Laser beams in on newcomer

By ALASTAIR SLOANE

Will Ford New Zealand look at importing the new Fiesta along with the Focus next year? And will it phase out the Laser, the car it shares with Mazda?

Ford is saying only that it will look at the Laser - a steady seller - further down the line, once it see what Focus is doing in the market.

The award-winning Focus, the car Ford campaigns in the World Rally Championship, will go on sale for the first time in Australia and New Zealand next year.

Executives in both countries have worked for some time to get the European-built Focus Down Under, but the poor exchange rate and difficulties with supply worked against it.

Now they have presented a solid business case to Ford of Europe for importing the vehicle.

Ford Australia has already said the Focus will take over from the Laser across the Tasman and its president Geoff Polites is eyeing the Fiesta.

He told reporters: "We've made no secret of the fact we'd like to get the B-car (Fiesta) out of Europe.

"Again it's a capacity thing in Europe right now. We are still negotiating Ford of Europe's capacity position, but it would be a nice complement to it (Focus)."

Ford makes seven Focus models - sedans, station wagons and three- and five-door hatchbacks badged CL, LX, Zetec, Ghia and ST170 and powered by 1.8- and 2-litre four-cylinder engines producing between 85kW and 127 kW.

As a rule, the 1.8-litre engines are mated to five-speed manual gearboxes and the 2-litre units to four-speed automatics.

Top model is the ST170 three-door hatchback, powered by the 127kW/196Nm 2-litre engine.

Standard equipment in this part of the world is expected to include central locking, airbags, air-conditioning, and power windows. Ford New Zealand is still working on choices.

"We have yet to work through the model line-up, the choice of engines, and the level of specification," said Ford public affairs manager Edward Finn.

The appearance of the best-selling Focus is Ford's birthday present to the New Zealand market - the carmaker celebrates its centenary next year.

"The Focus will be a welcome addition to the model line-up and we believe it will become a favourite among New Zealand motorists," said managing director Nigel Harris.

"It boasts an impressive motorsport pedigree, thanks to the achievements by the likes of Colin McRae and Carlos Sainz in the World Rally Championship, but it also has superb levels of urban refinement above and beyond many of its competitors," he said.

Ford New Zealand is drip-feeding information on Focus through its new web site www.fordfocus.co.nz which went on line two weeks ago.

The New Zealand model is likely to be built at Ford of Spain's plant in Valencia, where the Ka small car comes from.

Since its launch in Britain in October 1998, the Focus has notched up more than 2.5 million sales worldwide.

It has been the world's best-selling car since 2000 and has won widespread critical acclaim for its refinement, engineering and all-round performance.

It has also won more than 50 international awards, including European Car of the Year in 1999 and North American Car of the Year in 2000.

The Focus launched Ford's 'New Edge' philosophy, an in-house design standard.