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Jalopnik (feeds.gawker.com) has great Ford Focus news, photos, videos and more
Friday, Jan 29
Mercury To Unveil Focus-Based Compact, What Should They Call it? [New Cars]
Ford's global compact platform can become just about anything, serving as work van, CUV, MPV, coupe, compact and badass hot hatch in Europe. As much as we'd like to see a Mercury-based variation of the Focus RS (Capri Part Duex, anyone?) this is more likely to be a four-door or five-door com...
Forzalopnik: Your Winners Are Here! [Forzalopnik]
6.) 1971 De Tomaso Pantera: 2531 votes As Panteras go, the '71 model is a connoisseur's car. Devoid of the garish styling found on later Panteras, this simple Italian-American exotic looked the part and delivered the goods. A 350-hp Ford 351 lived under the rear hatch.
Tuesday, Jan 12
2010 Detroit Auto Show Round-Up: The Full Monty [Detroit Auto Show]
Delta Forced: First Lancia Rebadged As Chrysler In its quest to revamp itself, Chrysler has badge-engineered a Lancia Delta into the Auburn Hills family. Take a mediocre Italian hatchback, slap a new skin on it, and use that to revamp a struggling American brand? Makes perfect sense.
Lacking Products, Old Media Fellates “Optimism” Instead [Rants]
What do we have to be optimistic about? According to the AP, Chrysler is going to slow the rate at which it fires people (they're calling that "hiring"), Ford won two Car Of The Year awards by the hometown press, GM's going to make more crossovers, Chrysler/Fiat will hire temporary employe...
Monday, Jan 11
Commenter Of The Day: 99 Problems Edition [Commenter Of The Day]
Ecoboost is the new language of balls to the wall engine technology. MyFord, while stupidly named, is the single coolest interior feature for a car I've ever heard of: it is literally the future of automobiles. Your new engines, from the new 6.7 diesel, to the asshole riping 5.0, and even down t...
Ford Goes Electric, Zaps Fun Out Of 2012 Focus [Detroit Auto Show]
Before Bill Ford pulled the 2012 Ford Focus from an on-stage Demon Hole, he stopped our hearts with big news. An RS!?! No. An announcement regarding Michigan-built all-electric Focii starting next year and hybrid C-platform cars. Sad.
Sunday, Jan 10
2012 Ford Focus: The Comeback Kid [Detroit Auto Show]
Under the hood there's a direct injection 2.0-liter four-cylinder with twin independent variable cam timing producing "better than 150 HP." It's paired with a manual six speed or the Powershift dual clutch automatic. Of course we're frothing at the mouth fat the prospect of these cars get...
Wednesday, Jan 6
MyFord, MyLincoln Touch Systems Re-Establish Ford Techno-Wizard Domination [Detroit Auto Show]
SYNC – behind the scenes Audio AM/FM/CD, SIRIUS/XM satellite radio, USB-connected MP3 players and memory sticks New HD Radio capability five-way button steering wheel controls and an 8-inch touch screen all controlled by simplified SYNC® voice commands
Ken Block Ditches Subaru, Will Rock Ford For WRC, X Games [Racing News]
Ken Block has established himself as an action sports competitor and a rising star in the world of American rally racing," said Jamie Allison, director Ford North America Motorsports. "We are excited to have him on our team to help promote our new global products, the 2011 Ford Fiesta and...
Sunday, Dec 13
Jalopnik 's Worst10 Cars Of The Decade [Best10]
Chrysler Sebring Ford Focus Years Produced: 2006 – Present Current Base Price: $17,090 Current Engines: 2.0-liter I4, 158 HP; 2.4-liter I4, 172 HP Random Depressing Fact: Car and Driver got more skidpad grip out of the Honda Ridgeline. (Look it up.)
Monday, Dec 7
Santa Rolls In A Focus RS [LOLCars]
Brandenburg, Germany is our kind of place. Rather than a fake sled running on top of a tractor, their Santa Claus parade features a freakin' Ford Focus RS. We'll be nice, we promise. Photo Credit: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images
Friday, Nov 20
M-Sport Unveils Ford Fiesta S2000 For Global Rally Efforts [Ford Fiesta S2000 Rally Car]
The Fiesta S2000 is the latest in a long line of rally cars produced as a result of the successful partnership between M-Sport and Ford, starting with the Escort Cosworth in the 1990s and moving on to the record breaking Ford Focus RS WRC and Ford Fiesta ST.
Monday, Nov 2
Ford Posts $997 Million Profit, Still Down $1.3 Billion This Year [Carpocalypse]
Ford's North American operations posted a pre-tax operating profit of $357 million, its first quarterly profit since the first quarter of 2005. Ford South America, Ford Europe and Ford Asia Pacific Africa also posted pre-tax operating profits in the third quarter.
Monday, Oct 26
Opinion: The Other Ford SEMA Show Cars [Sema]
In its constant search for more power, the FSWerks crew has taken a 2009 Ford Focus Coupe and pushed it to the edge. Utilizing many years of racing, fabricating and powertrain experience, this transformed Ford Focus is now pushing more than 500 horsepower, making it one serious track Focu...
Friday, Oct 16
Ford Introduces 1.6L Duratec Race Engine, Restarts Kent Production [Racing News]
New Duratec 1600cc, 110 PS engine The highly robust and efficient 1.6 litre Duratec engine, as used in the Ford Focus and Ford Fiesta road cars, has proven a very successful race engine in Formula Ford championships around the world. Source: Ford]
Wednesday, Sep 23
New Ford Figo Launches For India, Bolsters Ford's Position [New Cars]
Sharing key elements of Ford's kinetic design language with vehicles like the globally renowned Ford Focus, Ford Mondeo and the Ford Fiesta, Ford Figo features a fresh, contemporary shape that will be a distinctive alternative to traditional brands in this segment. The design languag...
Thursday, Sep 17
Jay Leno's Reasonably Priced Electric Car A Euro-Spec Ford Focus [I Feel Gassy]
Thanks in part to the battery placement, the race-ready Ford Focus BEV has a nearly ideal 50/50 weight distribution for improved racetrack handling. The front springs and dampers come from the performance-minded Ford Focus RS, a popular, high-performance European production model. T...
Ford C-Max: Not-So-US-Bound [Frankfurt Motor Show]
The initial Ford EcoBoost four-cylinder lineup will comprise 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter engines. The engines will be available globally, with versions launching in Europe and North America in 2010, and the first rear-wheel-drive application in the Ford Falcon in Australia in 2011. By 2013...
Tuesday, Sep 15
Ford Grand C-Max: Return Of The Truly Mini Van [Frankfurt Motor Show]
Bold exterior and interior designs have been created using the latest evolution of Ford's "kinetic design" form language, building on the themes established in recent product introductions like the hugely successful European-developed Fiesta, Kuga and Mondeo ranges.
Thursday, Sep 3
Ford C-MAX: Focus-Based Mini-Minivan May Come Stateside [Frankfurt Motor Show]
Departing from usual MAV thinking by using Ford's 'kinetic design' styling language to adopt a more dynamic passenger-car look, the new model features a coupé-like, sweeping roofline while still retaining the established Ford C-MAX hallmarks of comfort, space, and practicality.
Tuesday, Jul 21
IIHS Crash Tests Five Budget Coupes: Ford, Volvo Earn Top Safety Picks [Crash Tests]
Emphasizing vehicles for family use, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety normally crash tests four-door vehicles. However, to evaluate the extent automakers are extending new crashworthiness improvements to two-door vehicles — you know, for kids — they've recently conduct...
Friday, May 29
2010 Ford Transit Connect: First Drive [Jalopnik Reviews]
In and around Manhattan's crowded streets, the Transit Connect drives as easy as a comparable front-wheel drive hatch. Sure, in comparison to the European Focus on which this Transit is based, the ride is firmer and you can feel the height in a smidge of bodyroll, but it's still a more capab...
Thursday, Apr 9
2010 Opel Astra, GTC Get Much-Needed Facelift [Frankfurt Auto Show]
Also, pictured in sketch form is the high-performance 2010 Opel Astra GTC, which is poised to take on the new Ford Focus RS and VW GTI. Power will likely come from a version of the turbocharged, direct-injection 2.0L Ecotec featured in the Cobalt SS Turbo. The new GTC will trump the previous mo...
2010 Kia Forte Koup: You Stay Klassy, Kia [New York Auto Show]
Like the Forte sedan, two transmission options are available for both 2010 Forte Koup models: a standard five-speed manual transmission or an optional electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission (EX models). The SX model features a standard six-speed manual trans...
Tuesday, Mar 31
Horbury Returning To Volvo, Callum Takes Over At Ford Design [Industry News]
Horbury then led the Americas design team in applying the new design philosophy to most of the production Lincoln product range, including the 2009 Lincoln MKS, the 2010 Lincoln MKZ and the all-new 2010 Lincoln MKT. During his five years leading Ford's America's Design, Horbury led the d...
Ford Advantage Plan To Kick Hyundai's Guarantee In The Assurance [Carpocalypse]
The Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan are America's most fuel-efficient mid-size sedans, and the Fusion has a higher residual value than the Toyota Camry after three years of ownership, according to the Automotive Leasing Guide (ALG).
Sunday, Feb 8
2010 Ford Transit Connect Officially First Ford Electric Vehicle [2010 Ford Transit Connect]
The idea of an electric Transit Connect is interesting, but it's only a part of Ford's electric and hybrid strategy going forward. They've also announced an electric small car for 2011, the Ford version of the next-generation hybrid in 2012 and a plug-in hybrid for 2012. This seemingly agg...
Tuesday, Jan 20
Ford PowerShift Dual-Clutch Six-Speed Automatic Transmission: A Tranny For The Little Ones [Transmissions]
DETROIT, Jan. 21, 2009 – Ford Motor Company announced today it will introduce an advanced dual-clutch PowerShift six-speed transmission in North America in 2010 for the small-car segment. In Europe, Ford currently offers a PowerShift transmission in the Ford Focus. This PowerShift use...
Saturday, Jan 10
Ford Unveils Plan For Four Electric Cars By 2012 [Detroit Auto Show]
To start, Ford will introduce in North America: The four-cylinder Ford Fusion S is now certified at 34 mpg highway and 23 mpg in the city, topping the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord This year, Ford also will introduce its EcoBoost engines on the Ford Flex crossover and Lincoln MKS sedan.
Friday, Jan 9
Ford Fusion New Mid-Size Fuel Economy Champ, Bests Toyota, Honda [2010 Ford Fusion]
The four-cylinder Ford Fusion S is now certified at 34 mpg highway and 23 mpg in the city, topping the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord The latest news on Fusion joins other Ford fuel economy leaders, including: Fuel Economy Leadership Priced Right
Wednesday, Jan 7
Opinion: CES: Ford Upgrades Sync With Turn-By-Turn Navigation [Sync]
Since the introduction of SYNC in the 2008 Ford Focus, Ford quickly has integrated the technology. By summer 2009, Ford’s entire North American lineup will offer this must-have technology, demonstrating its rapid, consumer-driven adoption. Ford expects to have 1 million SYNC-equipp...
Monday, Dec 29
Ford Active Park Assist: "Better-Than-Lexus" Push-Button Parallel Parking To Debut In Lincoln MKT, MKS [Detroit Auto Show]
• Available in mid-2009 on Lincoln MKS sedan and all-new Lincoln MKT crossover • Electric Power Assisted Steering also improves fuel economy up to 5 percent, while reducing CO2 emissions and enhancing performance, compared with traditional steering Source: Ford]
Monday, Dec 15
New Ford Focus RS Priced From $38,000
For that dough Ford will serve up a turbocharged 2.5 liter five cylinder with 300 HP and 324 lb-ft of torque mated to a six-speed transmission, all good for a 0-62 mph under six seconds with a top speed of over 160 MPH. Want. PRICES ANNOUNCED FOR 2009 FORD FOCUS RS Source: Ford]
Friday, Nov 7
Ford Announces $129M In Third Quarter Losses, Forecasts Job Cuts [Industry News]
Launched the new Ford Fiesta small car in Europe, the first of Ford’s new global small cars. Production began in Cologne, Germany, and the car is now going on sale in Europe. Fiesta also is beginning to now go on sale in Asia and will be introduced in North America in early 2010.
Friday, Oct 31
SEMA Getting Hit With Tsunami Of Custom Fords [Sema]
LINCOLN MKS, FORD FOCUS STAND OUT AT SEMA 2009 Lincoln MKS by 3dCarbon 2009 Lincoln MKS by Godfather Customs 2009 Lincoln MKS by RKSport 2009 Ford Focus Coupe by 3dCarbon 2009 Ford Focus Coupe by FSWerks 2008 Lincoln MKX by Street Concepts Source: Ford]
Thursday, Jul 24
BREAKING! Ford Reports $8.7 Billion Net Loss For Second Quarter 2008, Bringing Six European Small Vehicles Stateside
2009 Ford Focus, with highway fuel economy of up to 35 mpg - better than the smaller 2008 Honda Fit and 2009 Nissan Versa SL and a key reason Focus retail sales are up 50 percent 2009 Escape, with a new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and six-speed transmission delivering best-in-class high...
Friday, Jul 11
2009 Ford Fiesta Engine Specs Announced, Top-Of-The-Line Duratec Hits 118 HP
Welcome to Fiesta - the new Ford. All-New Ford Fiesta - Introduction Three other 16-valve Duratec petrol engines are offered for all-new Fiesta, in 1.25- and 1.4-litres and outputs from 60 PS to 96 PS, with an automatic transmission option available on the Duratec 1.4-litre. Source: Ford]
Monday, Jul 7
2009 Ford Focus RS Details Officially Official, Green Machine Lives
We believe it's vitally important that a Focus RS looks like both a Focus and an RS - it needs to be individual, distinctive and overt in its performance styling, but it also needs to show a clear progression from and relationship to Focus ST", said Stefan Lamm, Chief Exterior Designer, For...
Friday, Jun 20
2009 Ford F-150 Release Postponed Two Months, Truck Production Cut
In addition to hatchback and sedan versions of the European-engineered Ford Fiesta small car that goes on sale in North America in early 2010, Ford is announcing today that four- and five-door versions of the next-generation European Ford Focus small car will be produced in North Ameri...
Tuesday, Feb 5
2008 Ford Focus Coupe-Cabriolet Revealed Before Geneva Motor Show
Kinetic Design' Styling A fine range of Duratec petrol and Duratorq diesel engines was chosen for the Focus Coupé-Cabriolet: While the 1.6-litre 100 PS/74 kW Duratec petrol is the entry level into the Focus 'wind-in-the-hair' experience, the well acclaimed 2.0-litre 145 PS/107 kW Dura...
Wednesday, Jan 30
Opinion: Microsoft Sync in a 2008 Ford Focus SE Road Test: Part 3
The phone functionality was pretty good, as well. Once you overcome the agony of getting it all set up—and I endured some significant agony—it works well. The option to receive and send (limited) text messages is a definite bonus, compared to other in-car systems. But as I have urged in my two...
Tuesday, Jan 29
Opinion: Microsoft Sync Setup in the 2008 Ford Focus SE: Part 2
Overall, I can't put all of the blame on set-up on the Sync—my cellphone caused some of the problems, because I doesn't support all features available on Sync. Stay tuned for part three in the series where I give the Sync a full-blown road test.
Monday, Jan 28
Opinion: Microsoft Sync Gets Unboxed in the 2008 Ford Focus SE: Part 1 of 3
You've seen the commercials, but really, how easy is the Microsoft Sync in-car entertainment system to use? I decided to give Sync an unboxing, similar to the ones our brethren do. I'll give you a hint how it went: Don't get your hopes up. This is only Part One of a three-part series, in which I'...
Sunday, Jan 13
Detroit Auto Show: Ford Verve North American Version Live
Ford: European Small-Car Know-How Ford maintains small-car leadership in Europe with vehicles set apart by their world-class driving dynamics and dynamic designs. The Ford Fiesta - which is smaller than the Focus - debuted in 1976, and it has sold more than 12 million units in Europe.
Wednesday, Jan 2
Ford SYNC-ed Up With Customers, Selling Twice As Many SYNC Models
SYNC currently is offered on 12 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models. The first SYNC-equipped vehicles, including the redesigned 2008 Ford Focus, began reaching customers in late September. When offered as an option, the system is priced at $395. [Source: FORD]
Monday, Dec 17
Opinion: Ford Europe Confirms High-Performance 2009 Focus RS [New Cars]
Cologne, December 17, 2007 - Ford of Europe is confirming its plan to deliver an exciting all-new, high performance Focus RS model for launch in 2009. A design image released by the company today hints at the exciting direction the new model is taking.
Wednesday, Oct 17
2008 Ford Focus Coupe, Part 2 [Jalopnik Reviews]
Gearbox: **** The five-speed manual in the Focus is a smooth operator, easily sliding through gears. My assumption is a short-shifter will more than likely be the first option a buyer of the manny-tranny Focus will be picking up at their local aftermarket shop.
Tuesday, Oct 16
2008 Ford Focus Coupe, Part 1 [Jalopnik Reviews]
Likewise, there's not much drama in the driving experience. Even with the five-speed manual, the standard 2.0-liter four is about as exciting as a podiatrist's waiting room. I pined for the previous Focus ZX4's 2.3-liter that made a spry 151 hp. But Ford's left that engine behind for the new mo...
Friday, Aug 24
Ford to Launch New Low-CO2 Diesel Initiative in Frankfurt
Class-leading 115g/km CO2 for conventional technology in Ford Focus ECOnetic model New Ford ECOnetic models will join Ford Flexifuel range to increase affordable low CO2 choices for customers Ford Focus ECOnetic: class leading emissions
Thursday, Jul 19
Ford Bringing Iosis X-Based Kuga To Europe For 2008
Ford's European Design team has applied its exciting 'kinetic design' form language to introduce a compact and distinctive new 4x4 crossover to the Ford portfolio. The Ford design team is also releasing its first official styling sketch of the new model.
Tuesday, Apr 3
New York Auto Show: Ford Does The Minivan Muscle Flex Live! [New York Auto Show]
Flex's signature exterior design includes: Flex is powered by Ford's award-winning 3.5-liter V-6 engine and is mated to a fuel-efficient 6-speed transmission. The powertrain is expected to deliver more than 260 horsepower, 245 lb.-ft. of torque and good fuel economy.
Tuesday, Dec 5
When Dave Met Bruce: Ford Europe's C-Max Debuts in Bologna
The new Ford C-MAX Although we originally launched this vehicle as the Ford Focus C-MAX, we have chosen to give the freshened model its own identity, similar to the S-MAX", explains Stephen Odell, Vice President of Marketing, Sales and Service for Ford of Europe.
