Ford announced that the European market edition of the Ford Focus that launches in 2010 will be produced exclusively at the company’s Saarlouis plant in Germany, while the new Focus C-Max MPV which goes into production next year, will be produced in Valencia, Spain. The current Focus is built in Saarlouis and Valencia while the C-Max minivanis built only in Germany. Ford goes on to add that the Valencia plant will produce the C-Max for all European markets and possibly for markets outside Europe. Both the Focus and its minivan version were previewed earlier this year at the Geneva Salon.

“Our objective is to return to sustainable profitability as soon as we can,” said John Fleming, Ford of Europe Chairman and CEO. “We’ve already shown that we will make the necessary decisions and do whatever is required to ensure that Ford of Europe emerges from the downturn as a leaner and stronger company, ready to take on the opportunities presented once the economic situation finally improves.”

Tags: C-Max MPV, European, focus, Ford, Saarlouis, spain, Valencia

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Seven new vehicles were tested to take part in the sedan comparison test between seven of the top new cars in the class. And out of these cars, it was the 2009 Honda Civic coming out with flying colors. Among the other cars tested included

• Honda Civic
• MAZDA3
• Toyota Corolla
• Hyundai Elantra
• Nissan Sentra
• Ford Focus
• Chevy Cobalt

The comprehensive compact sedan comparison tests conducted by the kbb.com editorial staff included scoring multiple points of consideration, both subjective and instrumented, for each vehicle in each of the following categories: exterior, interior, driving dynamics, safety (both active and passive safety), crash test ratings, value (examining both New Car Blue Book Values, which are the actual transaction values of what each vehicle is currently selling for, as well as projected future resale values), on-ramp acceleration, passing acceleration, braking from 60 mph, evasive lane change, cornering limits, and interior noise at idle, 30 mph and 60 mph.

In the end, six drivers had subjected seven cars to more than 1,500 miles worth of poking and prodding to determine the results of the 2009 kbb.com compact sedan comparison test.

(Source) Press

Tags: civic, Cobalt, corolla, Elantra, focus, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, kbb, Mazda, Nissan, Sentra, Toyota

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Parents need not worry about their teenagers driving carelessly. Thanks to this new feature by Ford, parents can now program cars to ensure their kids are obeying the law when on the road. Ford is hoping its latest invention will make sure teens listen. It’s called the My-Key system.

“It’s to help parents encourage their teen drivers to drive safer, to drive more fuel efficient and to encourage them to use their seat belt,” says Jim Tobin of Ford Motor Company.

Most cars on the road have some sort of technology to let you know when your seat belt isn’t on. But with the MyKey technology, it includes something a little bit extra. Not only will teens get an error message in the dashboard but their music will also be silenced. The music won’t come back on and the error message won’t go away until they buckle up their safety belt.

In August, MyKey will be available on all new 2010 Ford Focus models. Ford says it will eventually be standard on all of its cars and trucks.

(Source) Rochester

Tags: belt, Company, Dashboard, focus, Ford, Jim Tobin, MyKey, Rochester, safety, Teen

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We’ve just seen Fifth Gear test driving the Focus RS and now we hear some rumors saying that this RS is going to be the last. Ford will apparently focus on a more economical and eco-friendly Focus. According to a source from Ford this RS might be “the last car of this type.”

What do you think? Would you rather drive an all electric Focus which won’t be able to offer you the same thrill the RS will?

via iMotor Mag

Tags: focus, Ford, RS

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How do you like that green mean machine in the video above? That’s right folks, the guys over at Fifth Gear have test driven the 2009 Ford Focus RS and the overall experience was more than pleasant. The 2009 RS features a 2.5 liter turbocharged five cylinder able to deliver 300 horsepower and go to 0 to 60 in less than 6 seconds. How would you like to get your hands on that baby?

via CarScoop

Tags: 2009, Fifth Gear, focus, Ford, RS

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Lincoln unveiled a smaller Focus-sized concept care at the Detroit Auto Show this week called the Lincoln C. The Lincoln C combines the length of the Ford Focus with the width of the larger Lincoln MKZ sedan, and is meant to appeal to a younger, more urban market than traditional Lincoln products. Designers tried to give the Lincoln C unique sport lines with a low-slung body, large corner wheels, and a short bustle back. The result is a vehicle that looks a little bit like a racier, smaller version of a Chrysler PT Cruiser, except with the Lincoln name and price attached to it.

Powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine and a dual-clutch six-speed transmission, the Lincoln C is designed to achieve an estimated 43 mpg at highway speeds without sacrificing pick-up and verve.  If it makes it to production, the Lincoln C will include the new voice-activated entertainment system and will be built on a Focus platform. The Lincoln is being proposed as a replacement for the current Ford Escape.

Tags: focus, Lincoln, lincoln c

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