"The new Ford Focus is a clear demonstration that our ONE Ford strategy is providing global consumers with great products that harness the best of Ford Motor Company," said Alan Mulally, Ford's president and CEO.

"The efficiencies generated by our new global C-car platform will enable us to provide Ford Focus customers with an affordable product offering quality, fuel efficiency, safety and technology beyond their expectations,"he added.

Simultaneous launch in Europe and North America

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Production of the next-generation Ford Focus will begin simultaneously in Europe and North America in late 2010, with individual market launches starting early in 2011. Initial production will be concentrated at the Saarlouis (Germany), Michigan (United States) and Chongqing (China) Assembly Plants.

10 of 'em

The new Focus will be one of up to 10 unique models to be built from Ford's new C-car platform, which is expected to generate total sales in all regions of two million units annually by 2012. The first of these will be the new Ford C-MAX and Ford Grand C-MAX - unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show - for launch in Europe in the second half of 2010.

"Global customers increasingly want smaller cars with outstanding fuel economy, but without sacrificing any of the style, technology, connectivity and driving quality they demand from larger vehicles," explained Derrick Kuzak, Ford's group vice president of Global Product Development.

"Our next generation of C-cars - led by the exciting new Focus - will clearly show that Ford is ready to meet that challenge," said Kuzak.

Frugal on the fuel, quick on its feet, er, tyres

Efficient powertrains deliver performance with outstanding economy
The engaging driver appeal of the new Ford Focus is magnified by a powertrain range that delivers spirited performance and targets outstanding levels of fuel economy and CO2 emissions.

The global powertrain lineup for the new Focus will include a range of state-of-the-art Ford EcoBoost four-cylinder turbocharged direct injection (DI) engines - including the 1.6-litre unit in Europe and a choice of advanced and improved Duratorq TDCi common-rail diesel engines, all of which offer reductions in fuel consumption of between 10 and 20 per cent compared to the outgoing models.

We'll have to wait until early 2011 before the new Ford Focus will be available here. But we thought you'd like to know what you could be saving for...