range

http://media.ford.com/facilities/plant_dis...cfm?plant_id=71 PLANT INFORMATION Plant Name: City: State: Country: Wayne Stamping and Assembly Plant Wayne MI - Michigan USA EMPLOYMENT Current Total Employment: 2,908 Hourly: 2,704 Salaried: 204 PRODUCTION HISTORY Current Products: Ford Focus Year Opened: 1952 Site Size in Acres: 229 Plant Size in Square Feet: 3,708,300 Product History: Galaxie, Mercury, Edsel, Maverick, Lincoln, Escort/Lynx/EXP, Granada/Monarch and Versailles

09 Focus Coupe Photos

on the new 6 speed transmission: "Those gear changes are also amazingly smooth. Both up and down shifts were almost seamless."

FIRST DRIVE We all heard of the improvements to the engines and the addition of the new 6 speed transmissions (where is yours Honda?), but Ford made even more changes to improve the vehicle. for example: = The structure of the Escape has been enhanced by shifting to more high strength steel in areas like the A-pillars and cross members. The more rigid body means less noise is transmitted through vibrations in the structure and from the road, also a major improvement over 2008 models. =For the first time, the Escape gets a rear anti-roll bar, and combined with the re-tuned springs and dampers, as well as new tires, the handling of the CUV feels much more composed. On some twisty roads west of Pinkney, MI the Escape felt surprisingly good with only moderate understeer and well-controlled body roll. = The only visual changes to the 2009 Escape are a deeper, wider front air dam and spats in front of the rear wheels on vehicles without running boards. The air dam is said to contribute a 2/3mpg improvement at 70mph.

Ford Boosting Escape Production Due to High Demand

And the Edge is quieter than a Lexus. ======================================= The Ford Flex crossover, when it arrives at dealers later this summer, will be quieter inside than its competitors, a list that includes the Acura MDX, Toyota Highlander and GMC Acadia, Ford announced today. Prototypes of the car have been tested in a wind tunnel for over a year to eliminate wind noise at speed thanks to a 'search and destroy' process. Ford spent the time on the issue as it believes customers associate quiet interior with quality. Interior sound is measured on a new Ford Flex at Ford's wind tunnel. Here, 80-mile-per-hour winds are blown over the vehicle's silhouette as advanced sound equipment records the slightest noises from the vehicle's front and back seats

unveiling on American Idol tonight

LINK CAN HISTORY BE REPEATED? SELECT GLOBAL UNIVERSITY STUDENTS COMPETE TO CREATE 21ST CENTURY MODEL T - Ford Motor Company challenges five universities from around the world to create a revolutionary global vehicle for today that shares the Model T's attributes: simple, lightweight, practical, compelling – and priced below $7,000. - Two winners will be selected, earning their school $25,000 each in scholarships. DEARBORN, Mich., May 12, 2008 – A century after the Model T put the world on wheels, Ford is challenging five universities from around the world to dream big and create a Model T concept for this century. In 1921, the Model T accounted for almost 57 percent of the world's automobile production. Today, Ford is launching an important new small car – the Fiesta – around the world, and the company continues challenging people to create truly ground-breaking vehicles. Teams of both undergraduate and graduate students will work to create revolutionary concepts that address transportation needs of the future. Participating schools are: Aachen University, Cologne, Germany; Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, Calif.; Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia; Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, Mich.; and University of Michigan-Dearborn, Dearborn, Mich. Students at each have been selected to participate in the four-month challenge, trying to deliver a Model T concept that will earn their school $25,000 in scholarship funds. "The Model T is a true product of an engineering genius. Although simple and practical, it changed the way we live, work and play and met the needs of millions," said Paul Mascarenas, Ford's vice president of Engineering for Global Product Development. "In that same spirit, Ford continues to deliver high-quality, affordable products and technologies for the masses. Through this challenge we're looking for the students to push the boundaries and deliver an alternative transportation concept for tomorrow – and beyond." Each university received $75,000 in funding from Ford Global Technologies, LLC to support the creation of a vehicle concept through sketches, models, research papers and potentially even working models that deliver on the brief. The teams are challenged to create a vehicle that is simple, durable and lightweight. Each vehicle must accommodate at least two passengers and offer solutions that address assembly, powertrain and sustainability. Plus, perhaps the most challenging task, the vehicle must have a range of at least 200 kilometers (approximately 125 miles), and come equipped with a base target price of only $7,000. “It's not often we celebrate the centennial anniversary of an iconic vehicle, so we created the Model T Challenge as the perfect opportunity for students to conceptualize future transportation in a way that is unique to Ford," said Bill Coughlin, president and chief executive officer of Ford Global Technologies, LLC. "To date, there has never been a vehicle that has left such an impact on the lives of millions, and Ford is challenging students to present an alternative that just might do so again." Students have until Sept. 1 to submit their proposals. Five judges from Ford Motor Company, including Mascarenas and Coughlin, will critique each concept. The two concepts that best embody the Model T spirit, personify the Ford brand and meet the challenge criteria will each be awarded $25,000 from Ford Global Technologies for university scholarships on the anniversary of Model T – Oct. 1, 2008. Celebrating an Icon During the next six months, Ford will recognize the Model T's historic milestone through a series of regional celebrations joined by thousands of Model T owners and global enthusiasts. Beginning on Sept. 5, Ford along with The Henry Ford will host the largest Michigan gathering of Model Ts. The weekend event will kick off with a Model T display on the grounds of Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn for employees, families and friends. More than 200 Model Ts are expected to appear. Those vehicles also will cruise over to celebrate at The Henry Ford's Old Car Festival on Sept. 6 and Sunday, Sept. 7. Ford Model T Facts October 1, 1908 marks the anniversary of the first Model T built for sale. The Model T was the first low-priced, mass-produced automobile with standard, interchangeable parts. The Model T was equipped with a 20-horsepower, four-cylinder engine with a top speed of approximately 45 miles per hour, weighed 1,200 pounds, and achieved 13-21 miles per gallon. The first Model Ts sold for $825 – an unexpected bargain compared to other cars and even more remarkable is that during its 19 years of production, Ford continued to steadily lower its price, thanks to manufacturing efficiencies. The moving assembly line for the Model T revolutionized manufacturing in 1913. More than 15 Million Model Ts had been sold by May 26, 1927, when a ceremony marked the formal end of Model T production. Henry Ford called the Model T "the universal car," a low-cost, reliable vehicle that could be maintained easily and could successfully travel the poor roads of the era. On Dec. 18, 1999, the Ford Model T was named "Car of the Century" by a panel of 133 automotive journalists and experts who began with a list of 700 candidates in 1996 and sequentially narrowed the nominees through seven rounds of balloting over three years. # # #

Any more pics of the blue one?

The 09 Mustang is an early release, Job 1 is a couple weeks away, 05/27/08. The '10 will be released early next year, looks like first quarter. Whether Coyote makes it from the start or not is another question.

The 09 also gets available Electronic Stability Control.

Yea I thought the UK spoof with the dog was hilarious.

the 2008 Coupe

I'm glad to see the SVT's EAP wheels make a return.

LINK 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, 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," Thomas 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.

2009 Ford Focus Coupe: 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. (05/13/08)

Home made commercial For Spanish speaking markets Canada Commercial with voice of Keifer Sutherland LINK UK Focus Ad Test LINK Food and Gas LINK Play Artist Tiffany LINK

http://www.focaljet.com/

I will be surprised if they really get 400hp, but hey, Ford has been pleasantly surprising a lot of people lately. Have you pleasantly surprised someone....lately?

Ford begins testing 5.0L V8 for use in the 2010 Mustang [spied]

LOL....That's rich, they don't even read their own blog! Warranty Extension Announced Because of possible rust perforation on the frames of some 1995-2000 Toyota Tacoma pickups, we're extending the warranties on those models.

Boo Hoo Toyota, you live by the sword, you die by the sword. With all of Toyota recalls, sludge, transmission problems, Tundra problems, rusted frames, Consumer Reports smack-down, Toyota isn't getting a free pass anymore and they aren't used to it. Long line of faulty cars muddies Toyota image CNN: Toyota's totally bizarre recall. Why would Toyota issue a recall designed to make vehicles less safe?

The US Supreme Court let stand a $4.3 million award against Toyota Motor Corp. for using another company's patented technology in gasoline-electric hybrid So, Toyota steals patented technology from a small US company.... Toyota gets caught stealing patented technology from a small US company...... Toyota brings all of its big-dollar lawyers to fight the small US company in court ...... AND Toyota has the ARROGANCE to go all the way to the US Supreme Court....and LOSE . . Yet another example of how Toyota does business.