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Ford Focus Estate, 2011
Ford Focus Estate, 2011
The next-generation Ford Focus Estate is the fifth vehicle to be revealed from Ford Motor Company's new global C-segment platform that will underpin at least ten vehicles around the world and account for two million units of annual production by 2012.
Revealed so far are the new Ford C-MAX and Grand C-MAX models at Frankfurt 2009, the next-generation Ford Focus 4-door and 5-door cars at the 2010 North American International Auto Show, and now the Estate at Geneva.
At Geneva, Ford is also confirming that a global performance vehicle will be developed as part of the next-generation Ford Focus range, and that it will be powered by a version of the 4-cylinder Ford EcoBoost engine family.
Ford Focus Estate Targets Major Customer Base
The attractive next-generation Ford Focus Estate is a crucial model for the European market in particular, as around one third of all Focus customers choose this bodystyle. In some markets, such as Italy and Germany, the estate derivative represents more than half of all Ford Focus cars sold.
With its rakish appearance, the new Ford Focus Estate also makes a design statement and provides the ideal balance of dynamic looks and functional practicality. Full-length integrated roof rails enhance the estate's attractive kinetic design, while the tailgate has a self-closing function and neatly incorporates a compact roof spoiler.
Overall, the C-car segment in Europe remains relatively stable and accounts for around a third of total car sales with roughly five million C-cars sold annually. Although many premium manufacturers have also moved into the segment in recent years, it is among the volume makers that the competition is most fierce.
The market has seen significant fragmentation in the last decade thanks to the development of new bodystyle derivatives beyond the traditional four-door sedan, five-door hatchback and estate models.
By 2012, six bodystyles will cover 85 per cent of customer requirements in the segment in Europe - the four-door sedan, the five-door hatch, the estate, the five-passenger MAV, seven-passenger MAV and the small SUV.
While the Ford Focus Estate will initially launch only in Europe, it has been designed to share the wide range of technologies, fuel efficient powertrains, great driving quality and high levels of craftsmanship that all of Ford's new global C-cars will deliver.
The Ford Focus Estate debuts in the same vibrant Candy Red body colour which was first shown to great acclaim on the new Ford Focus five-door model unveiled at the North American International Motor Show in Detroit.
Ford Fiesta, 2011
Ford Fiesta, 2011
The Ford Fiesta is the next milestone under the ONE Ford plan to design and develop vehicles that meet the differing needs, wants and expectations of customers around the world. More than 500,000 Fiestas have already sold to customers in Europe and Asia.
Kinetics and aesthetics
Kinetic design imparts a sense of movement - even while standing still - harmonizing character elements to reflect global Ford identity, enabling Ford Fiesta to project its own air of confidence, style and individuality. Fiesta targets a youthful "design progressive" mind-set, a consumer group that values style and diversity as worthy assets.
Up front, Ford Fiesta sports the global Ford face, centering the Blue Oval badge on the grille over the signature inverted trapezoid lower grille opening. These subtle cues engender familiarity across the portfolio, providing aesthetic linkage between the distinctive new Ford Taurus, the fuel-efficient midsize Fusion and the bold Fiesta.
Adding eyes to the Ford Fiesta face are sweeping, elongated headlamps that frame and connect the hood to muscular, sculpted front fenders. Available in sporty five-door hatchback or four-door sedan body styles, Ford Fiesta provides ample space for occupants and their gear.
The Ford Fiesta design is further enhanced with a choice of nine vivid new colors. From Bright Magenta through Lime Squeeze to Blue Flame, Fiesta's broad color palette - more available colors than any other segment competitors - instills vibrant individuality.
Inside Ford Fiesta
Ford Fiesta is as dramatic on the inside as it is on the outside. Boldly sculpted surfaces, contrasting colors and comfortable, supportive materials make the interior as individual as the driver.
The instrument panel centerstack - focal point of the new Fiesta interior - was designed to feel as useful and familiar as the keypad on a mobile phone.
Soft, sculptured surfaces and the centerstack layout provide the Ford Fiesta with a sense of harmony. Intuitive switchgear placement, comfort zone seating and available ambient lighting allow a driver to maximize the mood with seven complementary colors - switchable among three levels of intensity - for interior accent lighting.
Fun, with fuel efficiency
Ford Fiesta's flowing sculpted hood covers a 1.6-liter DOHC I-4 engine with an estimated 119 horsepower and 109 ft.-lbs. of torque. Spirited performance and fuel-efficient economy are signature attributes with the Ford Fiesta expected to deliver best-in-class fuel economy at 40 mpg.
Ford Fiesta's advanced 1.6-liter engine features Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) allowing the engine to be downsized for fuel economy while continuously optimizing camshaft phasing for throttle response, performance and flexibility.
Big results from a small package are possible with several new technologies in this new global engine, including an advanced new front end accessory drive (FEAD) belt with stretchy dynamics to improve the engine's thermal dynamics. The elasticity in this new drive belt eliminates the need for a belt tensioner and contributes to overall fuel economy.
Ford Fiesta features a standard five-speed manual transaxle with gear ratios selected to offer spirited off-the-line performance and exceptional fuel economy for drivers who desire three pedals and a stick shift to maximize driving experience.
Specially tuned front struts, bushings, dampers, stabilizer bars and a rear twist-beam axle keep Ford Fiesta sure-footed and firmly planted. Sporty, European driving dynamics prevail.
Automatically game-changing
An available all-new North American industry-exclusive PowerShift six-speed automatic transmission combines the responsive performance and fuel economy of a manual transmission with the convenience of a traditional automatic in one advanced, dual dry-clutch package.
Twin internal clutches keep the PowerShift in constant mesh, always optimizing for maximum responsiveness or fuel efficiency, depending on input received from the driver's foot on the accelerator pedal.
This "dry" transmission operates with sealed internal lubrication, reducing internal friction and adding to Ford Fiesta fuel economy. The lack of pumps and hoses reduces under-hood complexity, saves weight and also contributes to fuel efficiency.
PowerShift has been proven in Ford's European market and will redefine North American small car segment expectations for responsive shifting and fuel efficiency.
Power steering conserves fuel
For confidence-inspiring on-road dynamics, Ford Fiesta features Electric Power Assist Steering (EPAS) which reduces complexity while saving weight and fuel. This advanced system is speed-sensitive - providing optimized assist based on speed, cornering forces and acceleration or deceleration.
The Ford is aggressively moving to EPAS across its product lineup. The system already is available in several Ford, Lincoln and Mercury nameplates, and by 2013 nearly 90 percent of Ford's lineup will offer this fuel saving technology.
EPAS also includes Pull-Drift Compensation to help Ford Fiesta track true regardless of road crown or side wind conditions. In addition, active nibble control helps detect and compensate for tire balance irregularity. Both features - enabled by EPAS - are class-exclusives.
