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FOCUS A.W.D. REPORTS TURN UP EMPTY

Focus experimental vehicle that's been tested on two continents! This is one tough little car.

Notice the two license plates. . .one European and one U.S. (in the rear window).

UPDATED: 23 June. GO HERE

From time to time BlueOvalNews receives tips from readers here in Southeastern, Michigan concerning experimental and prototype vehicles.

While we're always eager to investigate good leads, some of these vehicles are not what we were told they would be. This supposed A.W.D. Focus is another example of that.

We did find an A.W.D. Focus, but not the A.W.D. type we had hoped for. Instead we found a 1999 White four door model powered by a 1.6 liter engine mated to a TBD axle.

This Focus is currently serving as a test vehicle and is actually a European build. The bottom photo on the left shows that the Focus sporting license plates from two countries - one from somewhere in Europe and the other (center of rear window) is a Michigan manufacturer plate.

The vehicle's unit identification did list it as an AWD 4X4; however, that is only in reference to the electronic braking system - which is a Continental Teves System/esp.

This Focus has apparently been around on several test tracks as it is fully equipped with a neon green roll bar surrounding the entire inside compartment.

Focus models are now all over Dearborn in various body styles and colors. Once you actually see the vehicle next to an Escort or a Contour, you can immediately understand why Ford is proud of it. The car has a presence of being bigger than it actually is. . .and the car has a definate character.

One of our helpers here is often working over in Amsterdam and tells us that the Focus is prevalent in both advertisements and on the street as well.

We last saw this Focus with its 195-60-16 tires heading down Rotunda - maybe to the Dearborn Proving Grounds. . we're not sure because we couldn't keep up with it.

Sources from the Wayne, Michigan Assembly Plant have reported that there is an SVT Focus in the works, but we're not sure how reliable these sources are just yet. . .we have not seen actual Ford documentation to back up such claims.

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