Ford Develops a Nifty Pop-Up Door Edge Protector that will Debut on the Focus

How many times have you hit your vehicle's doors on an adjacent car or a wall? The answer is probably one too many dings and scratches to remember. Of course, the aftermarket industry offers various solutions like vertical door protector strips, but add-ons will always be add-ons with undesirable aesthetic results.

In a rare moment of Zen, Ford has come up with a clever and fully functional feature that protects the doors without ruining the appearance of your car. Aptly named Door Edge Protector, the system was designed by Ford engineers in Cologne, Germany.

It comprises of a protective flap concealed in the door that moves into position in a fraction of a second as the door opens providing a buffer to prevent damage to paint and body work.

The rubber flap fully extends at a door opening gap of less than 15cm and according to Ford, retracts in a mere 60 milliseconds to allow for doors being slammed shut. It also includes a clutch mechanism that prevents damage if the flap is obstructed when returning.

Ford says that the feature offers protection against more than 90 per cent of variously positioned obstructions to the front doors and 85 per cent at the rear doors. And for heavy users, the rubber flap can be replaced simply by clipping a new unit into place.

“The Door Edge Protector will be one of those features that we think will make customers say ‘Why didn’t someone think of this sooner?’” said Matthias Tensing, product development system engineer. “It will help parents with children in the backseat or anyone who needs to park in a tight spot.”

The Door Edge Protection system will make its production debut in January 2012 on the new Focus.

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IAA 2011: Ford’s New Focus ST gets ST-R Racing Version

Ford Focus ST R

Even though the brand-new Focus ST was just launched at the 64th International Auto Show in Frankfurt, the hot hatch which will also be available as a Wagon in Europe, already has a racing sibling: the Focus ST-R that also made its world premiere in Germany.

Developed by Ford Racing Team in collaboration with the firm's Global Performance Vehicles group, the Focus ST-R is aimed at professional and amateur racers alike, as well as track-day enthusiasts, and is designed to compete in a wide variety of races.

Ford even hopes that some of its customers will take part in more professional events such as the 24 Hours of Nürburgring.

Like the (five-door) road version upon which it is based, the ST-R is powered by Ford’s new 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost engine. It features a new track-tuned suspension and uprated brakes and, since it is a race car, a FIA-spec roll cage.

Jost Capito, Ford’s director of motorsports, commented: “From the beginning the Focus and the new Focus ST were designed to be driver’s cars. The road-going Focus features best-in-class brakes, handling and powertrains. Ford Racing in North America has taken this effort and developed the Focus ST-R and is a perfect example of how a production car inspires a competitive race car for enthusiasts.”

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IAA 2011: Ford Introduces New Focus ST in Both Hatchback and Station Wagon Flavors

Ford Focus ST

Almost a year after appearing at the 2010 Paris Motor Show in concept form, Ford has lifted the covers off the production version of its new global performance model, the Focus ST. If you remember the showcar's looks and specifications, there is nothing surprising about the production version of the five-door hatchback. What comes as a surprise though is the introduction of a station wagon body style of the Focus ST. However, unlike the hatch that will be sold across the globe, the Focus ST Wagon will be offered exclusively in Europe - at least for now.

Both the Focus ST hatch and Wagon sport the same 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost engine delivering a maximum output of 250-horsepower and a peak torque of 360Nm (265.5 lb-ft), matched to a 6-speed manual transmission that delivers power to the front wheels only.

Ford claims that the four-banger is more potent as well as more fuel efficient than the previous ST's Volvo-sourced five-cylinder unit, while Jost Capito, director of Global Performance Vehicles, says the it will deliver an equally exciting sound.

“People loved the sound of the previous Focus ST,” said Capito. “The physics and acoustics of a 5-cylinder engine compared to a 4-cylinder are very different, but like Beethoven and Mozart – both of whom created fantastic yet very different music – we believe the engine note of the new Focus ST will delight enthusiasts in the same way.”

Ford's engineers have uprated the ST's suspension and brake bits while the performance model also comes equipped with a more aggressive tuning of Ford’s Torque Steer Compensation (TSC) system and an enhanced version of the Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) with three modes to choose from.

The ST rides on a set of 18-inch alloy wheels shod in high performance 235/40R18 Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 tires. ST customers will also be able to opt for a ‘Performance Pack’ which offers the wheels in black with a high contrast red finish on the performance brake calipers.

On the outside, the ST gains a different front grille and an aero package with a front apron, side skirts, roof spoiler and a rear apron/diffuser, while interior parts include a set of Recaro sport seats and bespoke trim.

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Frankfurt Preview: Ford Evos Concept Reveals Brand’s New Design Language [73 Photos]

Ford Evos Concept

Ford has gone ahead and revealed the Evos concept, which it claims, premieres the brand’s “first truly new global design language” developed under the One Ford product plan. Now, haven't we heard that before? If “New Edge” and “Kinetic Design” ring any bells, the answer to that question is yes… According to automaker, the Evos' signature styling will form the basis for the next generation of Ford cars, minivans and crossovers, with the first actual production car to feature the new design language set to arrive in the market in 2012.

“The first fruit of this vision will be ready sooner than you might think – you'll see it in around four months rather than four years” said Ford Group vice president, design and chief creative officer, J Mays. “We can’t wait to introduce the first production car to include this new Ford design to our global customers.”

The Detroit company says that the most important element of the new design is the brand new ‘face of Ford’, as in the inverted trapezoid grille that was foreshadowed in the Focus Electric and the new Focus ST.

The Evos concept has a fastback body shape which is said to reinforce the models’ driving dynamics and distinguishes it from its competitors. Mays claims that he and his team have evolved the Kinetic Design concept to a simpler approach while at the same time incorporating “the new face of Ford” as shown in the Focus ST and the Focus Electric.

The 2011 theme for concept models seems to be “1,001 ways to open your car’s doors”. After Peugeot’s HX1 “half-scissor” doors, the Evos sports gullwing-style, upwards opening doors –all four of them, which of course will never make it to production.

The interior of the Evos is relatively tamer save for the futuristic dashboard. Oddly enough, the steering wheel wouldn't look out of context in a standard production car.

“The Ford Evos Concept is a strong statement of intent from the global design team," said Mays. "We believe that the new generation of buyers around the world has higher expectations for a more premium design language in all products. This played an important role in shaping this fresh design DNA.”

More details on the concept model are to be released at the Frankfurt Motor Show, where the Evos will make its world premiere.