2002 FORD SVT FOCUS: ON THE LEADING EDGE OF PERFORMANCE, TECHNOLOGY, STYLING - AND VALUE

CHICAGO, Feb.7, 2001

The Ford Special Vehicle Team today takes the wraps off this three-door hatchback at the Chicago Auto Show, revealing the group's most technologically advanced vehicle to date.

"The SVT Focus has what it takes to make a big impact in this market - and it's one we have to be in. It's youth, it's the future," says John Coletti, chief engineer at Ford Special Vehicle Engineering. "The younger generation today is embracing the small, four-cylinder, front-wheel-drive cars as 'their' performance cars in the same way the Baby Boomers embraced the V-8 muscle cars in the '60s.

Powertrain
The SVT Focus is powered by a modified version of Ford's DOHC Zetec I-4 engine. In standard Focus models, this engine produces 130 hp at 5,300 rpm and 135 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,500 rpm. SVT engineers went to work on the engine and developed a powerplant with 170 hp at 7,000 rpm and 145 lb.-ft. of torque at 5,500 rpm. The engine produces a remarkable 85 percent of its torque at 2,200 rpm.

"This low-end, drivable torque will be something that will pleasantly surprise a lot of people. It makes the car so much more responsive and fun to drive," Slankard says.

SVT has achieved these dramatic increases with a variety of changes to improve breathing and power management, including several technological "firsts" for Ford. The cylinder head is revised to increase flow through the intake ports, and the intake valve diameter has been increased from 32mm to 33.5mm. Also, the intake and exhaust valve spring rates have been increased, which contributes to the engine's peak rpm rising from 6,750 to 7,300. The engine has new cast aluminum pistons with larger valve relief pockets, and they are fitted to new forged connecting rods. The cylinder head and piston modifications increase the engine's compression ratio from 9.6:1 to 10.2:1. Variable timing has been added to the intake camshaft, which is the first such application at Ford. Early Zetec I-4 engines had a variable timing system on the exhaust cam to help with emissions control, and now SVT Focus has it on the intake side to help increase engine performance. A new, dual-stage intake (DSI) manifold delivers air to the intake ports, the first such system ever used on a Ford product. The dual-stage system varies the length of the intake runners, utilizing long runners at low rpm to improve torque development, and short runners at higher rpm for better peak power.

The exhaust manifold is a tubular stainless-steel tuned header system in a 4-2-1 design. Development of an underbody-only catalyst system made this design possible. The under-body-only catalyst contributes to improved engine breathing by reducing back pressure in the exhaust system, while still meeting the Low Emissions Vehicle certification. The exhaust pipe diameter is enlarged to 58mm on the SVT Focus, with a 75mm polished chrome exhaust tip. The engine also is fitted with a dual-mass flywheel, the first ever used on a Ford product in North America. The dual-mass flywheel's primary function is to improve four-cylinder engine vibration and enhance transmission shift feel.

The SVT Focus is equipped with a Getrag^TM close-ratio six-speed manual transaxle, the first front-wheel-drive six-speed offered in a Ford product. The SVT Focus joins the SVT Mustang Cobra R as the only vehicles in the Ford line equipped with six-speed gearboxes. Power is delivered to the wheels through larger solid half shafts to handle the engine's increased torque.

Suspension and Chassis
To meet the Special Vehicle Team's handling, braking, and steering objectives, all aspects of the car's chassis systems were analyzed to determine where modifications were necessary. The single most dramatic development is in the braking system, which gives the car extraordinary stopping capability.

The SVT Focus is equipped with four-wheel disc brakes with an anti-lock system, the rear disc system coming from European models. The front brake rotors are 300mm (11.8 inches) in diameter, compared with 258mm (10.1 inches) on the ZX3. Upsized single-piston calipers are used to fit these much larger front rotors. The rear brake rotors are 280mm in diameter. In the front and rear suspension systems, higher spring rates, larger stabilizer bars, and special shock-valve tuning combine to give the car taut, precise handling and SVT's hallmark compliant ride. To grip the road and enhance its dynamic appearance, the SVT Focus sports 17x7-inch, five-spoke alloy wheels fitted with 215/45ZR-17 tires.

Design and Features
The SVT Focus follows the Special Vehicle Team's design philosophy, which is to create subtle but distinctive appearance changes that will make the vehicle stand out, especially among enthusiasts, as an SVT product.

The car has new fascias front and rear, along with new rocker moldings and a rear spoiler mounted on the liftgate. SVT-signature crystalline round fog lamps are set in the lower front fascia. The upper and lower front grilles and rear valence grille are done in a black honeycomb design. The headlights receive a smoked-glass look. .

"These exterior changes, including its very distinctive 17-inch wheels, really give the car the appearance of having a lower, wider stance and lots of rubber on the ground," Slankard adds.

Inside, significant changes and improvements are designed to enhance the driving environment, in terms of both ergonomics and appearance. All the driver's "touch zones" have received attention. New elements unique to the SVT Focus include metallic pedal covers to facilitate heel-and-toe downshifting, a metallic dead pedal, a black leather-wrapped parking brake lever with a satin aluminum release button, and a black leather-wrapped aluminum shift knob and steering wheel. The front seats are six-way adjustable. This includes a rotary recliner mechanism, manual fore/aft movement, and standard power up/down adjustment system.

All seats are black leather trim with either red or blue cloth inserts, and the front seats have added foam pads and frame wires to substantially increase lateral support. The unique SVT Focus seat trim continues into the rear seat as well. The seat is a 60/40 split with folding back, flip-up cushion, as well as left, right and center head restraints.

The instrument cluster puts the car unmistakably in the SVT family, with titanium-faced electro-luminescent gauges, including tachometer and 160 mph speedometer, and a black center stack with silver climate control bezels. Additional gauges on the SVT Focus include oil temperature and oil pressure in place of a coin storage compartment on the ZX3 model.

SVT Focus exterior color choices for 2002 are Sonic Blue, Infra-Red, CD Silver, and Pitch Black.

Two interior colors are available to complement the black leather seat bolsters and head restraints. Red or blue cloth is available to accent the seat backs, seat cushions and door-trim panels.

These modifications include a dual-stage intake (DSI) manifold, variable cam timing on the intake camshaft, and an under-body-only catalyst system. Additional new powertrain equipment on the SVT Focus includes a dual-mass flywheel and a six-speed manual transaxle.

Inside, the seats are trimmed in black leather, with additional bolster padding for increased lateral support. The shift knob and handbrake lever are leather-wrapped and have leather boots. The steering wheel also is leather-wrapped. The instrument panel features an electro-luminescent gauge cluster with titanium-colored faces.

Pricing of the SVT Focus reflects the Ford Special Vehicle Team's value objective - offering vehicles with a high level of performance-oriented content for the money. While the manufacturer's suggested retail price has not yet been finalized, the target price for the base model will be around $18,000.

Standard equipment on the 2002 SVT Focus includes air conditioning, an AM/FM stereo radio with single-disc CD player, speed control, remote keyless entry and Ford's SecuriLock� passive anti-theft system. Additional features standard only on the SVT Focus are an engine oil cooler, driver and front passenger side-impact air bags, a rear hatch cargo net, a rear hatch pull strap and an auxiliary power point. Three options are available. The "winter package" includes a traction control system, heated seats and an engine block heater. An "audiophile" stereo system provides upgraded amplifier and speakers, the addition of an eight-inch subwoofer and a six-disc in-dash CD changer. A power sunroof will also be optional.Both the standard and audiophile systems have fingertip controls on the steering column for volume control, radio station and CD changing - a feature that is unique to the SVT Focus.

The SVT Focus production run for model year 2002 will be approximately 7,500 units for the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The SVT Focus will be built at Ford's Hermosillo, Mexico, assembly plant where the ZX3 model is manufactured.