(Detroit, January 11, 2010) After a less than successful redesign for the North American market in 2008, the 2011 Ford Focus is returning to a global design that will be common in all markets. The third generation Focus will be built on Ford's global C-segment platform in North America, Europe, Russia and China beginning at the end of 2010.

When the North American Focus goes into production it will have a single engine option and two transmission choices. However the propulsion options will expand starting with a battery electric system coming in 2011.

At a preview of the new Focus prior to the auto show Ford management discussed the philosophy behind the new model. The Focus now follows the "One Ford" strategy where all new models will get common global designs. This is not the first time that Ford has attempted so-called world cars, with the earliest attempts being the Ford Escort of the early 1980s. In the past these programs were stymied by conflicting regulatory, manufacturing and customer expectations. Cars that began as common designs ended up diverging significantly for different markets.

This time, Ford is taking advantage of computer aided engineering tools and converging market demands to keep things common and take advantage of economies of scale. Derrick Kuzak, group vice president for global product development explained that the manufacturing processes for the new Focus were developed by a single team using virtual reality tools. Regardless of whether the new cars are built in Michigan, France or China, they will now be produced using exactly the same processes and equipment. This is expected help Ford avoid the rash of production problems and recalls that plagued the first year of North American Focus production in 1999-2000.

Given the demands for reduced fuel consumption and emissions in all global markets, efficiency was clearly a primary goal for Ford in developing the new Focus. The team at Ford of Europe took the lead, but there were contributions from engineers in the US and Asia as well. The new global C-segment platform will eventually have ten different body styles known as top-hats applied to it. The first two were revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show last September as the C-Max and Grand C-Max MAVs. At Detroit Ford will reveal the four door sedan and five door hatchback versions that will be sold in the US market along with the Grand C-Max. Other variants will arrive at other auto shows over the next year.
 

Aerodynamics was an important goal for the entire lineup and Ford put considerable effort into reducing drag. The Focus that is debuting in Detroit features the latest development of kinetic design language that has been used on European Fords for several years. Designer Martin Smith explained that kinetic design is meant to evoke a feeling of movement even when the vehicle is standing still.

One of the interesting features of the new Focus are thermostatically controlled shutters behind the grille. Air flowing through the engine compartment generates a tremendous amount of aerodynamic drag. At higher speeds, the air velocity provides more heat transfer so less air is needed to keep the engine temperature under control. The shutters automatically close based on under-hood temperatures to limit the area through which air can pass, directing most of it around the car instead.

As usual the European market will get a wide array of both gas and diesel engine options but the US market will be limited to one engine and two transmissions at launch. The Focus will be powered by Ford's first normally aspirated, direct fuel injected (DI) engine, a 2.0-liter inline-four. Ford will take advantage of the charge-cooling effect of the DI by bumping the compression ratio to 12.0:1. This should help boost low end torque and improve drivability. The result of all this is 155 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. The 2.0-liter will also be E85 flex-fuel capable, the first production direct injection engine to get this capability.

One of the launch engines in Europe will be the new 1.6-liter Ecoboost four which is expected to be rated at 170-180 horsepower. This engine is also expected to eventually become an option in North America as well.

All 2012 Focuses will be equipped with six-speed transmissions. The base configuration is a conventional manual transmission. The optional upgrade will be the new dry dual clutch Powershift automatic. The dual clutch transmission produced in partnership with German supplier Getrag eliminates the losses inherent in a fluid coupling torque converter improving efficiency. No torque converter automatic will be offered in the Focus.

Further aiding fuel efficiency will be Ford's first US installation of automatic start-stop in a non-hybrid vehicle. Because of the way the EPA measures, mileage, auto start stop is not expected to have any significant impact on the sticker values, but it will provide real world advantages by eliminating most idling.

A third powertrain combination will be added to the lineup sometime in 2011 when the Focus Electric debuts. This variant dispenses with engines and transmissions and uses and electric motor and lithium ion battery pack for zero emissions driving. The Focus electric is expected to have a nominal range of 80-100 miles on a charge and will likely be available in both the four door sedan and five door hatchback body styles.

Gunnar Hermann, vehicle line director for Ford's C-segment vehicles, the floor-pan and structure is engineered to accommodate battery installation and is common to all body styles. As a result any of the Focus variants could be electrified.

Production of the new Focus will begin late this year in Wayne, MI with the cars going on sale in early 2011. Ford expects the US specification models to get at least 40 mpg on the highway.