SCOOP:2012 Ford Focus ST caught cold-weather testing and track tuning

[camchennai]

We saw the 2012 Ford Focus ST in the flesh at the 2010 Paris Auto Show, but at the time, the hot-hatch unveiled to the waiting press was merely a close-to-the-real-thing concept version. The production Focus ST should be arriving at an auto show in the near future. Apparently it's not quite ready, however, because our spy photographers managed to capture Ford engineers working over a mule-bodied example, both at the track and in the snow.

It may appear to be a standard Focus from the outside – note the standard front fascia instead of the show car's more aggressive look – but a closer inspection reveals a few unique touches first seen on the concept. For instance, a centrally mounted exhaust outlet at the rear expels emissions from the 2.0-liter EcoBoost unit lurking under the hood. Speaking of which, power is expected to be up around 250 horsepower, and the engine will be paired with a six-speed manual transmission.

We hope to see the 2012 Focus ST hitting dealer showrooms by the end of 2011. We also hope to score some seat time before that happens. Until then, we'll just stare at the spy photos in the gallery below, and dream about the sporty action going on under the suspiciously plain wrapper.




Source - AutoBlog

[Pradeep]

Ford Uses Crowd To Shoot Focus ST TVC

Advertisements is all about being creative and thinking out of the box in such a way that it would induce a buying behaviour in the minds of the customers. Well, now that could work for small products. But how would one promote offerings like cars? Well, these are not something customers will buy in impulse. Thus, companies will have to create advertisements that have a long lasting impact on the minds of the customers. Special performance cars need special attention. The companies and Ad agencies have to put on their thinking shoes and come up with something innovative that can capture audience attention merely for the fact that ‘it is different’.

Using celebrities has been a norm in the Ad industry, but the out of the box thinking comes when the same is with some spice added to it. And with this realization Ford Motors with its Ad agency, Blue Oval came up with an innovative idea to advertise its 2013 Focus ST hot hatch. They had X Games Rally Gold medalist Tanner Foust and stunt driver Greg Tracy driving the hatchbacks, racing against each other in the narrow lanes of Florida’s Key West. Perhaps, what brought in the out of the box thinking was that the ad agency did not shoot the race themselves. They made the spectators shoot the same and all the clips were collected and given to Ford, which they used to make the final Ad.

So did that grab your attention? If yes then here is the video for you to watch and admire the out of the box thinking.



The Ford Focus ST is powered by a 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine which produces 250 BHP of power output and 360 Nm of torque output. The engine is a 4-cylinder unit which is turbocharged and is mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox. The Focus ST competes with the Volkswagen Golf GTI which produces 200 BHP, while Hyundai’s Veloster Turbo is all set to join the two sometime later this year. The Veloster Turbo produces 201 BHP of power and is being considered for an Indian launch by the Korean automaker.

Source - Ford Uses Crowd To Shoot Focus ST TVC | MotorBeam - Indian Car Bike News Reviews