant near St. Petersburg in Russia has begun assembly of the firm’s new generation Focus. The five-door hatchback is the first member of the Focus family to roll off the assembly line in Russia with the four-door and station wagon variants to enter production in September and January, respectively. Read more »
A new variant of the latest Focus with the ECOnetic moniker and a segment leading fuel efficiency will soon be added to Ford’s European lineup. According to the company, the diesel-powered Focus ECONetic is expected to use less than 3.5 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers (equal to 80 mpg UK or 67.2 mpg US) and return ultra-low CO2 emissions of less than 95g/km when final certification is completed later this year.
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Ford’s Brazilian arm has filed a criminal (!) lawsuit against the local division of Nissan for airing an aggressive TV commercial directed at the Focus sub-compact. To make a long story short, the parody-like ad points the finger at Ford for allegedly overpricing its Focus model.
The TV spot, which looks exactly like a rap video, shows two men dressed as Ford engineers living the big life with gold chains and rings, plenty of champagnes, and –the best part- an exotic assortment of sexy women in bikinis dancing around them. And oh, there’s also a silver Ford Focus on the background….
At the end, the commercial announces the price of Nissan’s Tiida sub-compact (sold as the Versa in the States), which in Brazil, costs around BR 3,000 or a little over US$1,800 less than Ford’s rivaling Focus.
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Ford’s European arm has released yet another video of its upcoming Focus ST sport hatch that’s expected to hit the market early next year. There’s nothing new to see per se as the company has already published numerous teaser films in the months following the car’s introduction at the 2010 Paris Motor Show.
As a reminder, the hottest version of the new generation Focus (that is, until Ford decides to resurrect the RS nameplate in the near future) will be propelled by a force-fed 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine cranking out 250 ponies and 360 Nm / 265 lb ft of torque. The show car was equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox driving the front wheels, but there’s a good chance the production model will also be offered with a dual clutch transmission. Hit the jump for the video.
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The first ever touring race car version of the all-new Ford Focus will make its world premiere at this week's 2011 Geneva Motor Show, ahead of it is scheduled track debut in the British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch towards the end of March.
The first ever touring race car version of the all-new Ford Focus will make its world premiere at this week's 2011 Geneva Motor Show, ahead of it is scheduled track debut in the British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch towards the end of March.
Ford will offer the infotainment and connectivity system to its European models starting from 2012, the company announced today. The all-new Focus will be the first vehicle in Europe to feature the SYNC technology, with other models to follow. Ford said it wants to have 2 million SYNC-equipped cars on European roads by 2015.
Ford will offer the infotainment and connectivity system to its European models starting from 2012, the company announced today. The all-new Focus will be the first vehicle in Europe to feature the SYNC technology, with other models to follow. Ford said it wants to have 2 million SYNC-equipped cars on European roads by 2015.
Chevrolet Cruze
The compact Cruze is headed to the U.S. after making its debut in Europe and Asia. Buyers can choose from three trim lines and two four-cylinder engines, including a new 1.4-liter turbocharged version that Chevrolet says will achieve as much as 40 mpg on the highway with a manual transmission. Either engine is available with a six-speed automatic or manual transmission. Ten standard air bags, electronic stability control with rollover sensing, and OnStar are among the safety features. The Cruze will be priced between $17,000 and $23,000.
Nissan Juke
Aimed at young buyers, the Nissan Juke is a sporty crossover based on the Versa hatchback and is meant to combine attributes of a small car and an SUV. The U.S. version has a direct-injection, turbocharged, 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that will deliver 180 hp. It is matched with either a continuously variable automatic transmission or six-speed manual. Front- or all-wheel drive will be available. Pricing is expected to start at less than $20,000. Standard features include six air bags, antilock brakes, and ESC. Optional features include leather seats, push-button start, navigation system, and power sunroof.
Ford Focus
The next-generation Focus will be available as a four-door sedan or hatchback and will be based on a platform used for 10 models around the world. Here it gets a direct-injection, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. New available features include push-button start, a rearview camera, a semiautomatic parallel-parking system, and a new version of Ford's Sync infotainment system. Pricing will start at about $17,000. An electric-powered model will arrive later in 2011.
Fiat 500
Chrysler's new parent, Fiat, returns to the U.S. for the first time since the early 1980s with the tiny 500, a two-door hatchback with seating for four. Sized between a Smart ForTwo and a Mini Cooper, the 500 will be offered first with a 100-hp, 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine matched with a six-speed manual transmission. A sportier, turbocharged Abarth model is expected to follow, along with a semiconvertible with a roll-up canvas top. An electric version will arrive in 2012. Prices have not been announced, but the 500 starts around $14,000 in Europe.
Scion iQ
Designed for city dwellers who want something easy to park and fuel efficient, the iQ is a tiny two-door barely larger than a Smart ForTwo. The cabin seats four. The rear seat is tiny, but the front is roomy. Space-saving features include a compact air-conditioning system, electronic steering, and slender seatbacks. The engine is a 1.3-liter four-cylinder matched with a continuously variable transmission. Scion claims fuel economy will be in the high-30-mpg range. ESC and 10 air bags are standard, including an industry-first rear-window curtain bag. We expect the iQ to be priced starting at $15,000.
Ford Fiesta
Designed by Ford of Europe, this subcompact is about the size of a Honda Fit and available as a four-door hatchback or sedan. The 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine is certified by the Environmental Protection Agency for 38 mpg on the highway and 29 mpg in the city. A manual transmission is standard; a new six-speed automated manual is optional. The interior has an upscale look and feel and seating for five. High-end models have a leather interior. Safety features include front, side, and curtain air bags as well as a driver's knee bag. ESC is standard, and prices start around $14,000, including destination charges.
Mazda 2
This subcompact provides seating for five and is 
available only as a four-door hatchback. It's already a hit in Europe, and the version sold here has a 100-hp, 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. Mazda claims the 2 will get up to 35 mpg on the highway. Two trim levels are offered. Standard safety features include ESC and curtain air bags. Prices start at $14,730, including destination charges.
Mini Countryman
The largest Mini yet has four doors, roomier rear bucket seats, available all-wheel drive, and the look of an SUV. The cargo area has generous underfloor storage, folding rear seatbacks, and a pass-through. Powertrain choices include the 1.6-liter naturally aspirated or turbocharged four-cylinder engines found in other Minis, matched with a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. Both engines get a slight horsepower increase for 2011. The Countryman is expected to sell for about $30,000.
Honda Odyssey
Honda says its redesigned minivan has more interior room and better aerodynamics and rear visibility and gets up to 28 mpg on the highway. The engine is the same 3.5-liter V6. We're told there are no plans for an all-wheel-drive version, so the Toyota Sienna is the only minivan offering AWD. Pricing will start around $27,000.
Volkswagen Jetta
The redesigned Jetta sedan, measuring 3.5 inches longer overall, has more rear leg room and a lower base price of about $16,000. Gasoline and diesel engines are carried over, and a hybrid version is coming. Most versions will have the 2.5-liter, five-cylinder that got 24 mpg overall in our Golf. The Jetta wagon is unchanged; Volkswagen says it will retain the sporty demeanor and upscale interior.
Kia Optima
This midsized sedan has been redesigned with a wider, lower stance; a 3-inch-longer wheelbase; and a more spacious cabin. The new 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine is good for 200 hp, and the optional V6 has been replaced with a turbocharged, 274-hp version of the four-cylinder. A hybrid model will arrive early next year. The Optima is expected to be priced in the low-$20,000 range.
Kia Sportage
Ford Explorer
The Explorer has shed its trucklike, body-on-frame platform for a carlike unibody design shared with the Taurus and Flex. It will seat up to seven in three rows of seats. Ford promises much better fuel economy, thanks to improved aerodynamics, reduced weight, a six-speed automatic transmission, and the turbocharged, direct-injection EcoBoost engine that's optional on front-wheel-drive versions. Safety features include available rear inflatable safety belts claimed to provide better protection for children. The base price is about $29,000.
Latest Hybrids
Of several new hybrid models, the Honda CR-Z and Lexus CT 200h are the only dedicated hybrids, with no conventional counterparts.
The CR-Z, now on sale, is a small two-seater for buyers who want sporty looks with their fuel economy. But an early drive shows that it's not that sporty to drive or very fuel efficient for a hybrid. Pricing starts at $19,200.The 200h, expected in early 2011, is a pr
emium compact hatchback that's about the size of an Audi A3. Its hybrid powertrain is similar to the Prius', but it's based on a Toyota Corolla version sold in other countries. Pricing is expected to start around $30,000.
A very nice modification of Ford Focus, It’s a great inspiration for those who tried to modified their car too
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