LINCOLN MKS, FORD FOCUS STAND OUT AT SEMA

DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 31, 2008 – With its sleek design and strong wheel base, the all-new 2009 Lincoln MKS is opening doors in the aftermarket for customization enthusiasts looking for a full-size sedan to make their own.

To demonstrate the personalization potential of Lincoln’s new flagship sedan, Ford will shine the spotlight on three MKS project vehicles at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show, which will be held Nov. 4-7 in Las Vegas.

“The MKS has many different facets,” said Ford designer Melvin Betancourt. “You can hot rod it, add a body kit and still maintain that luxury feel, or you can simply dress it up with a nice set of wheels.”

Custom rims are hot in the aftermarket, and unlike many of its competitors in the full-size luxury segment, the MKS was designed to accommodate larger wheels. The stock vehicle comes with 18-inch wheels, and 19- and 20-inch wheels are optional.

“The larger wheelbase gives the option to migrate to a more aggressive, sporty appearance,” said Pei-Wen Hsu, Lincoln MKS marketing manager. “It gives customers a way to make the vehicle unique for themselves.”

Ernie Bunnell, owner of 3dCarbon, had 22-inch NC Forged aluminum wheels custom designed for his 3dCarbon MKS. He also dressed the vehicle in a five-piece custom body kit.

“The styling of the MKS is very appealing to begin with, but the body kit makes a dramatic difference,” he said. “It really jazzes it up and gives it a more European feel.”

A “more European feel” is also what Robert K. Smith, president and CEO of RKSport, was trying to achieve with the MKS he customized for the SEMA show.

“We did the car in silver with 20-inch wheels and black rims, and we also brought the car down to a lower profile as far as ride height is concerned to make it more European-looking,” he said.

To give the car a more muscular feel, Smith says he added an extractor hood with carbon fiber components that look a little more aggressive than the stock hood. He finished off the look with a black Roadwire leather interior.

“The interior on the MKS is extremely nice,” he said. “We applied a bit of silver in the seating area and in the door panels to contrast with the exterior and give it a little more pizzazz.”

In addition to the MKS, the 2009 Ford Focus Coupe will also have a presence at the SEMA show with three project vehicles designed to show that a fuel-efficient small car – it gets 35 mpg on the highway — doesn’t have to fall short on performance and style.

“Based on feedback from our customers, we redesigned the Coupe for 2009 to include new front and rear fascias, a new roof-line spoiler and standard 17-inch aluminum wheels on the SES model,” said Sam De La Garza, Focus marketing manager. “The vehicle is positioned for the youth market as a good value for the money in terms of power and overall feature content, which really gives us a good step in the right direction for this car in the aftermarket.”

Stout Performance worked together with the Barber Driving Experience (BDX) to customize a Focus Coupe for the SEMA show. Chris Stout says he chose the Focus because it offers a very good platform to build upon.

“It’s lightweight. The chassis is very stiff, and the suspension geometry is world-class to the point that it was copied by a few other manufacturers,” he said.

Stout, who is also an instructor for BDX, says he plans to use the vehicle to teach performance driving on the tracks.

“We added a six-point roll cage, which not only makes the car safer for occupants but it stiffens the chassis a bit, which is what you need on a road course,” he said. “We modified the suspension, and we added an F2 Turbo kit for power. So you get better compression, better dampening and a lot more power.”

Bunnell, who also customized a Focus for the SEMA show, enhanced the exterior styling with wheels and a custom body kit.

“We added 19-inch wheels and a five-piece body kit that gives the car a sporty look that’s lower to the ground without actually lowering the vehicle per se,” he said.

In addition to the new MKS and Focus Coupe, Ford will feature other vehicles at SEMA, including the Lincoln MKX, the Ford Edge, Escape and the new Transit Connect. This year’s project vehicles include:

2009 Lincoln MKS by 3dCarbon

Lincoln’s newest luxury vehicle, the 2009 MKS, defines the future of luxury with a sleek, road-hugging stance and elegant design that exudes power and luxury. Now, this breakthrough American luxury car gets a touch of European flare and luxury styling courtesy of 3dCarbon’s “Euro Series” styling kit.

Outfitted with 3dCarbon’s five-piece body kit and NC Forged wheels, this MKS looks ready to drive off the showroom directly onto the autobahn. The dramatic 5-piece “Euro Series” styling kit includes front air dam, side skirts, rear lower skirt, and deck lid spoiler.

2009 Lincoln MKS by Godfather Customs

Designed with crafted precision and intuitive technologies, the 2009 Lincoln MKS is already a vehicle that’s in a league of its own. Godfather Customs has moved this singular luxury car even further from the rest of the field with their own version of the MKS.

Building upon the luxurious Lincoln sedan, Godfather added even more refinement to the interior with an OEM integration that allows full control of the audio and video systems. An additional three video screens provide back seat drivers with their own access to state-of-the-art navigation. At the same time the superior audio quality has been further enhanced with the addition of Excelon components. On the outside, signature 22-inch wheels and tires make a statement that can’t be ignored. With this edition, Godfather Customs moves the MKS from luxurious elegance to pure extravagance.

2009 Lincoln MKS by RKSport

Not all cars are created equal. Designed with crafted precision and intuitive technologies, the 2009 Lincoln MKS offers a unique, personalized driving and ownership experience that represents the ultimate convergence of performance and luxury.

RKSport started with the signature styling and performance powertrain and added a unique look and enhanced performance that make the 2009 Lincoln MKS even more distinctive to own and exciting to drive. Wherever it goes, this car will make a statement about the discerning owner and provide a personalized luxury performance experience second to none.

2009 Ford Focus Coupe by 3dCarbon

Small cars are big news and the 2009 Ford Focus is a solid contender in this fast growing, quickly evolving segment. 3dCarbon brings their experience and expertise to this important market with the introduction of the 2009 Ford Focus Coupe “Euro Series” Styling Kit.

This radically modified “Euro Series” Focus is outfitted in 3dCarbon’s all-new five-piece styling kit that includes a front air dam, side skirts, rear lower skirt and deck lid spoiler. Add high-performance BF Goodrich g-Force T/A KDW tires mounted on R1 Racing GTR-4 wheels and you’ve got a small car that delivers on the promise of its sporty European good looks. This modified Focus makes for a vehicle that exudes confidence with a brash stance and aerodynamic, road-hugging attitude. On the inside, it features fine and fun touches that include Katzkin leather trim, a suede headliner and Sundial tinted windows.

2009 Ford Focus Coupe by Stout Performance and Barber Driving Experience

The 2009 Ford Focus is built to deliver serious fun. Starting with this capable platform, Stout Performance worked with the Barber Driver Experience to create a vehicle also built for serious competition.

This modified Focus offers dual purpose use, both as a contender in time attack races and as vehicle for the Barber Driving Experience performance driving instruction. It features functional aerodynamics, chassis stiffening via a roll cage, and a high output powerplant. With only mods that are in the spirit of street class competition, this specially prepared Focus will be a true contender on the race course.

2009 Ford Focus Coupe by FSWerks

The 2009 Focus SES coupe has a sharp new look and a long list of equipment designed to deliver an exhilarating driving experience. Focus SES is the coupe for those who want it all…great fuel economy, attention-getting style and responsive performance.

Drawing on years of performance tuning success, the FSWerks crew has taken the newly restyled Focus coupe and transformed it into a head turning example of performance and cutting edge style. It has a bold, bad, attention-grabbing look and the guts to with it, delivering more than double the horsepower and torque of the sporty Focus SES. Yet, this high performance, high-profile coupe is still refined enough for daily driving in comfort and style.

(No photo available at publication)

2008 Lincoln MKX by Street Concepts

The 2008 Lincoln MKX combines capability with luxury and performance in a head-turning package that gets noticed wherever it goes. The available intelligent all-wheel-drive system helps drivers handle the curves and keep a grip on things in any weather while traveling in style and comfort.

The Street Concepts version adds some serious attitude to the Lincoln MKX with 22-inch MOZ Wheels, Continental Tires, 3DCarbon’s body kit and monochrome blackout exterior treatment. On the inside, it entertains and connects with a complete Kenwood audio and video system that includes a Visulogic VMOD unit for wireless internet within the vehicle. For added driving excitement, this proven performer gets a sweet-sounding Magna flow cat back exhaust system and easy breathing K&N air intake system.

2009 Ford Escape Hybrid by EcoTrek

For those who really care about saving gas and saving our planet, Ford made Escape Hybrid the most fuel efficient SUV on the planet. Now for the ultimate environmentalist, EcoTrek offers a Ford Escape Hybrid with the ultimate “Environmental Integration” package.

In this uniquely green vehicle, EcoTrek augments the earth-friendly features of Ford’s revolutionary hybrid SUV with premium components made from recycled and recyclable materials. The interior includes rugged yet luxurious faux leather suede seat covers and carpeted floor mats made from recycled plastics. Key exterior parts, including the tires, wheels, running boards and the skid plate, are all made from reusable materials. Despite this serious commitment to being green, the Escape Hybrid from EcoTrek is also equipped for ultimate fun with enhanced off-road capability and a Hobie watercraft used to assist San Francisco’s Heal the Bay efforts.

2009 Ford Escape by HPA Motorsports Inc.

For active people with demanding lifestyles, the 2009 Ford Escape delivers driving fun and practical utility in the city or in the wilderness. The “Sport” Edition 2009 Ford Escape from HPA Motorsports takes this unique blend of off-road potential and urban performance to the extreme.

Custom wide body flares and brawny exterior styling cues present a street stance worthy of the sure-footed “intelligent” 4WD system. The finely tuned suspension delivers no-compromise handling on or off the road while passengers can chill out and enjoy the comfortable ride with today’s hottest in-car-entertainment.

Ford Transit Connect Concept by H&R Special Springs, LP

The award-winning Transit Connect has established a reputation as the best small cargo van in Europe. In the summer of 2009 this segment busting versatile workhorse will be coming to America.

H&R has taken the popular Ford Transit Connect, redefined it into a get-up-and-go stylin’ street van like no other. Their Transit Connect has been lowered 3 inches in the front, and 4 inches in the rear, enhancing the visual impact of the huge 19-inch tires and wheels. Piloti shoes drew on their design expertise to create a unique interior that employs fine high fashion materials showcasing a palette of colors and textures with the finest workmanship. This unique treatment of a breakthrough vehicle explores the range of customization possibilities for Transit Connect.

2009 Ford Edge "Sport" Edition by Steeda

The 2009 Ford Edge Sport offers a factory-quality, customized crossover for buyers who want added attitude. This customized version of America’s best-selling crossover is available from Ford dealers with many of the appearance mods seen here, including 22-inch polished aluminum rims, an attractive 8-piece body kit, blackout headlamps and taillamps, a dark brushed interior center stack, bold contrast stitching on the shift knob and steering wheel, and the Edge Sport badging.

Drawing on two decades of experience working exclusively with Ford products, Steeda took the 2009 Ford Edge Sport to another level. A host of performance mods provide added power and even sportier handling. On the inside, leather seats and billeted trim deliver increased comfort and amped-up attitude. Unique Steeda graphics let the whole world know that this Edge Sport is something very special.

[Source: Ford]

* 2009 Ford F-150, on sale in late fall with the most capability, most choice and most smart features of any full-size pickup, and with more than a 7 percent fuel economy improvement
* 2010 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln MKZ sedans, on sale in early 2009, with Fusion's and Milan's four-cylinder fuel economy expected to top Honda Accord and Toyota Camry
* 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and Mercury Milan Hybrid, beginning production late this year and on sale in early 2009 - with fuel economy expected to top the Toyota Camry hybrid
* New Ford Mustang - coupe, convertible, and glass-roof models - in early 2009
* New Ford Taurus sedan - with EcoBoost engine and even more advanced safety and convenience technologies - in mid-2009
* New European Transit Connect small multi-purpose van in mid-2009
* New Lincoln seven-passenger crossover - with EcoBoost engine - in mid-2009
* New European Ford Fiesta, in both four- and five-door versions, in early 2010
* New European Ford Focus, in both four- and five-door versions, in 2010
* New Mercury small car in 2010
* New European small vehicle that will be a "whitespace" entry in North America in 2010
* Next-generation Ford Explorer - with unibody construction, EcoBoost, six-speed, weight savings and improved aerodynamics for up to 25 percent better fuel economy - in 2010

FORD REPORTS $8.7 BILLION NET LOSS FOR SECOND QUARTER 2008, INCLUDING PRE-TAX SPECIAL CHARGES OF $8 BILLION; COMPANY ALSO DETAILS ACCELERATED TRANSFORMATION PLAN+

* Net loss of $8.7 billion, or $3.88 a share, for the second quarter of 2008.
* Pre-tax special charges of $8 billion, including impairments of $5.3 billion for Ford North America long-lived assets and $2.1 billion for Ford Motor Credit Company's operating lease portfolio.
* Pre-tax loss of $1 billion from continuing operations, excluding special items.++
* Cost reductions of $1 billion, including over $600 million in North America (at constant volume, mix and exchange; excluding special items). The company remains on track to reach $5 billion in annual cost reductions in North America by the end of 2008 compared with 2005.
* Strong profitability from Ford Europe and Ford South America.
* Automotive gross cash at June 30 of $26.6 billion (including cash and cash equivalents, net marketable securities and loaned securities). +++
* Ford also today announced a significant acceleration of its product and production transformation plan with the addition of several new fuel-efficient small vehicles in North America and a realignment of its North American manufacturing.

DEARBORN, Mich., July 24, 2008 - Ford Motor Company [NYSE: F] today reported a second quarter net loss of $8.7 billion, or $3.88 per share, including pre-tax special items totaling $8 billion. This compares with a net profit of $750 million, or 31 cents per share, in the second quarter of 2007.

Ford also today announced a significant acceleration of its transformation plan with the addition of several new fuel-efficient small vehicles in North America and a realignment of its North American manufacturing (see related release http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=28660).

"We continue to take decisive action in response to the rapidly changing business environment and remain absolutely committed to the four elements of our business transformation plan," said Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally. "Our European and South American operations are robust and profitable. We have momentum in Asia. And we are uniquely positioned to leverage our global assets and the global strength of the Ford brand to quickly bring more small, fuel-efficient vehicles to North America."

The 2008 operating data discussed below exclude Jaguar Land Rover, which was sold on June 2, 2008. Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin data are, however, included in the 2007 data, except where otherwise noted. See tables following "Safe Harbor/Risk Factors" for the amounts attributable to Jaguar Land Rover and any necessary reconciliations to U.S. GAAP.

Ford's second quarter pre-tax operating loss from continuing operations, excluding special items, was
$1 billion, down from a year-ago profit of $483 million. On an after-tax basis, Ford's second quarter operating loss from continuing operations, excluding special items, was $1.4 billion, or 62 cents per share, compared with a net profit of $258 million, or 13 cents per share, a year ago.

Ford's second quarter revenue, excluding special items, was $38.6 billion, down from $44.2 billion a year ago. Adjusted to exclude Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin from 2007 results, revenue would have been down slightly, with lower volume, adverse product mix and lower net pricing, partly offset by favorable exchange.

Special items reduced pre-tax results by $8 billion in the second quarter, or $3.26 a share, primarily reflecting charges associated with asset impairments of $5.3 billion for Ford North America and $2.1 billion for Ford Credit. Because of deteriorating economic conditions, demand has declined substantially, particularly in North America. At the same time, fuel and commodity prices have increased substantially. As a result, there has been a significant shift away from large pickup trucks and traditional SUVs in North America. This prompted a review of our long-lived North American assets and Ford Credit operating lease portfolio, which led to the pre-tax non-cash impairment charges.

Automotive gross cash, which includes cash and cash equivalents, net marketable securities, and loaned securities, was $26.6 billion at June 30, 2008, a decrease of $2.1 billion from the end of the first quarter.
The decrease primarily reflects working capital increases, upfront subvention payments to Ford Credit, and Automotive operating losses, offset partly by the proceeds of the Jaguar Land Rover sale.

The following discussion of second quarter highlights and results are on a pre-tax basis and exclude special items. See tables following "Safe Harbor/Risk Factors" for the nature and amount of these special items and any necessary reconciliations to U.S. GAAP.

SECOND QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

* Posted profits of $582 million in Ford Europe and $388 million in Ford South America.
* Launched the new Ford Kuga in Europe, a compact crossover vehicle with the best fuel economy of any AWD vehicle in the segment.
* Completed the sale of Jaguar Land Rover to Tata Motors.
* Improved initial quality of Ford brand vehicles in the U.S. at a rate faster than the industry average, according to J.D. Power and Associates. Ford was the only full-line automaker to show continuous quality improvement since 2004.
* Lincoln and Mercury finished fifth and sixth, respectively, in the latest J.D. Power survey of customer satisfaction with dealership service.

* Achieved $1 billion in cost savings, including over $600 million in Ford North America (at constant volume, mix and exchange; excluding special items). The company remains on track to achieve $5 billion in annual cost reductions in North America by the end of 2008 compared with 2005.

* Launched the 2009 Ford Flex, our all-new seven passenger crossover vehicle with fuel economy that is equal-to-or-better-than its crossover competitors, and Lincoln MKS, our new luxury sedan in North America.
* Confirmed the next-generation European Ford Fiesta and Ford Focus will begin North American production in 2010 as Ford North America adds more small cars, crossovers and fuel-efficient powertrains.

FORD ACCELERATES TRANSFORMATION PLAN WITH SMALL CAR OFFENSIVE, MANUFACTURING REALIGNMENT
* Ford adding new fuel-efficient small cars and crossovers to North American product lineup
* Six European small vehicles coming to North America from global B-car and C-car platforms
* Three large truck and SUV plants converting to small cars; retooling begins this December
* Ford, Lincoln and Mercury lineup to be almost completely upgraded by end of 2010
* Ford plans to be the best or among the best in fuel economy with every new product in its segment
* Hybrid vehicle production and lineup to double in 2009
* Capacity for North American four-cylinder engines to double by 2011
* Ford, Lincoln and Mercury confirmed in company's North American brand portfolio

Plant Information

DEARBORN, Mich., July 24, 2008 - Ford Motor Company [NYSE: F] today announced a significant acceleration of its transformation plan with the addition of several new fuel-efficient small vehicles in North America and a realignment of its North American manufacturing.

The actions represent a considerable shift in Ford's North American product plans and investments toward smaller vehicles and fuel-efficient powertrains in both the near- and mid-term in line with rapid changes in customer buying preferences.

In addition to bringing six small vehicles to North America from the company's acclaimed European lineup, Ford is accelerating the introduction of fuel-efficient EcoBoost and all-new four-cylinder engines, boosting hybrid production and converting three existing truck and SUV plants for small car production, beginning this December.

"We continue to take fast and decisive action implementing our plan and responding to the rapidly changing business environment," said Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally. "Ford is moving aggressively using our global product strengths to introduce additional smaller vehicles in North America and to provide outstanding fuel economy with every new product."

Mulally said the company is more focused than ever on its transformation plan, which calls for:

* Aggressively restructuring to operate profitably at the current demand and changing model mix
* Accelerating the development of new products that customers want and value
* Financing the plan and improving the balance sheet
* Working together effectively as one team, leveraging Ford's global assets

"The progress we have made in working together to create a 'One Ford' global enterprise during the past two years gives us a unique competitive advantage in today's environment," Mulally said. "We are in a stronger position than ever to leverage Ford's global assets to address the North American business environment. We also are building on the past few years of progress in continuously improving our quality, reducing our cost structure and introducing strong new products."

Aggressively Restructuring
Ford will convert three existing North American truck and SUV plants for small car production, with the first conversion beginning this December.

The moves are in addition to Ford's announcements in May and June that it is reducing its North American production plans for large trucks and SUVs for the remainder of 2008, as well as increasing production of smaller cars and crossovers.

"We are transforming Ford's North American manufacturing operations into a lean, flexible system that is fully competitive with the best in the business," said Mark Fields, Ford president of The Americas. "We remain committed to matching our capacity with real consumer demand, and we are equipping nearly all of our assembly plants with flexible body shops, ensuring we can respond quickly to changing consumer tastes.

"In addition, we are adding four-cylinder engine capacity to meet the growing consumer demand, while expanding production of our new EcoBoost engines, six-speed transmissions and other fuel-saving technologies," Fields said.

Among the manufacturing realignment actions:

* Michigan Truck Plant in Wayne, Mich., which currently builds the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator full-size SUVs, will be converted beginning this December to production of small cars derived from Ford's global C-car platform in 2010.
* Production of the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator will be moved to the Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, Ky., early next year.
* Cuautitlan Assembly Plant in Mexico, which currently produces F-Series pickups, will be converted to begin production of the new Fiesta small car for North America in early 2010.
* Louisville (Ky.) Assembly Plant, which builds the Ford Explorer mid-size SUV, will be converted to produce small vehicles from Ford's global C-car platform beginning in 2011.
* Twin Cities (Minn.) Assembly Plant - which was scheduled to close in 2009 - will continue production of the Ford Ranger through 2011 to meet consumer demand for the compact pickup.
* As previously announced, Kansas City Assembly Plant this year will add a third crew to its small utility line for the Ford Escape, Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner and Mariner Hybrid.

In tandem with the realignments, Ford will continue to offer targeted hourly buyouts at its U.S. plants and facilities, working with the UAW to secure competitive employment levels. Ford also said it remains on track to reduce salaried-related costs by 15 percent in North America by Aug. 1.

Ford North America still expects to reduce annual operating costs by $5 billion by the end of 2008 - at constant volume, mix and exchange, and excluding special items - compared with 2005. In addition, the company said it plans to continue to reduce structural costs beyond 2008.

The company also confirmed Ford, Lincoln and Mercury will remain in its North American brand portfolio. Ford said it will work with its dealers to broaden and accelerate its dealer consolidations, which will result in a dealer network that reflects the changing industry size and model mix.

Ford also updated its current North American planning assumptions, which include:

* U.S. economic recovery to begin by early 2010
* U.S. industry sales to return to trend levels as the economy returns to health
* Product mix changes are permanent, but some recovery will occur from the current share-of-industry for full-size pickups - though not back to levels experienced previously - as the economy and housing sector recover
* Oil prices to remain volatile and high
* No near-term relief from current level of commodity prices
* About 14 percent U.S. market share for Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brands

Accelerating New Products
Ford is adding several new North American products in the near- and mid-term, and shifting from a primary emphasis on large trucks and SUVs to smaller and more fuel-efficient vehicles. By the end of 2010, two-thirds of spending will be on cars and crossovers - up from one-half today.

"We are accelerating the development of the new products customers want and value," Mulally said. "We sell some of the best vehicles in the world in our profitable European and Asian operations, and we will bring many of them to North America on top of our already aggressive product plans."

The new products include six European small vehicles to be introduced in North America by the end of 2012. Ford's acclaimed European products are set apart by their world-class driving dynamics, exciting design and outstanding quality.

"While we have no intention of giving up our longtime truck leadership, we are creating a new Ford in North America on a foundation of small, fuel-efficient cars and crossovers that will set new standards for quality, fuel economy, product features and refinement," Fields said.

The Ford, Lincoln, Mercury line will be almost completely upgraded by the end of 2010, including:

* 2009 Ford F-150, on sale in late fall with the most capability, most choice and most smart features of any full-size pickup, and with more than a 7 percent fuel economy improvement
* 2010 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln MKZ sedans, on sale in early 2009, with Fusion's and Milan's four-cylinder fuel economy expected to top Honda Accord and Toyota Camry
* 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and Mercury Milan Hybrid, beginning production late this year and on sale in early 2009 - with fuel economy expected to top the Toyota Camry hybrid
* New Ford Mustang - coupe, convertible, and glass-roof models - in early 2009
* New Ford Taurus sedan - with EcoBoost engine and even more advanced safety and convenience technologies - in mid-2009
* New European Transit Connect small multi-purpose van in mid-2009
* New Lincoln seven-passenger crossover - with EcoBoost engine - in mid-2009
* New European Ford Fiesta, in both four- and five-door versions, in early 2010
* New European Ford Focus, in both four- and five-door versions, in 2010
* New Mercury small car in 2010
* New European small vehicle that will be a "whitespace" entry in North America in 2010
* Next-generation Ford Explorer - with unibody construction, EcoBoost, six-speed, weight savings and improved aerodynamics for up to 25 percent better fuel economy - in 2010

With every new product, Ford expects to be the best or among the best for fuel economy. This is aided by one of the most extensive powertrain upgrades ever for Ford. By the end of 2010, nearly all of Ford's North American engines will be upgraded or replaced. In addition, within two years, nearly all of Ford's North American lineup will offer fuel-saving six-speed automatic transmissions.

The improvements build on several Ford fuel economy leaders today, such as:

* 2009 Ford Flex, which is the most fuel-efficient standard seven-passenger vehicle on the market, topping the 2009 Honda Pilot
* 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 highway fuel economy of 28 mpg - ahead of Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V
* 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid, delivering 34 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway, making it the most fuel-efficient utility vehicle available

Coming in 2009 are the first applications of Ford's new EcoBoost engines. EcoBoost uses gasoline turbocharged direct-injection technology for up to 20 percent better fuel economy, up to 15 percent fewer CO2 emissions and superior driving performance versus larger-displacement engines.

EcoBoost V-6 engines will be introduced on several vehicles next year, beginning with the Lincoln MKS and Ford Taurus sedans, and Ford Flex crossover. Four-cylinder EcoBoost engines will debut in 2010 in both North America and Europe. Ford will offer EcoBoost on more than 80 percent of its North American lineup by the end of 2012.

Ford also plans to double capacity for North American four-cylinder engines to more than 1 million units by 2011, to meet the consumer trend toward downsized engines for fuel economy. The smaller engines will deliver significant fuel savings.

In addition, Ford plans to double its hybrid volume and offerings next year - and is looking to expand further going forward. Production of the all-new 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and Mercury Milan Hybrid begins in December - with fuel economy expected to top the Toyota Camry hybrid.

With these new models, the Ford Escape Hybrid - now in its fifth year of production - and the Mercury Mariner Hybrid, Ford will offer four hybrid vehicles. That will make Ford the largest domestic producer of full hybrid vehicles in North America, second only to Toyota in sales volume.

Ford also is introducing six-speeds with PowerShift that offers the fuel economy of a manual transmission and convenience of an automatic; start-stop engines that shut off when the vehicle stops; electric power steering; direct injection, and Twin Independent Variable Cam Timing engines. These technologies will be progressively introduced within the North American lineup by 2012.

"One Ford"
Driving Ford's product transformation is the company's "One Ford" global product development vision, which will deliver more vehicles worldwide from fewer core platforms, further reduce costs and allow for the increased use of common parts and systems.

In the next five years, Ford will build more than 1 million vehicles a year worldwide off its global B-car platform and nearly 2 million units worldwide off its global C-car platform.

"Ford is investing most where consumer growth is taking place - and that's in highly fuel-efficient global small cars," said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president of Global Product Development. "One of every four vehicles in the world today is a 'C' or Ford Focus-sized vehicle, and we expect the segment to grow more than 20 percent to 6 million units in North America and 25 million worldwide by 2012. We see similar strong growth in the B-segment, where the Fiesta competes."

With Ford's global product development plan, all of the company's vehicles competing in global segments will be common in North America, Europe and Asia within five years. In addition to B- and C-sized small cars, the company's Fusion- and Mondeo-sized C/D cars and utilities will be common globally. The same will be true for commercial vans.

Ford said it is uniquely positioned to take advantage of its scale, already acclaimed global products and the strength of the Ford brand around the world to respond to the current changing marketplace and to begin to grow profitably. The company said its success in growing market share and profits with smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles in Europe is now the template around the world.

"We remain absolutely committed to creating an exciting, viable Ford going forward - and to transforming Ford into a lean global enterprise delivering profitable growth over the long term," Mulally said. "We continue to make progress on every element of our transformation plan, and we are taking decisive steps in the near term to ensure our long-term success."
Risk Factors

Statements included herein may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on expectations, forecasts and assumptions by our management and involve a number of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated, including, without limitation:

* Continued decline in market share;
* Continued or increased price competition resulting from industry overcapacity, currency fluctuations or other factors;
* An increase in or acceleration of market shift away from sales of trucks, sport utility vehicles, or other more profitable vehicles, particularly in the United States;
* A significant decline in industry sales, particularly in the United States, Europe or South America, resulting from slowing economic growth, geo-political events or other factors;
* Lower-than-anticipated market acceptance of new or existing products;
* Continued or increased high prices for or reduced availability of fuel;
* Currency or commodity price fluctuations;
* Adverse effects from the bankruptcy or insolvency of, change in ownership or control of, or alliances entered into by a major competitor;
* Economic distress of suppliers that has in the past and may in the future require us to provide financial support or take other measures to ensure supplies of components or materials;
* Labor or other constraints on our ability to restructure our business;
* Work stoppages at Ford or supplier facilities or other interruptions of supplies;
* Single-source supply of components or materials;
* Substantial pension, postretirement health care and life insurance liabilities impairing our liquidity or financial condition;
* Inability to implement Retiree Health Care Settlement Agreement with UAW to fund and discharge retiree health care obligations because of failure to obtain court approval or otherwise;
* Worse-than-assumed economic and demographic experience for our postretirement benefit plans (e.g., discount rates, investment returns, and health care cost trends);
* The discovery of defects in vehicles resulting in delays in new model launches, recall campaigns or increased warranty costs;
* Increased safety, emissions (e.g., CO2), fuel economy, or other regulation resulting in higher costs, cash expenditures, and/or sales restrictions;
* Unusual or significant litigation or governmental investigations arising out of alleged defects in our products or otherwise;
* A change in our requirements for parts or materials where we have entered into long-term supply arrangements that commit us to purchase minimum or fixed quantities of certain parts or materials, or to pay a minimum amount to the seller ("take-or-pay" contracts);
* Adverse effects on our results from a decrease in or cessation of government incentives;
* Adverse effects on our operations resulting from certain geo-political or other events;
* Substantial negative Automotive operating-related cash flows for the near- to medium-term affecting our ability to meet our obligations, invest in our business or refinance our debt;
* Substantial levels of Automotive indebtedness adversely affecting our financial condition or preventing us from fulfilling our debt obligations (which may grow because we are able to incur substantially more debt, including additional secured debt);
* Inability of Ford Credit to access debt or securitization markets around the world at competitive rates or in sufficient amounts due to additional credit rating downgrades, market volatility, market disruption or otherwise;
* Higher-than-expected credit losses;
* Increased competition from banks or other financial institutions seeking to increase their share of financing Ford vehicles;
* Changes in interest rates;
* Collection and servicing problems related to finance receivables and net investment in operating leases;
* Lower-than-anticipated residual values or higher-than-expected return volumes for leased vehicles; and
* New or increased credit, consumer or data protection or other regulations resulting in higher costs and/or additional financing restrictions.

We cannot be certain that any expectation, forecast or assumption made by management in preparing forward-looking statements will prove accurate, or that any projection will be realized. It is to be expected that there may be differences between projected and actual results. Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of their initial issuance, and we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For additional discussion of these risks, see "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in our 2007 Form 10-K Report.

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 229,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.

PRESS RELEASE: NEW FORD FOCUS RS: A LEGEND RETURNS

• London Motor Show preview for exciting new Ford Focus RS
• Genuine RS performance with 300PS
• Quaife Automatic Torque Biasing limited-slip differential and innovative 'RevoKnuckle', for assured handling and traction
• Expressive design exudes high performance intent

BRENTWOOD, July 4, 2008 - The legendary Ford RS performance car brand is returning in the shape of the exciting new Ford Focus RS, which will be previewed on July 22 at the 2008 London International Motor Show.

The new Focus RS will go on sale in early 2009 and is being created by a small team of dedicated engineers, under the direction of Jost Capito, Ford of Europe's Vehicle Line Director for Performance Vehicles.

For performance road car enthusiasts, the new model will mark a welcome return for the Ford RS badge. This will be the second Focus model to carry the RS mantle and promises another exciting chapter in an exciting 40-year story that began in Germany in the late 1960s and gained momentum across Europe with the launch of the 1970 Escort RS1600.

Capito said: "We want the new Focus RS to be a serious high performance car - as much a car for driving enthusiasts as the one before it and classic Ford RS models of the past. We're staying true to the core RS principles of an exciting, yet affordable performance road car you can live with every day."

Authentic RS presence and style

Before it even turns a wheel, the new Focus RS exudes the presence, sporty style and lowered, 'meaner' appearance expected of a genuine Ford RS. Overt performance styling details mix with subtle revisions to create a planted, powerful stance and the promise of an exciting drive.

The London show car previews the design intent for a final production vehicle, though as development work continues, some final details may change before volume production begins.

The vehicle is finished in a special bright green paint with inlaid metallic flake, a striking, modern interpretation of the 1970s Le Mans Green of the Escort RS1600 era.

The vibrant exterior color is contrasted with a number of performance styling details highlighted in gloss 'piano black', including the strip at the leading edge of the bonnet, the deep housings for the integrated front fog lamps and door mirrors with integrated side indicators.

Front and rear quarter panels have been revised to incorporate wider wheel arches and a wider track, complemented by revised, deeper side rocker moldings. In another visual reminder of the car's performance potential, triangular, RS-badged vents sit behind the front wheel arches. Two classic-style bonnet louvers are both a styling hint at the power beneath and a practical requirement, maintaining correct system temperatures.

The completely new front bumper design for Focus RS incorporates a deep front airdam with a large, mesh lower grille in an extended trapezoid. Stylish and practical, this prominent feature represents the latest Ford 'kinetic design' face and also is finished in piano black. Above, chromed xenon headlamps stand out like cat's eyes and are framed by matte-black housings with unique additional vents running underneath.

At the rear, a deep new rear bumper incorporates a large venturi tunnel to its lower edge with small vents at each corner of the bumper, emphasizing the car's width. Two impressive chromed exhaust tailpipes sit each side of the black venturi, creating a purposeful rear view for the car.

Above, a unique, twin-element, black RS rear spoiler sits at the Focus RS' roof line, echoing both RS models of the past and the World Rally-winning Focus WRC that has been its inspiration.

"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, Ford of Europe.

High performance interior

Inside, this theme continues with a unique and appropriately performance-oriented interior, dominated by bespoke, sculpted Recaro high-performance sports seats, specially designed and trimmed for excellent support, even when driving enthusiastically. Each is color-matched to the exterior, with ebony leather accents and 'RS' and 'Recaro' logos stitched into each backrest.

Elsewhere, color brings new excitement to the Focus interior, building on the sporty interior theme of Focus ST with more use of accents matched to the exterior color, brushed aluminum highlights and overt performance styling. Even the rear seats feature higher side bolsters and a microfiber finish to echo those up front.

The center console is finished in a stylish gloss, carbon-look trim and metallic highlights abound, from air vents, door grab handles, switchgear and gearshift surround, to unique RS-branded scuff plates on the door sills. These highlights contrast with a black-trimmed roof lining, emphasizing the sporty, cockpit feel.

The driver is reminded this is a special Focus at every touch, with a gear lever finished with a six speed gear shift graphic in RS blue, a sporty, three-spoke steering wheel, finished with 'Ford' and 'RS' logos and even aluminum foot pedals. The performance driving environment is completed by three additional gauges from the Focus ST, including turbo pressure, sitting atop the center console and angled toward the driver's eye line.

Powerful RS heart

At the heart of the all-new Focus RS is a specially developed, turbocharged version of the Duratec 2.5-litre 5-cylinder engine. Significantly revised for high performance, this powerplant is targeting an impressive power output of 300PS and over 410Nm of torque, contributing to an excellent power-to-weight ratio.

Such significant increases are not simply the result of altering engine management or boost pressure: starting with the Duratec 2.5-litre block, Ford RS engineers developed unique camshafts, a revised cylinder head and gasket and revised intake and exhaust manifold system for the car.

Although the car is still in development, prior to its launch in early 2009, early performance testing indicates a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) time of under six seconds.

A traction 'Revo'-lution

Throughout Focus RS' development, Capito and his team have been keeping a sharp focus on creating a car that delivers excellent performance and traction.

Various innovations, developed as a result of customer feedback from previous performance Fords, have allowed engineers to keep the new Focus RS as front-wheel drive, with a limited-slip differential, while still achieving demanding targets for traction, handling and steering.

The new Ford Focus RS is equipped with an innovative front suspension system known as a 'RevoKnuckle', which is designed to reduce unwanted steering disturbance and torque steer, the impact of torque on steering in front-wheel driven vehicles. Torque steer occurs during hard acceleration, cornering or driving on uneven surfaces, when torque on the driven wheels exceeds grips levels. It is characterized by sudden turning force on the steering wheel and can be exacerbated by vehicles with wide tires and limited-slip differentials.

In Focus RS, the RevoKnuckle works in conjunction with a Quaife Automatic Torque Biasing limited-slip differential. Ford Team RS engineers have worked closely with Ford's Advanced Research Center in Aachen, Germany to develop the RevoKnuckle technology specifically for the high performance Focus RS. It allows the simplicity of a traditional McPherson strut arrangement, but with geometry settings that minimize steering disturbances and torque steer, principally a reduction in steering offset.

"The Ford Focus is an excellent base for a high performance car - agile, responsive and stable," explained Capito. "We studied at length how best to enhance these qualities for a high performance model. Our work has shown clearly that our approach in combining a tuned RevoKnuckle with the Quaife differential is an ideal solution for a high performance front-wheel-drive road car like Focus RS.

"As you would expect, we gave all-wheel-drive careful consideration, but by combining and tuning these elements and learning from Ford's expertise in industry-leading handling, we have managed to eliminate the weight of AWD from the car and still have been able to target a class-leading balance of traction, handling and performance.

"The result is a lightweight set-up, that will deliver the right blend of traction and razor sharp controllability - in a way no one would have expected from front-wheel-drive, and we believe we have made the right choice," Capito concluded.

Dynamic, agile and responsive

A genuine Focus RS must maintain and enhance the reputation for responsive, precise handling for which Focus is acclaimed and considerable engineering effort has ensured that the new Focus RS will do just that.

Driving quality developments for Focus RS include a 40mm wider track, stronger, longer drive shafts, revised springs and dampers and a thicker, longer rear anti-roll bar. At the same time, the steering system has been retuned to provide an even sharper steering response and very precise feedback.

Brakes also have been uprated, with 336mm ventilated front discs and 300mm rear discs generating vice-like stopping power on road or track. Large calipers peek out from behind unique 19-inch wheels, wrapped in 235/35 low profile Continental tyres.

A special version of Ford's ESP system has also been developed for Focus RS, designed to allow a very sporty driving style before activating. Intensive work to refine the natural handling abilities of the car has allowed the ESP system to carry a full de-activation option for enthusiast drivers and especially for track use.

"We are refining all the handling characteristics of Focus RS without ESP, to hone its natural responses, rather than use ESP to help its handling. In Focus RS, ESP is a pure safety device", explained Capito.

Reliable and durable

In creating the new Focus RS, Ford's Team RS engineers have had to meet the same stringent targets for durability and reliability as those set for the rest of the Focus range.

Despite its many bespoke engineering and styling elements, Focus RS will be built entirely on the main Focus production line in Saarlouis, Germany and offered with a standard Ford of Europe warranty.

A great heritage

The new Focus RS represents a significant moment in the heritage of both the Focus and Ford RS brands.

It is 10 years since the Ford Focus was first revealed to the world at the Geneva Motor Show in 1998, paving the way for a range of Ford vehicles whose exciting design was matched by class-leading driving quality. Since this time, more than 5.3 million Ford Focus models have been built in Europe, including Russia, with the car also built and sold in North America and Asia.

At the same time, the new Focus RS marks the return of the famous but rare Ford RS badge, last seen on the first-generation Focus RS in 2002 and with a distinguished heritage stretching back 38 years including Fiesta, Escort and Sierra models.

"RS is uniquely important to us in terms of our performance heritage and World Rally Championship success, while the Focus has played a major part in establishing Ford's excellent reputation for driving dynamics," said John Fleming, Ford of Europe President and CEO. "The all-new Focus RS will embrace and celebrate both of these - it will be a genuine RS and a genuine Focus and I'm confident it won't disappoint in either area."

Moving beyond the interesting choice of color, the body has been seriously tweaked with a gigantic intake, meaner-looking headlights, vents everywhere and widely flared fenders. The newest RS will sit even lower than the ST, with only the 19-inch wheels keeping it from scraping bottom. The interior matches the exterior, with two-tone Recaro seats and a host of gauges specific to the RS. An awesome bit of product planning and design, eh? We're pretty sure that covers two of the five reasons we're not proud of American cars. Want to bring it over here Ford and maybe fix that? [Autoweek via AutoBlog Spanish via AutoBlog]

Our sources at Ford say that Mr. Mulally has already made the decision to convert at least three truck/SUV production facilities in North America as soon as possible to produce Ford models currently sold in Europe, where Ford is renowned for its small cars. The timeline Mulally prefers, according to insiders, is "yesterday". He has made up his mind and is pushing forward.

1. It's expensive
Retooling is not cheap. We don't have an estimate for what it would cost to convert three Truck/SUV plants into full-time small car production, but it doesn't take a room of accountants to figure out that it would be an incredibly large investment involving establishing and expanding supplier relationships.

2. Ford is already moving in that direction
Ford is already working out its plans to build Fiestas in Mexico for North American consumption. We'd also point out the Ford Transit Connect is on its way over, as well.

3. Inferior American Ford Focus is selling fairly well
Though the American Ford Focus is inferior to the European Focus, it's still selling well, especially with SYNC-equipped models. Plus, the 2011 Ford Focus is going to be C1-based, as we already know.

4. It's not a horrible idea
Though we liked the 2009 Ford Flex, we're not overwhelmed with Ford's short-term battle plan. The company seems to be doing a slightly better job of prepping for the future, but prescience isn't exactly a quality we associate with the automaker.

With all that being said, it could happen. It isn't the craziest thing we've ever heard, but we're not holding our breath. [AutoSavant]

NEW FORD FOCUS RS ON TRACK AS FIRST DETAILS CONFIRMED

Cologne, June 12, 2008 - Ford RS is back and the all-new Focus RS is on track! An early prototype of the fastest Focus road car to date is now undergoing performance and durability testing at the challenging Nürburgring Circuit in Germany, in preparation for its launch in 2009.

The principal architect of the Focus RS project is Ford of Europe's Vehicle Line Director for Performance Vehicles, Jost Capito, whose Team RS development group were responsible for the first generation Focus RS in 2002, and more recently, the Fiesta ST and the new Focus ST.

Capito said: "The new Focus RS is as much a car for driving enthusiasts as the one before it and classic Ford RS models of the past. We're staying true to the core RS principles of a no-compromise, affordable high performance road car you can live with. The new Focus RS will have the muscles, heart and soul of a genuine RS and will be exciting to drive every day."

The all-new Focus RS features a specially developed, turbocharged version of the Duratec 2.5-litre engine, based on Focus ST, but significantly revised to generate over 280PS and more than 400 Nm of torque, thus achieving an excellent power-to-weight ratio.

Various chassis innovations, developed in conjunction with Ford's Advanced Engineering Centre in Aachen are being tuned for the new car by the Cologne-based Ford Team RS. Their overriding objective is to achieve optimized driving dynamics and on road performance through an advanced technology front-wheel drive system, combined with a limited-slip differential.

"In early prototypes based on Focus ST vehicles, the new system is more than meeting our targets for exceptional levels of traction, handling and steering," Capito added. "Given that the enthusiastic team behind the car are all performance vehicle enthusiasts, you can imagine that our standards are high."

Ford Focus - A great starting point

The standard Ford Focus is an excellent base for a high performance car - agile, responsive and stable.

While the latest Focus ST has already proved this to be the case, the new RS will take these qualities to the next level, benefitting from extensive engineering knowledge gained through the Company's highly successful Motorsport programmes, notably with the Focus World Rally Car.

"We have no doubt that we can enhance the acclaimed qualities of the already excellent Focus for an even higher performance model than the ST," Capito added. "Now, we are going through the rigorous job of proving out our technical approach in extensive testing and tuning over a variety of roads including the most demanding track in the world, the "Green Hell" that is the Nürburgring Nordschleife!"

"With two consecutive Manufacturers' World Rally Championship titles and the success of Fiesta and Focus ST models, we have the knowledge and the experience. The time is right for Ford to deliver a new high performance model for the legions of loyal Ford RS customers around Europe," Capito concluded.

The new Focus RS test and development programme is now well underway and will continue for several months, prior to the vehicle being readied for production in early 2009.

Although the internet and car magazines around the globe have continued to offer their opinions as to how the new car will look and drive, customers will get the first look at a production-intent vehicle with its world premiere at the London Motor Show in late July.

Further technical details of the all-new Focus RS will be released closer to launch.

What we see looks like a hot Focus wearing German plates, but looking closer, we see that the images have clearly been touched by the magic wand of Photoshop. The question is, how much so? It's normal for a set of press shots to be touched up and enhanced, but we're not so sure that was all that happened here. Could these possibly have been just shots of a normal Focus ST, enhanced with a digital body kit?
[via CarScoop]

We're not 100% sure what is going on in this image, but it looks to us as though this man is the proud owner of both a Ford Focus sedan and an early 1990's Spirit/Acclaim. Given that the Pentastar sedan already has custom rims, we wouldn't be surprised if the gentleman is trying to install aftermarket fog lights and has rigged a way to suspend himself upside down for the installation. But hey, that's just a guess. What do you think is going on here? (h/t Bob)[Google Street View]

Also notable is the rather nice and remarkably coherent interior (wonder if it has Sync?). We don't know if this is an indication of the direction the Europe market cars will be going, or if the Chinese market will be making the move to the styling leader, but if the latter is the case, it may just tell us a little bit about Ford's global product strategy. Lots of additional images over at ChinaCarTimes.

SPORTY NEW LOOK FOR 2009 FORD FOCUS COUPE TO DEBUT ON WEDNESDAY 'AMERICAN IDOL' EPISODE

* The 2009 Focus coupe is set to debut on "American Idol" on Fox on Wednesday.
* Sporty updates inspired by customer feedback, including new front and rear fascias, a new roof-line spoiler and standard 17-inch aluminum wheels on the SES series, enhance the car's profile and further differentiate the Focus coupe from the sedan.
* Performance improvements include increased horsepower on 5-speed manual versions and quicker acceleration, thanks to a new final drive ratio on models with four-speed automatic transmissions - without any compromise to Focus' 35-miles-per-gallon fuel economy rating.
* Focus posted an 88 percent increase in retail sales in April versus a year ago.

DEARBORN, Mich., May 13, 2008 - The hot-selling Ford Focus debuts a new coupe version for the 2009 model year Wednesday on American's hottest television show - "American Idol." This marks the first time Ford has ever revealed a new product on prime time television.

"Focus is the little car that delivers in a big way for customers, with 35 mpg fuel economy, cool features including SYNC, a fun drive, strong quality and the right price," said John Felice, Ford Division group marketing manager. "We've built on those strengths to deliver an even sportier coupe version for 2009 and thought the 'American Idol' debut would be a new way for customers to see the upgrades for themselves."

The new Focus coupe can be seen for the first time during the Wednesday broadcast of "American Idol" on FOX, which airs at 9 p.m. EST.

The Focus coupe will be part of the "American Idol" Ford Video featuring this season's remaining contestants. Episodes of American Idol typically draws an audience of more than 20 million viewers. The 45-second music video also will be featured on the "American Idol" Web site at www.americanidol.com under the Ford Music Video page.

Sportier Design
Focus retail sales were up 88 percent in April versus the prior year, and a growing number of younger customers have been buying the new Focus model that was launched in late 2007.

"We've spent a lot of time talking with small-car customers and Focus enthusiasts," said Sam De La Garza, Focus marketing manager. "Their overwhelming feedback was that a sportier exterior design could attract even more Millennials, or those people born between 1980 and 1995 - 11,000 of whom reach driving age every day in the U.S."

With that in mind, the Focus team sculpted the coupe's new front and rear fascias to provide a sportier appearance. The lower front fascia incorporates a larger open area that bares a strong resemblance to the acclaimed design of the new global Ford Fiesta subcompact. The fog lamps - now standard - are better integrated into the overall design of the front fascia, and its signature two-bar chrome front grille and chrome accents around the headlamps have been darkened for added differentiation.

"The new coupe looks really sporty," said Thomas Tang, co-founder of www.focusfanatics.com and Ford Focus owner. "It is great to see that Ford values our feedback and is willing to make quick changes."

"The new front fascia, 17-inch sport wheels and fog lamps remind me of the old Focus SVT models," Tang added.

For differentiation, the high-end Focus SES will feature a standard high-mounted spoiler that is incorporated into the design of the roof. The high-mounted design contributes to Focus' overall muscular stance. A decklid spoiler will remain part of the Focus SE exterior design.

New premium-painted Dark Chrome 17-inch aluminum wheels, also standard on SES, complete the coupe's redesigned exterior.

Sounds 'Bad' and Goes Faster — With More Control
The 2009 Focus SES coupe features more horsepower and a throatier sound, thanks to a new sport-tuned exhaust. The SES coupe with a four-speed automatic transmission will have a new 4.2 final drive ratio to deliver quicker off-the-line acceleration for a faster 0-60 mph time.

A new option for 2009 is electronic stability control (ESC), which uses sophisticated sensors and the anti-lock braking system to help correct skids that can lead to accidents.

Fuel-efficient Powertrains
The 2009 Focus Coupe is equipped with a 2.0-liter, Duratec 20 dual-overhead-cam (DOHC), inline 4-cylinder engine that delivers 143 horsepower when mated to a five-speed manual transmission and 140 horsepower when paired with a four-speed automatic transmission.

Also available is a super-clean, 130-horsepower Duratec 20E engine that qualifies Focus as a Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV). The 20E's tailpipe emissions are cleaner than some hybrid gas-electric vehicles'. The Duratec 20 and 20E in Focus Coupe are mated to a five-speed manual transmission and achieve EPA-estimated fuel economy of 35 mpg.

SYNC Standard on Focus SES
Also setting the Focus coupe apart from other small cars is Ford's industry-exclusive SYNC technology, which will be standard equipment on the SES series and optional on the SE. SYNC is a fully integrated in-vehicle, voice-activated communications and entertainment system for customers to use their Bluetooth cell phones and digital media players.

SYNC was first introduced on the 2008 Focus and was an immediate hit with customers, helping to increase Focus' share in an extremely competitive small-car market. Nearly 50 percent of the 2008 model year Focus units sold during April included SYNC. SYNC-equipped vehicles sell nearly twice as fast as those without.

SYNC also was a feature that helped motivate editors of Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com to name the 2008 Ford Focus one of the "Top Ten Coolest New Cars Under $18,000" in April.

The 2009 Focus Coupe, available later this summer, will have an MSRP that starts at $15,920. All Focus models are built at the Wayne (Mich.) Assembly Plant.

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 244,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo, Mazda, and until completion of their sale, Jaguar Land Rover. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.

According to Ford's product czar Derrick Kuzak, a new Focus based on the C1 will be here eventually. This is going to allow for quicker production, reduced costs and blah blah blah. How long? It looks as though it'll be sometime in 2010 as a MY 2011 Focus ...maybe.That's apparently how long it takes to fit SYNC into it. Let's look at that wish list we made when the Euro C1 focus debuted:
1. Katie Couric Gets, Then Loses Prime-time News Job
2. Arrested Development never goes off the air
3. Successful Serialization of Friday Night Lights
4. Rachel Bilson falls in love with cars, becomes Jalopnik contributor.
5. We get to use the poster from Gone Fishin' in a post
6. C1-based Ford Focus

[Source: AutoNews via eGMCarTech]

Press Release:

NEW COUPÉ-CABRIOLET TO COMPLETE THE NEW FORD FOCUS FAMILY
2008 Ford Focus Coupé-Cabriolet (Europe)
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* Restyled Focus Coupé-Cabriolet debuts at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show
* New Focus front end with 'kinetic design' styling
* Enhanced interior with high quality materials and new instruments
* Best-in-class Coupé Cabriolet luggage compartment volume with roof up and down
* Coupé Cabriolet completes the line-up of new Focus bodystyles, comprising 3-door, 4-door, and 5-door Sedans as well as Wagon
* Ultra-stiff body to support driving dynamics and steering precision

Cologne, 5 February 2008 - The new four-seater Ford Focus Coupé-Cabriolet will have its public debut at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show. The new model joins the three-door, four-door, five-door, wagon and sporty ST models, extending the comprehensive new Focus range and offering the greatest variety of bodystyles for a single vehicle line within the Ford of Europe portfolio. As a final addition to the exciting and fully comprehensive Focus range, the all-new Ford Focus RS high performance model will be launched in 2009.

The newly designed Focus Coupé-Cabriolet with its retractable hardtop will once again be manufactured at the Bairo plant of Pininfarina, Ford's partner in designing, engineering and building the Focus Coupé-Cabriolet. This stylish vehicle is a true four-seater that combines a high emotional appeal with "must have" means for everyday use: With the roof closed, new Focus Coupé-Cabriolet offers a best-in-class luggage capacity of 534 litres. Even with the retractable hardtop stowed in the boot, the new Ford provides a voluminous 248 litres of luggage space under the folded roof.

"As with the generic new Ford Focus, with the Focus Coupé-Cabriolet we also felt the importance of aligning this charismatic vehicle with our 'kinetic design' language as soon as possible," said Stephen Odell, Vice President Marketing, Sales and Service at Ford of Europe.

'Kinetic Design' Styling

"The new Ford Focus Coupé-Cabriolet is a special blend: We felt that the new very 'kinetic' front end design will perfectly complement the timelessly-elegant, Italian flavoured profile and rear end design. The result is a perfect mix of latest level Focus dynamics and the special Coupé-Cabriolet design execution that we had already developed jointly with Pininfarina," said Chris Bird, Design Director at Ford of Europe.

The entire front end design of the new Ford Focus was fully adopted for the Coupé-Cabriolet: The new three-dimensional bonnet design flows harmoniously into the iconic dual-trapezoidal-grille design, with both the upper and lower grille being equipped with a classy chrome surrounding. The front bumper, lights and front fender designs clearly reflect the latest dynamic Focus styling, but are also tailored to perfectly fit the elegant side view of the Coupé-Cabriolet.

The interior styling of the new Focus Coupé-Cabriolet also received a fresh approach with bold design statements, high quality finishes and hard-wearing materials all completed with a high level of craftsmanship. Most prominent for the driver is a new instrument cluster of a 'binocular' style with instruments illuminated in red.

As with the new Focus, the Coupé-Cabriolet also benefits from the flow through centre stack to the standard 'premium' centre console with an increased stowage volume of approximately 4 litres and a sliding armrest with a travel of 80 mm, both contributing to increased comfort and convenience.

New Technology

A number of new standard driver assistance features have been introduced on all new Focus models with further technology options, and will also be introduced to the Coupé-Cabriolet.

These features include:

* Available 'Ford Power' button for keyless start, plus keyless entry system
* Standard emergency hazard warning light activation system (Info: except Finland and Sweden)
* New optional Tyre Deflation Detection System (DDS)
* New audio connectivity module for external devices and new levels of Bluetooth ® and USB connectivity, voice control and navigation systems
* New navigation systems include an affordable navigation option with 'SD' card slot as well as a DVD based system with 7" colour touchscreen
* Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) tuner on Sony radio system available

Powertrains and Series

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 Duratec HE engine is available with a choice of a sporty 5-speed manual transmission or the very comfortable FN automatic transmission for relaxed cruising joy.

The 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi engine has 136 PS (100 kW) and a maximum torque of 320 Nm. To make driving with the 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi engine even more refined and comfortable, specific improvements have been made to its Sound quality and vibration behaviour. This engine - along with all other Ford Focus petrol and diesel engines - benefits from a new insulated, weight reduced cowl panel, for optimum acoustics and a new carpet with a modified heavy duty coating for further sound deadening.

In terms of the series availability, the new Focus Coupé-Cabriolet is once again available with a well equipped entry 'Trend' specification, which can also be ordered in conjunction with a special 'Sport' pack, covering a sport suspension and specially designed 17"-alloy wheels. Black tinted headlamp housings on the exterior emphasise the sporty appearance of this series.

The top-of-the-range 'Titanium' series also features exterior details like specially designed 17"-alloys and the black headlamp housings, but also classy interior items like the standard partial leather seats. As an option, full leather seats in three different designs are available.

High Safety Standards

A very stiff body shell construction and a precise suspension and steering tuning are the active and solid base for the new Focus Coupé-Cabriolet's safety package. As a part of Ford PrecisionDrive, it helps drivers to intuitively rely on their Ford car in any driving situation. In addition to this very convincing package, ESP has now been introduced to be standard in all European major markets, and compliments the very capable four-disc braking system with EBA.

Also the passive safety starts with an ultra stiff body shell and a rigid passenger safety cell. Without a regular sedan roof structure however, front crash load paths for the Focus Coupé-Cabriolet had to be redistributed behind the A-pillars into the door structure.

As a result, these load paths were significantly reinforced by using high strength HSS 2 steel and increasing the rocker height by 35mm. The load path through the door structure can carry loads up to seven tons - comparable with the cumulated load capability of a Focus 4-door at the roof and door structures.

In addition to standard front and side airbags, Ford's new Rollover Protection Device (RPD) system plays a vital role in increasing Focus Coupé-Cabriolet's passive safety performance. RPD is designed to help protect passengers in the unlikely event that the vehicle rolls over. Electronic sensors and a gyroscope are at the heart of the system, and can detect an impending rollover. When this happens, two ultra-strong safety roll bars "fire" into position within a tenth of a second. Combined with the reinforced A-pillars and the highly rigid front window frame, RPD is a reassuring device that provides valuable extra protection for occupants.

It may have not cost millions upon millions to produce, but it's a hell of a lot more creative and unique than some of its competition. For a refresher, Craig Richey and Bill Bilbrodt turned 21 parts from a Ford Focus into 31 different musical instruments. A professional orchestra then learned the new instruments and played a tune for this commercial spot. Yeah, no kidding—they really played music on repurposed hunks of a Focus! "Beautifully arranged" is the tagline. Accurate, orchestrally if not necessarily automotively. The composition itself worries us a bit. It's a kind of morose riff on Yann Tiersen (of Amélie fame), and it sounds sort of like how Ford must be feeling these days.[Crave]

Overall, I was pretty happy with Sync. The media functionality was superb and actually using the system while driving is very easy. The commenters are ripping on me for owning a Zune (and likely my taste in music, as well), but Sync worked wonders when paired with this device, and would work just as well with players from Apple, Creative, iRiver, Sandisk and so on. With the CD, AM/FM, Sirius, USB, auxiliary input and Bluetooth connectivity, the entire spectrum of media is covered and capable of being played through the Sync system. Unless you still favor cassettes. If so, you are free to cease reading now and return to devoting yourself full-time to getting hell out of 1995.

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 previous installment, check out SyncMyRide.com to see if your cellphone is fully compatible, because that could be a big deciding factor in taking the plunge on this $400 option in Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles.

The Sync did have a bit of a learning curve. I am a pretty technically savvy person, but I struggled through the unboxing and setup. Sync didn't have a similar feel to other consumer electronics or gadgets. The menu system and button-functionality took some time to get accustomed to; in the end, it was like learning an entirely new system. This threw me off because the vast majority of consumer electronics employ tried-and-true functionality that is in most cases easy to grasp without being forced to consult a manual (Sync has one, of course, and it's substantial, but when it comes to stuff like this, you want to play first and ask questions later).

The final word is that I would recommend the system. Once you get over the initial setup and learning curve hurdle, the Sync pays for itself in terms of convenience and functionality. Just be sure to first determine whether your gadgets are compatible.

Don't be intimidated by my unboxing yesterday. I approached the Sync the same way I would review any other kind of consumer electronics—and the way any ordinary human being would use a similar type of electronic doodad. Meaning: Play first, read later.

The first hurdle setting up Sync was determining the method of standard operations. It took me a little while to figure out the menu system for setting everything up. It's a tree-based menu system similar to how a computer file directory works, but until I determined that the OK and Phone button on the steering wheel acted almost as the forward and backward button throughout the tree menus, it was painful trying to navigate through and remember the menus, all while managing the total Sync setup. I would have preferred an entire computer integrated into my car. Learning new operational standards and systems is not something anybody likes to do.

As mentioned yesterday as well, consult SyncMyRide.com to determine just how capable your cellphone is when operating with the Sync. The majority of the setup video was me trying to get all of my contacts onto the Sync. Because my phone didn't support the entire address book push, it required me to manually send (over Bluetooth) each contact to Sync, a process that I repeatedly botched. Eventually I ended up just dialing the number I wanted to call directly on the number pad, an adequate workaround and a way to buy time until I could further investigate why the Sync wouldn't accept my Bluetooth contacts pushed individually.

Once the cellphone address book is established, then many other features can be utilized, such as voice commands when using the phone, along with other options.

On the plus side, the media set-up process was nearly flawless. A little menu tweaking was required to determine what source the Sync recognized as the input. In my case, I set it up as my Zune through the USB connection. But it can also be configured to receive music over Bluetooth and through the auxiliary input. I was also happy to learn that Sync is capable of playing DRM-restricted music for a select number of the many supported MP3 players—including the Zune and the iPod. This is an excellent in-car media system that became a pleasure to use after I began to memorize a lot of the voice commands.

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.

"I don't know why he wouldn't."