The Asia Pacific and African regional division of the US based auto manufacturer, Ford Motor Company today launched an all new 3rd generation ASEAN –spec Focus model. The launch event took place at the Renaissance Hotel Ratchaprasong, Bangkok, Thailand. The launch was done by Ford APA President, Joe Hinrichs who also spoke in length and breadth about many revolutionary features that the new Ford Focus gets increasing its class. There is little doubt that Ford will be getting the Focus in India and we expect a launch in 2013. Expect a starting price of Rs. 13 lakhs. [click to continue…]
News has been floating off-late of Ford launching the Focus at the 2012 Auto Expo. We became inquisitive and contacted a Ford official who told us that the company is still contemplating their participation and its too early to confirm if they would be present at the 2012 Auto Expo. Ford has traditionally not participated at Auto Expos in India and have used other mediums to launch and showcase their latest offerings. The Ford Focus is scheduled for an early-2012 launch, but it is unlikely that the company will launch the Focus at the Auto Expo. [click to continue…]
At the recently concluded Fiesta Deep Dive in Bangalore, the company firmed its plans to launch 7 new models in the next 3.5 years. All these models would be part of Ford’s new global strategy and the cars would be products which are already being sold in markets worldwide. The next car to be launched (after the 2011 Fiesta) would be the Focus which would compete with the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Chevrolet Cruze, Volkswagen Jetta, Skoda Laura and Renault Fluence. The launch will take place in early 2012 and the company plans to locally manufacture the Focus to make pricing competitive. Expect the car to be priced between Rs. 12-14 lakhs and slot right above the 2011 Fiesta. [click to continue…]
The D-segment has the presence of almost all the major car manufacturers. Renault recently entered with its Fluence, while Toyota plans to refresh the Corolla Altis early next month. Honda would launch the new Civic (which hasn’t got much positive response from our readers) at the 2012 Auto Expo. Hyundai is planning to launch the Avante, which leaves Ford the only manufacturer lacking any presence in this segment. Thus we speculate one of the 8 models before 2015 to be the Focus. The reason is simple, D-segment sales are growing and Ford is slowly moving up the ladder. They launched the Figo, followed it by the Fiesta Classic recently. Their next launch is the new Fiesta by the end of June, and the Focus makes perfect sense above the 2011 Fiesta. So yes, the Focus is coming as the company has conveyed its intention to get its C-platform to India. Our recent poll revealed that most MotorBeam readers would prefer to buy the Chevrolet Cruze. But will that change once the Focus is launched? We have to wait to find out! [click to continue…]
Ken Block’s new Gymkhana stunt driving video has been released. The new video sees Ken Block break new ground by bringing his spectacular driving skills to London’s iconic Battersea Power Station, which was turned into a gymkhana level straight from DiRT 3 for one day only. DiRT 3 is the latest videogame (releases on the 24th of May, 2011) in which players will compete at bespoke Gymkhana courses set in and around Battersea Power Station and other global locations. Gamers will see their car control tested to the very limit as they drift, spin-dry and jump their way to stardom in Gymkhana events. [click to continue…]
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