New Ford Focus Finally Rolling!

The highly anticipated 2012 Ford Focus is finally on its way to the dealers across Europe to reach the first customers who were waiting for the latest version of the one of the most popular hatchbacks ever.

The anticipation for this one is partly due to the Focus popularity and partly because the 2012 model is packed with loads of advanced and very sophisticated features in terms of safety, convenience, comfort, performance and economy.

That’s why Ford took its sweet time making this car and constantly testing and adjusting it. This is going to be a game-changing car in the premium hatchback segment.

First shipment of 2,500 all-new Ford Focus models have left Ford’s Saarlouis assembly plant in Germany with UK being one of the major destinations. That’s a key market for Ford Focus in its ques for a huge success.

Press Release:

The all-new Ford Focus is now on its way to Ford dealership showrooms across Europe in preparation for the model’s sales launch next month.The first consignment of 2,500 of the stylish new car left the company’s Saarlouis plant in Germany last week. Shipments have since averaged 1,000 vehicles a day, but will increase to a daily total of 1,450 later this month.

The majority of the first production run of the Ford Focus  – all five-door models –  are en-route to Ford dealerships in the UK in time for the market’s March registration plate change, which produces one of the largest sales months of the year in any market in Europe.  Over 70 per cent of the cars being shipped to the UK are high-series Titanium models.

“Now that the first all-new Focus models have left the Saarlouis plant on schedule and with the highest levels of quality, deliveries to the wider European market will soar, particularly with shipments of four-door models commencing at the end of the month,” explained Horst Ritze, manager, Material Planning and Logistics, Saarlouis Vehicle Operations.  “We currently have 12,000 cars in the pipeline for release to markets across Europe.”

“We are seeing very strong demand building up for the new Focus across Europe,” said Roelant de Waard, Vice President, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe. “It’s a great looking car loaded with a host of advanced technologies such as Active City Stop, which reduces the risk of low-speed collisions; Lane Keeping Aid to stop drifting across lanes, and Active Park Assist – which makes parallel parking a breeze.”

“Add to this outstanding driving dynamics and impressive fuel economy delivered by our new range of EcoBoost petrol engines and our Duratorq advanced diesel engines, and you have a car that we believe is unbeatable in its segment and that will appeal to existing and new Ford customers right across Europe.”

“You can tell, immediately you drive it, that this takes Focus to a new level,” said Philip Maskell, chairman and managing director of one of Ford’s largest UK dealerships, Essex Ford. “Ford has taken all of its key models to best-in-class, which is really exciting for us. The technology in the new Focus driver assistance pack is sensational and the car is a big leap forward in both look and style and ride and handling.”

The launch of the all-new Ford Focus comes as Ford’s Saarlouis plant celebrates its 40th anniversary. The modern plant is one of the most efficient and productive in Europe. It produces four- and five-door and wagon/estate versions of the all-new Focus.

A car for the world
The all-new Focus was designed In Europe to be a truly global car and will be sold in 120 markets around the world.

In addition to Saarlouis, the model is also currently in production in Michigan, USA. Production commences in Ford’s St. Petersburg plant in Russia later this year.

Eventually the model will be manufactured on three continents, with Asia production commencing in early 2012 in Chongqing, China, where a state-of-the-art plant is under construction, and in Ford’s Rayong facility in Thailand.

Each of these plants will build the all-new Focus using the same manufacturing processes, tools and technologies, ensuring higher levels of product commonality and quality.