[All-Or-Nothing]

With Ford‘s new Focus the first official global platform by the Blue Oval, it only makes sense that they’d strive to raise the car’s awareness on a global level by building a uniform touring car to compete around the world.

And that’s just what Ford is doing, announcing today at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas that it will unveil the next-generation Global Focus Touring Car at the LA Auto Show in just a few weeks time.

After its debut, the Focus Touring Car will first compete in the 2011 British Touring Car Championship and Ford has hinted it will compete at the 24 Hours of the Nurburgring as well.

According to Jost Capito, director of Global Performance Vehicles and Motorsports Business Development at Ford, the Blue Oval will work with individual teams to ensure the car meets international regulations, meaning we’re likely to see some cars competing in the Grand Am and World Challenge series in the near future.

While full specs won’t be unveiled until the LA Show, Ford has said the Focus Touring Car will be powered by the same EcoBoost engine found under the hood of the new hot-hatch Focus ST model.

More at the Link.....

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2010/...-show.html

[ReaganLogan]

LOVE THEM!!!!

[REVolution]

Excellent. Its nice seeing Ford taking a leap into the different categories of racing. What you learn on the track really helps R&D and helps with the street cars also. Those Focus's look amazing.

[All-Or-Nothing]

The beauty of this is that it will use the same engine that is in the upcoming Focus ST. Go fast parts will probably be available thru Ford Racing in no time.

[lengnert]

The anticipation I have over the Focus is high for me.

As much as the current one has soldiered on (a little too long for us here), the new one could easily be included in the list about new models overshadowing the old ones.

It is apparently that good, and I will reiterate that the new Focus and Cruze should easily be the most popular compact models for some time to come.

[bojangles beast]

Lets hope Legnert. I also hope Ricers don't get their hands on these. I would be SOOOO pissed.