Ford teases an electric Focus
Will Ford's Focus BEV join the electric vehicle race at CES 2011?
We've known for some time that Ford Motor Company has been developing a battery electric vehicle (BEV) variant of its Ford Focus. However, the mule previously showcased was based on the second-generation Focus chassis, which is now old-new following the unveiling of the third-generation Focus. Today, the automaker has released teaser photos of what appears to be a new Focus BEV concept and announced via its Ford Electric Vehicles Facebook fan page that it will have big news at the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
A set of photos posted on the automaker's Facebook wall showcases the electric car's charging port, which is located on the driver's-side front fender. Surrounding the charging port is a four-section LED ring that we assume indicates the battery's charge state in 25-percent increments. Also pictured is Ford's electric vehicle badge, which shares design elements and iconography with the automaker's hybrid vehicle badging.
Accompanying the photos is a caption indicating that Ford CEO Alan Mulally will have big news on Friday, Jan 7, at 11 a.m. PT. Our expectations are that Ford will be updating the previous Focus BEV concept to use the new third-generation Focus chassis. However, with the Chevrolet Volt and the Nissan Leaf already silently humming along on public roads, the blue-oval crew may surprise us with the announcement of a production model and timeline. We'll be there bringing you more details as they emerge, so stay tuned.