FORD FOCUS - CAR OF THE YEAR 1999 - OFF TO A FAST START

COLOGNE,  -- After just two months of availability the Ford Focus, Car of the Year 1999, has made a fast start to its life in Europe, with customer orders for over 100,000 units so far. This has been achieved without several key versions, which are only now being introduced.

The four-door, wagon and diesel versions are just being launched this week and the success so far has largely been achieved by the five-door model, which has built on widespread acclaim across Europe following the Ford Focus being voted European Car of the Year 1999 by leading journalists and given one of the biggest leads in the award's history.

Ford of Europe President, Jim Donaldson, said: "We could not have wished for a better start to the life of this all-new model. The Ford Focus is extremely important to Ford and is a clear demonstration of our new approach to customers. It was designed to challenge customer notions about what cars of its size and cost should provide and builds on Ford's technical strengths and the reputation already established with the Ford Mondeo, Fiesta, Ka, Puma and Cougar.

The high level of European orders so far received is conclusive proof of customer approval for the new car and it has also just received a tremendous welcome in North America, where it goes on sale later in 1999."

The Ford Focus has also achieved notable success in a range of European competitions since its launch, including the top Golden Steering Wheel award in Germany, Car of the Year titles in Sweden, Finland, Scotland, Ireland and Denmark and Italy's top design trophy, among the 11 awards won so far.

"The Ford Focus has been described by some as the Model T for the 21^st Century. Henry Ford's classic first made personal mobility accessible to the masses with transport that was affordable. The new Ford Focus is true to those traditions and our belief that everyone has a right to travel wherever they want at an affordable cost," said Mr Donaldson.