Ford Focus: Focusing on what Females really want

by Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady

What does a woman really want in a car? Safety. Fuel economy. Easy to handle. A roomy trunk and lots of cup holders.

Ford has figured this out and has made sure the Ford Focus does it all. And the new Ford Sync keeps a girl connected with mobile phones and media players.

2008 FORD FOCUS OVERVIEW

The 2008 Ford Focus brings a bold new look, a refined and flexible interior and a higher level of driving enjoyment to an evolving small car market. With features including Ford Sync™, standard side-curtain air bags and fuel economy in the mid-30s, the redesigned Focus will play an important role in Ford Motor Company’s resurging car portfolio, continuing the momentum built by the successful Ford Fusion mid-size sedan.

Muscular stance and sharp character lines define Focus

You'd love those qualities in a man. Why not look for them in a car?

For the new 2008 Focus, Ford’s design team drew inspiration from the highly successful Fusion, borrowing that car’s prominent chrome-bar grille design, flared wheel arches and sweeping, crisp lines to create a small car that stands out with a sporty stance. Even details in the distinctive headlights help enhance the 2008 Focus’ design story. Horizontal bars with a matte surface run through the reflection area, visually connecting the headlights with a sweeping line running through the chrome-bar grille.

The taillamps borrow cues from the 2008 Ford Escape, with a white arc cutting across the red lens. Complementing the taillamps, the center high-mounted stop lamp (CHMSL) is carefully integrated into the decklid and features a new clear lens that illuminates with red LEDs for a progressive, modern appearance.

Focus SE and SES models feature a front fender appliqué integrated just behind the front wheel well, adding a bright accent to the profile. On all models, the “Focus” name is brightly spelled out in bold italic letters on the decklid, scuff plates and instrument panel.

2008 FORD FOCUS DELIVERS FRESH DESIGN, BETTER FUEL ECONOMY AND NEW SAFETY AND TECHNOLOGY FEATURES

Bold New Focus. 2008 Ford Focus brings a bold exterior design, all-new interior and improved driving dynamics to a growing small car market.

Refined Interior. Redesigned cabin delivers improved craftsmanship and comfort along with added flexibility and storage.

Innovative Technology. Available Ford Sync™ – an industry-first – offers unprecedented levels of in-car connectivity for mobile phones and media players.

Dynamic and Confident. New suspension tuning and chassis refinements improve an already rewarding and dynamic driving experience.

Quiet Ride. Improvements to sealing and sound deadening materials reduce noise, vibration and harshness levels, providing a quiet, comfortable ride.

Redesigned cabin is quiet, inviting and refined

While the exterior design helps the Focus stand out, the real news for the 2008 Focus is the interior design. The all-new interior design, with unique materials and new levels of craftsmanship, delivers a sense of modern, contemporary openness and provides even more flexible storage space.

Interior features include:

A new “top of dash” display positioned at eye level at the top of the center stack. This simple, efficient design puts much of the vehicle’s information in one place, making it easier and quicker to read when driving.

A new “poke-through” center console design replaces the traditional “brick” design for the radio and HVAC controls. The all-new center stack houses the controls for the audio and HVAC as well as a standard auxiliary input jack and two power points. In vehicles equipped with the available Sync option, the associated USB port is located on the center stack near the power points.

New Ice Blue Lighting on the instrument cluster, center console, steering wheel and door lock and window switches presents a cool, crisp light that enhances the overall feel of the interior and is easy on the eyes when driving at night.

On SES models, the dashboard and center console sport a brilliant matte-silver-metallic finish. On SE models, the center console and dashboard center finish panels also feature contrasting colors.

Storage and Cup holders

The 2008 Focus offers a larger center console as well as added space in front of the shifter for extra storage. Newly designed door trim features larger bins and cup holders in the doors. The console also provides three additional cup holders. New seats have improved contours and offer more lateral and lumbar support. A new cloth pattern is featured for 2008, while the leather seats include contrast stitching for an added touch of craftsmanship.

Just look at the Body

The 2008 Focus is available in two body styles – two-door coupe (a first for Focus) and four-door sedan – in S, SE and SES trims.

Madelyn Miller is a travel and food writer who is also a proud member of Texas Automotive Writers Association. Read her stories on www.travellady.com, www.carladynews.com, www.yogayaya.com, www.chocolateatlas.com, www.cocktailatlas.com, www.coffeeatlas.com, www.teaAtlas.com