February 26, 2006 Ford returns to the world of open-topped motoring with the elegant yet practical Focus Coupe-Cabriolet – making its preview debut this week at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show. The introduction of the Focus Coupe-Cabriolet has been led by customer response to Ford's Vignale Concept, which was displayed at the 2004 Paris Motor Show. The positive reaction prompted Ford to green-light the car for production, and it has been made ready in less than two years.
The new Focus Coupé-Cabriolet has been developed jointly by Ford of Europe and Italy's Pininfarina, which enjoys a worldwide reputation for the design of some of the world's most attractive vehicles. The Focus Coupé-Cabriolet will go into volume production in mid-2006.
"We were delighted with the reaction to the Focus Vignale Concept and were determined to progress it to volume production," said Gunnar Herrmann, Vehicle Line Director for the Ford Focus. "We also wanted to keep the production model as true to the beautiful concept car as we could, while making it convenient and affordable for everyday use."
The new Focus Coupé-Cabriolet is a true example of Ford's current design and engineering direction: Stylish and stimulating, but delightful day-to-day. In short, a car people will be proud to be seen in.
In typical Ford style, the operation of the hard-top roof is simplicity itself. The Focus Coupé-Cabriolet can be turned from an elegant coupé into a stylish cabriolet within seconds at the push of a button.
The Focus Coupé-Cabriolet joins the Focus ST at the top of the Focus range. Customers will not only spot the family look, but also be aware that the Coupé-Cabriolet has its own unique profile, thanks to the smoothly flowing lines of its gently arched coupé roof.
The preview model is finished in a classy new exterior metallic colour – 'Luna' – which shows off the vehicle's elegant yet sporty exterior.
The car utilises a two-piece folding electric hardtop to go from snug family motoring to wind-in-the-hair excitement. It is a full four-seater, and will offer a substantial luggage compartment with more than 500 litres of useable space. This further underscores the vehicle's everyday usability and practicality.
The bold wheelarches familiar on all Ford Focus models give it a purposeful look, while the profile and rear views display a distinctly Italian design flavour with chrome details and a well-proportioned bootlid area.
"The initial design intent of the Vignale Concept remained almost untouched during its transition to the production Focus Coupé-Cabriolet," said Chris Bird, Director Design, Ford of Europe. "The new Focus also provided us with a great starting point from which the design team could create a really distinctive dual-personality vehicle."
Inside, the emphasis is on refinement, and elegance and the use of premium quality materials. The preview model is trimmed with an attractive two-tone interior, with the upper instrument panel coloured in the new, dark-elegant 'Iris' and contrasting to the trim and the luxurious leather seats in light 'Camel'.
In keeping with its status as a hero model in the Focus range, equipment levels will be comprehensive. Full details will be revealed closer to market launch, but the usual Focus refinements including air conditioning, multiple airbags, in-car entertainment options and a full complement of active and passive safety features will be standard.
Customers will also be able to personalise their car to their own taste with an extensive list of colour and trim options, plus a dedicated range of options and accessories.
Customers will literally feel the difference as the Focus Coupé-Cabriolet transforms. The change from one to the other is quick and easy. At the push of a button, the retractable two-piece hardtop folds backward and completely stows in the boot, inviting driver and passengers to enjoy the experience of fresh air at every opportunity.
But the two-piece retractable hardtop not only provides shelter from inclement weather. The hardtop gives the Focus Coupé-Cabriolet a bold and distinctive profile as a two-door coupe, and has been constructed to be durable for smooth, easy operation and long-term reliability. The solidity of the hard-top gives the car extra rigidity, essential for a car of this class.
"Focus Coupé-Cabriolet is designed as a Grand Tourer, rather than a pure sports roadster", said Jon Wellsman, Ford of Europe's Brand Manager for Ford Focus. "As you would expect from a Ford Focus, it will be great to drive both as a coupé, and as a cabriolet."
The Focus has earned accolades as one of the best handling cars in its class, setting the standards by which C class cars are judged. The Coupé-Cabriolet will be no exception, and has been developed to be as agile, convenient, and reliable as the Ford Focus name implies.
The new Ford Focus Coupé-Cabriolet will be offered with a choice of three powertrains: two petrol engines, the 100 PS 1.6-litre Duratec and the 145 PS 2.0-litre Duratec, and the latest generation 136 PS 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel. These efficient Ford powertrains combine economy and ecology, with their low fuel consumption and low emissions.
Full technical details of the Focus Coupé-Cabriolet will be announced closer to market launch later in 2006.
The new Ford Focus Coupé-Cabriolet has been developed in cooperation with renowned Italian vehicle design, engineering, and manufacturing company Pininfarina S.p.A.
Following the confirmation in November 2004 that Ford of Europe would progress the Focus Vignale Concept through to a production model, the company selected Pininfarina as the ideal partner to work with on the programme.
The co-operation with Pininfarina continues through the manufacturing process, as all Focus Coupé-Cabriolet production vehicles will be built at Pininfarina's manufacturing plants Grugliasco and Bairo, both being located in the suburbs of Turin, Italy. Core Focus parts will be supplied to the plant by Ford's lead Focus manufacturing facility in Saarlouis, Germany.
"We are proud to be working again with Ford of Europe on the new Focus Coupé-Cabriolet, as it represents for us a significant investment, not just in terms of our design and engineering expertise, but also in our ongoing relationship with Ford of Europe, and the deployment of our high quality manufacturing facility in Italy," said Andrea Pininfarina, Chief Executive Officer of Pininfarina S.p.A.
The new Ford Focus Coupé-Cabriolet will go on sale across Europe from mid-year. It is estimated that approximately 20,000 vehicles will be produced a year.
