Range of new vehicles helps fill the trophy cabinet at Ford

Exciting range of new vehicles helps fill the trophy cabinet at Ford New Zealand

All-new Ford Focus brings home top prize to round out an award-winning 2011

The all-new Ford Focus and all-new Ford Ranger have come out big winners for 2011. The Ranger won the AMI Insurance and NZ autocar Overall Car of the Year award, the first time a ute has ever won the award And announced just last week, the all-new Ford Focus was judged New Zealand’s Car of the Year by the country’s leading motoring writers and commentators.

Voted for by more than two dozen established motoring journalists, each of whom is a member of the Motoring Writers’ Guild (MWG), the New Zealand Car of the Year award is the country's most comprehensive as well as the most respected award by the car industry itself, being the embodiment of the opinions of experts representing every automotive medium. Journalists from the Guild include media from the motoring sections of the country's major daily and weekly newspapers, several automotive websites, car and lifestyle magazines, and a number of radio and television outlets.

These two awards are in addition to trophies awarded across the Ford range in 2011 – from Fiesta winning Company Vehicle’s Compact Business Car of the Year to the new Territory winning 4WD Magazine’s SUV of the Year.

“Focus winning the Guild award tops off what has been a fantastic year for Ford,” said Neale Hill, Managing Director, Ford New Zealand. “It’s certainly a sign that our One Ford plan is working. Perceptions about Ford continue to strengthen, thanks to our ongoing introduction of new vehicles that are leading in quality, fuel efficiency, safety, smart design and value.”

Ford New Zealand’s trophy cabinet for 2011 now includes:

• AMI Insurance NZ Autocar - Compact Car of the Year 2011 – Ford Focus
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• AMI Insurance NZ Autocar - SUV of the Year 2011 – Ford Ranger
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• AMI Insurance NZ Autocar – OVERALL CAR OF THE YEAR 2011 – Ford Ranger

• NZ Herald Driven Magazine – Ute of the Year 2011 – Ford Ranger

• NZ Company Vehicle Magazine – Ute of the Year 2011 – Ford Ranger
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• NZ Company Vehicle Magazine – Compact Business Car of the Year 2011 – Ford Fiesta

• NZ 4WD Magazine – Utility 4WD of the Year 2011 – Ford Ranger
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• NZ 4WD Magazine – Recreational 4WD of the Year 2011 – Ford Territory
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• NZ 4WD Magazine – Overall 4WD of the Year 2011 – Ford Ranger

NZ Motoring Writers’ Guild New Zealand Car of the Year 2011 – Ford Focus

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 164,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company.

MWG - Latest Ford Focus is NZ Car of the Year

The new generation Ford Focus has been judged New Zealand’s Car of the Year by the country’s leading motoring writers and commentators.

Launched here in the third quarter of 2011, the new model is the third generation of the Focus, and the first to scoop New Zealand’s highest new car automotive honour.

In reaching their decision to award the latest Focus the country’s Car of the Year accolade, members of the New Zealand Motoring Writers' Guild assessed a number of variants in the range, which includes 1.6 and 2.0-litre petrol variants as well as a fuel-efficient 2.0-litre turbo-diesel version.

In addition to performance and handling, the facets under consideration included suitability for the task for which the Focus is designed, safety accoutrements, economy, visual appeal, value for money, ease of operation and its level of home comforts and quality of finish.

“Previous iterations of the Focus have also been highly regarded, particularly in the area of driver appeal, but in its latest guise the Focus pushes its segment forward in crucial areas such as powertrain efficiency, packaging, quality and equipment – all without compromising that fun factor for which it has become known,” said Guild president David Linklater.

“The level of chassis sophistication engineered into the new Focus is remarkable. New-generation direct-injection engines and Ford’s PowerShift dual-clutch transmission bring strong performance and outstanding economy. The petrol versions achieve an excellent 6.4 litres per 100km. The diesel is capable of 5.3 litres per 100km – incredible fuel economy for such a spacious, stylish family car.

“A particular appeal of the latest Focus is its excellence in a range of motoring environments; whether it is urban or highway motoring, or covering ground over the country’s secondary roads, the latest Focus is always impressive.”

“This is a point that the NZ Car of the Year is uniquely able to take account of, because it embodies the opinions of professionals in their field from across the country, each of whom has assessed the car on roads in their own region. The car that comes out winner must excel from many different perspectives, and in a range of Kiwi-specific conditions.”

“This year’s win for Focus is also a tribute to the quality of Ford’s model range, said Linklater. “Three out of the last four New Zealand Car of the Year winners have come from the Ford stable, with victories for the Fiesta and Falcon in 2009 and 2008 respectively.”

The Focus was one of twelve finalists for this New Zealand Car of the Year award, which is open to new passenger car models launched in New Zealand during the 12 months prior to 1 November 2011. The others, in alphabetical order, were the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, Audi A7, BMW X3, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Optima, Kia Rio, Peugeot 508, Suzuki Swift, Toyota Yaris, Volvo S60 and Volkswagen Passat

Recent past winners of the title, which is now in its 24th year, have been the BMW 5-series (2010), Ford Fiesta (2009), Ford Falcon (2008), Mazda 2 (2007) and Porsche Cayman (2006).

In recognition of the Focus’s title win, Ford New Zealand will be awarded the Peter Greenslade Trophy, named after the now deceased motoring editor of The Press in Christchurch, who was one of the instigators of the Car of the Year award.
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