DETROIT
-- I
spoke to Lon Zaback, Chief Designer of the 2008 Ford Focus.
The '08 has an all new exterior & interior. Its contemporary
in design. The proportions are different. The beltline is
higher which is the hood to window line.
There is more metal and less glass. It has the same dimensions
with new chrome accents.
Ford
teamed up with Microsoft to offer the optional "SYNC"
which is a voice activated information display in the center
of the dash. You can plug in your iPod and tell it what to
play.
It
has ambient lighting in the cupholders and floor console and
you can choose one of seven different colors. Ice Blue is
the new color on the instrumentation. There is no hybrid projection
and it gets 37 mpg or better. Its a 2L 4 cylinder engine that
uses unleaded gasoline. The cost will be similar to today's
price.
The
Ford Focus is being built at the Wayne Assembly plant in Michigan.
The target customer is the young professional in the mid-late
20's. Production is in August and will go on sale in the Fall
of '07.
Greg
Burgess is an engineer at Ford and has said they re-tuned
the springs which softens the impact for a better ride. The
car is quieter, safer and sixty pounds lighter. They also
changed the powertrain for better fuel economy.
AmericaJR.com
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PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / AMERICAJR.com
A
look at the rear of the all-new Ford Focus.
