Ford's Sexy New Summer Addition

[Donut King]

Ford's Sexy New Summer Addition

Ford's sensational new Focus Coupé-Cabriolet will sizzle hotter than a summer day when it goes on sale next month. German designed and engineered in conjunction with Pininfarina in Italy, the Coupé-Cabriolet will offer Focus customers a stylish, smooth driving convertible that retains the impressive dynamics associated with the established model range.

"Coupé-Cabriolet is the sophisticated new star of the Focus range and will become the hero car in terms of luxury flair and elegance, just as the Focus XR5 Turbo represents performance," said Ford Australia President Tom Gorman.

"Focus Coupé-Cabriolet is reflective of the fun-loving and carefree nature of those who drive it. It's the type of car that's perfect for those spur-of-the-moment, top-down road trips.

"The electrically retractable roof offers year-round practicality, which means Focus Coupé-Cabriolet is an extremely versatile vehicle perfect for all seasons, especially the long, lazy days of summer."

The exterior of the Focus Coupé-Cabriolet has been designed with style in mind. Riding on 17-inch or optional 18-inch alloy wheels and featuring smooth flowing lines adorned with chrome highlights and the exclusive Pininfarina badge, the Focus makes an immediate statement top-up or top-down.

Large chrome-framed upper and lower grilles and chrome waist seals highlight the prestigious nature of the new model, while body colour fixtures including bumpers, door handles, side mirror housings and bodyside protection mouldings create a contemporary appearance and complete the elegant look.

Chrome surround front fog lamps enhance the passionate character of the vehicle and a dramatic wheel arch design resonating with Focus DNA communicates strength, robust handling capabilities and an assured, athletic stance.

The signature feature of the car, the two piece hard-top, is operated by depressing a single button and takes just 29 seconds to open or close. The roof retracts fully into the luggage compartment, transforming the stylish Coupé into a sexy Cabriolet.

A luggage separator blind positioned in the boot acts as a sensor and will not let the roof retract unless it is pulled across the luggage compartment. This feature prevents the roof from opening and inadvertently folding on top of items stowed in the rear of the car.

The decklid itself is also safely pulled shut by an electric motor after being placed in a closed position, meaning there is no need to slam the boot, which in turn helps prevents accidental damage to the roof when retracted.

The distinctive rear of the Coupé-Cabriolet is characterised by unique tail lights, linked by a chrome strip bearing an embossed Focus logo, reinforcing the elegant Italian design by Pininfarina.

At first glance, the new Focus Coupé-Cabriolet looks more like a sports coupé than a spacious grand tourer but in fact offers a best-in-class luggage capacity of 534-litres with the roof up and 248-litres with the roof down. It also has rear seats that comfortably accommodate two adults with generous amounts of shoulder room.

The interior of the car oozes luxurious sophistication, ranging from the heated leather trimmed sports seats to the leather wrapped steering wheel.

Premium creature comforts include fully automatic dual zone climate control, cruise control, automatic headlights, automatic wipers, heated power mirrors, glove box with cooling function and a Sony six-disc CD audio system with eight speakers.

Power for the new Focus Coupé-Cabriolet is provided courtesy of a 2.0-litre Duratec four-cylinder petrol engine, which produces 107kW of power and 185Nm of torque. The engine has been designed to deliver torque in the low rpm range, allowing for smooth power and effortless overtaking, with 90 per cent of the peak torque available from just over 2000rpm.

The new model will be available with a five-speed manual or optional four-speed automatic transmission.

"We anticipate that demand will be higher for the automatic option, but nevertheless want to cater for those who desire a more involving driving experience," said Mr. Gorman.

"The popular Sequential Sports Shift feature of the automatic transmission allows the driver the choice of full automatic mode or sequential manual control of gear selections and will more than satisfy those who want the best of both worlds."

The fuel economy of the manual transmission is just 7.5-litres per 100km and the vehicle returns a figure of only 8.3-litres per 100km when the optional automatic is selected. The manual version also creates an environmentally considerate carbon emission of just 179g/km.

Dynamics attributes synonymous with Focus are also present in the convertible, ensuring it is equally well equipped for a relaxed and leisurely cruise or a more involving spirited drive.

Tensional rigidity is a key factor ensuring the integrity of the new car. Greater rigidity was achieved through the development and application of new construction materials and techniques, which helped to maintain the core Ford DNA requirement of a rewarding driving experience.

Safety features expected of a premium car such as driver and front passenger airbags, front side airbags, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) are all standard, as is Dynamic Stability Control with Traction Control and a Rollover Protection Device (RPD) for added safety.

The Focus Coupé-Cabriolet also has Ford's Passive Anti-Theft System (PATS) and a perimeter alarm with interior motion scanner for increased security.

The recommended retail price will be $45,490 for the manual and $47,490 for the automatic model*.

"Focus Coupé-Cabriolet is an exciting, dynamic vehicle which offers sophisticated European styling in a highly desirable package and further extends the widening appeal of the Ford brand," said Mr Gorman.

"Regardless of whether you're heading down town or out of town, there are few better places to be than top-down in the luxurious new Focus Coupé-Cabriolet."

Focus Coupé-Cabriolet will be available for sale in November.

* Pricing excludes dealer delivery and statutory charges