Ford unveils new Focus concept aimed at Chinese, Asia Pacific markets

Ford used this week’s Auto China 2004 auto show in Beijing as a stage to reveal an all-new Focus four-door concept aimed specifically at the Chinese and Asia Pacific markets.

Calling it "a teaser version of what will become the most sophisticated Focus to date," Mark Schulz, executive vice president for Ford’s Asia Pacific and Africa operations, said the car has been designed to meet the needs of the emerging Chinese market. Ford says the concept will move to production sometime later this year.

"Our customers in all parts of China drive a challenging road," Schulz said. "They deserve products precisely tuned to their environment. It takes the latest technology to compete in China, and that's what we aim to deliver."

The Focus concept, reportedly based on the same small-car platform that underpins the Mazda3, Volvo S40 and Ford’s European Focus C-Max, features a more athletic stance than the present Focus as well as greater interior and trunk space, according to Ford.

It is still unclear whether the Focus concept’s design unveiled in Beijing will be employed worldwide in the future. The U.S. market Focus is not scheduled to undergo a redesign until the 2007 model year.