Ford said the redesigned Focus would be launched here in the UK in March in five-door hatchback and wagon forms only. The lesser spotted sedan version available in the previous range has been dropped but will be offered in other markets including the US.
Ford Europe began volume production of the redesigned line for Europe at its Saarlouis assembly plant in south west Germany early in December. Production of four-door sedan and five-door hatchback versions for North America had already begun at Wayne in Michigan. Output begins in Russia in mid-2011 and in 2012 in China and Thailand.
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Saarlouis will now be the single-source plant for the new model for western Europe and will add a high performance ST model in early 2012.
Over 10m Focus vehicles have been sold since its initial introduction in 1998, six million of which were sold in Europe, and 3.7m of those made in Saarlouis. Production locations have included Germany, Spain, the US, Mexico and South Africa.
UK buyers have accounted for 1.4m units.
The UK range will include new fuel-efficient, low-CO2 powertrains such as the 1.6-litre EcoBoost petrol engine and completely updated 1.6- and 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi diesels. Auto-start-stop will be standard on the 1.6-litre EcoBoost and 1.6-litre TDCi engines; CO2 emissions are as low at 109g/km.
A claimed class-leading range of standard and advanced technologies includes low speed safety system, active park assist, lane keeping aid and torque vectoring control and prices start at GBP15,995 on the road.
“We are very excited about introducing the new Ford Focus to the European market given the strong heritage this model has here,” said Stephen Odell, chairman and CEO, Ford of Europe
Under the automaker’s One Ford policy, the Focus will be sold in over 120 markets worldwide with 80 per cent parts commonality.
UK trim levels are Edge, Zetec, Titanium and Titanium X.
