All-New Ford Focus Rally Car: Technology and Intelligent Solutions
Ford of Europe officially unveiled the all-new Ford Focus RS World Rally Car 06 at the 2005 Bologna Motor Show in Italy. The car will be Ford's challenger in the FIA World Rally Championship from 2006 onwards and was unveiled in the eye-catching livery in which it will make its full competitive debut in January's Monte Carlo Rally.It is based on the high-performance Ford Focus ST road car, which is being launched across Europe this autumn. The new Focus RS WRC 06 has been designed and built in less than 11 months by an experienced and innovative engineering team led by Christian Loriaux, technical director at British-based company M-Sport which operates the Blue Oval's WRC programme. His team has worked closely in the development with Ford TeamRS, Ford of Europe's performance road car and motorsport arm.Engine
Although the Focus ST model on which the World Rally Car is based uses a 2.5-liter, five-cylinder engine, rallying rules do not permit an engine of that size. However, the regulations do allow teams to use another engine from elsewhere in the Ford Focus model range, so M-Sport opted for the 2.0-liter Duratec unit, with the addition of a turbocharger and the mandatory 34 mm inlet restrictor. French engine specialist Pipo Moteur was employed to assist with the initial development of the new unit. M-Sport also used its own in-house transient dynamometer and made use of data from Ford TeamRS to fine-tune the specification. One advantage over the outgoing rally car is that the new engine has an all-alloy block. This allows for a reduction in weight and also a transfer of weight away from a relatively high position, thereby helping to lower the car's centre of gravity.Suspension
The new Focus RS WRC 06's suspension is a further development of the type used on the 2004-specification car, although rule changes forced M-Sport's engineers to make revisions.
M-Sport's transmission consultant Ricardo played a key role in the development of the new car, since the new rules forbid the use of computer-controlled front and rear differentials. Instead, only the centre differential features this level of technology, with regular mechanical units at the front and rear. The fact that more of the system is now beyond computer control has only heightened the importance of arriving at a robust initial set-up. 'Some of the restrictions on materials affected this side of the design too,' said Loriaux. 'The propshaft is now steel, for example. But that means it has to be slightly wider to retain strength, so the transmission tunnel had to be made slightly larger to accommodate it.'Gearbox
The Ford Focus RS WRC 06 features a considerable amount of change in its gearbox from the previous model, not only in specification but also in layout. The original Focus WRC (introduced in 1999) mated a longitudinal gearbox to a transverse engine, an engineering feat in itself. But for the new car, Loriaux decided to use a transverse gearbox along with the transverse engine. 'I think there are benefits in packaging but also there should be less loss through friction,' he §äid. The new Ricardo-developed gearbox will have five gears, not six like the outgoing model. 'Reducing the number of gears allows us to make a small weight saving and also a saving in terms of size of the gearbox itself,' said Loriaux. 'We think that with the 34 mm air restrictor on the turbocharger, as specified by the rules, the engine's low-down strength and torque mean a five-speed unit will be as effective as a six-speed one. After all, with six speeds you do lose a little more time through more frequent changes anyway.'Weight Distribution
Loriaux is renowned for his innovative design approach to lowering the center of gravity in rally machinery. Many of the trends seen on today's cars, such as the crew sitting particularly low in the cabin, can be attributed to Loriaux's earlier designs. From the earliest drawings of this new car, he has again been determined to set new trends.
FORD FOCUS: QUALITY, PERFORMANCE AND REFINEMENT
FORD FOCUS: QUALITY, PERFORMANCE AND REFINEMENT
Its more than fitting that we kick off our Year of the Car with Ford Focus – one of the highest quality cars on the road today. With the 2005 Focus, we have taken a great car and made it better. Our newest addition, the 2005 Focus ZX4 ST sedan, has a performance suspension that borrows key components from the SVT Focus and our European Focus ST170, and its powered by a smooth revving 2.3-liter....
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ONE MILLIONTH FORD FOCUS STARS AT BRITISH SHOW
ONE MILLIONTH FORD FOCUS STARS AT BRITISH SHOW
BRENTWOOD, Essex, 12 July, 2006 – Sales of Britains top-selling car have broken seven figures, with car number 1,000,000 on display at the British International Motor Show. The 1,000,000th Focus sold in Britain is a five-door, bio-ethanol flexi-fuel vehicle (FFV), and will be handed to its new owner by Ford of Britain chairman Roelant de Waard at the British International Motor Show on Tuesday.....
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FOCUS ON FOCUS
FOCUS ON FOCUS
Theres a reason Fords small car is making headlines.The Ford Focus has been garnering a lot of attention lately. The Ford Focus earned the top rating in the compact car segment in the 2006 AutoPacific Ideal Vehicle Awards. CNNMoney.com named the Focus one of its 2006 Best Cars for Teen Drivers. Focus sales have increased steadily in 2006, driven in part by higher gas prices. May sales....
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'FORD FOCUS WRC SIMULATOR' DELIVERS REAL WORLD EXCITEMENT OF CHAMPIONSHIP AUTO RACING
'FORD FOCUS WRC SIMULATOR' DELIVERS REAL WORLD EXCITEMENT OF CHAMPIONSHIP AUTO RACING
The Ford Focus WRC Simulator will bring the thrills and excitement of championship auto racing to the 28th Bangkok International Motor Show through the drivers seat of its Ford Focus WRC – winner of the World Rally Championship 2006. The Simulator will make an advance-public preview at Siam Paragons Auto Gallery, 2nd Floor, from March 23-25. Bangkok, Thailand, March 23, 2007 - Ford Thailand....
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FORD FOCUS WINS 'BIO AWARDS' AT MOTOR EXPO
FORD FOCUS WINS 'BIO AWARDS' AT MOTOR EXPO
Visitors to the Motor Expo 2006 voted Ford Focus the best in terms of environmental friendliness. Ford Focus is the countrys first passenger car that is capable of running on either gasoline or gasohol with up to 20 ethanol blend and the countrys best-selling sedan in 2006. Ford Focus has also proven its power by winning the World Rally Championship Mnufacturers title in....
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