Ford returns to the world of open-topped motoring with the 2007 Focus Coupe-Cabriolet - making its preview debut 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 Coupe-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 Coupe-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. So far, no announcement has been made about U.S. availability.

"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."

Refinement, elegance, and agility

The new Focus Coupe-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 Coupe-Cabriolet can be turned from an elegant coupe into a stylish cabriolet within seconds at the push of a button.

The Focus Coupe-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 Coupe-Cabriolet has its own unique profile, thanks to the smoothly flowing lines of its gently arched coupe roof.

The preview model is finished in a classy new exterior metallic color – '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 flavor 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 Coupe-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 colored 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 color and trim options, plus a dedicated range of options and accessories.

Feel the difference

Customers will literally feel the difference as the Focus Coupe-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 Coupe-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 Coupe-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 coupe, 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 Coupe-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 Coupe-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.

Ford with Italian flavor

The new Ford Focus Coupe-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 Coupe-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 Coupe-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.

Ford Focus model range grows

The addition of the new Coupe-Cabriolet model extends the Ford Focus range, offering customers a superb choice. Focus now offers three-door and five-door hatchbacks, a four-door sedan and a five-door wagon, plus the new Coupe-Cabriolet and the Ford Focus C-MAX multi-activity vehicle. The range also includes the recently launched Focus ST performance model.

The Ford Focus is one of the most successful model ranges in Europe with more than four million units built, not including 370,000 Focus C-MAX models built since its launch in 2003. The Focus, which enjoyed European sales of 442, 000 units in 2005, is produced at European assembly plants in Saarlouis in Germany, Valencia in Spain and St Petersburg in Russia.

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Taking its place at the top of the Focus family tree alongside its sporty sister, the Focus ST, the new Coupé-Cabriolet uses a stylish and clever two-piece folding hardtop to give the car two distinct “personalities”. The roof function is neat, efficient and reliable: opening or closing takes just 29 seconds.

It's also big on practicality - with the roof closed, the Coupé-Cabriolet offers a best-in-class 534 litres luggage capacity, and with the hardtop stowed, there is still 248 litres of luggage space. No direct class competitor can offer more space.

Elegant Italian Design

Designed in partnership with Pininfarina S.p.A, the Focus Coupé-Cabriolet exudes elegance and style with the hardtop up and down. Its distinctive rear is characterised by unique tail lights linked by a chrome strip bearing an embossed Focus logo to give the new model a premium feel. This is further enhanced by a unique front bumper shape and distinctive wheel arches.

Inside, the car's dashboard layout follows the style of other Focus models, but with a new colour scheme developed to distinguish it as a flagship - a scheme designed to complement the car's striking exterior. Two different colour schemes are offered: dark, sporty Ebony/Flint, and the warm, elegant Iris/Camel.

Engine Line-up

Together with style and practicality comes choice: the new Focus Coupe-Cabriolet has the option of two petrol and one diesel engine. The versatile 100PS 1.6-litre petrol unit provides 0-62mph acceleration in 13.6sec and a top speed of 114mph. Target combined fuel consumption is 39.8mpg.

The lively 145PS 2.0-litre petrol engine produces a 0-62mph time of 10.3sec and a top speed of 130mph. Target combined fuel consumption is 37.6mpg. And the super-economical 136PS 2.0-litre TDCi diesel powertrain gives 0-62mph in 10.3sec, a top speed of 128mph and targeted combined fuel consumption of 47.9mpg.

A six-speed manual transmission is standard with the 136PS 2.0-ltre TDCi, while the 1.6 and 2.0-litre petrol units are offered with five-speed manual.

Strong and Safe

No matter which engine is chosen, the new Coupe-Cabriolet retains the Focus brand's inspired and involving driving dynamics. This has been achieved by basing the Coupe Cabriolet on the inherently rigid four-door Focus saloon underbody and front body structure and ensuring that most new body parts are made from high-strength steel.

Safety is paramount and Ford's new Rollover Protection Device (RPD) plays a vital role in increasing the Coupé-Cabriolet's passive safety performance. In addition to standard front and side airbags, the RPD is designed to help protect passengers in the event of a vehicle rollover. If the system detects an imminent roll, two safety roll-bars "fire" and extend out by up by 20cm to provide a supportive safety strut along with the ultra-strong windscreen pillars to protect the car's occupants.

The new Ford Focus Coupe-Cabriolet will go on sale across Europe from later this summer. It is estimated that approximately 20,000 vehicles will be produced a year.