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'TOONER' Focus Geared for Ultimate Street Performance

3 April 2000

'TOONER' Focus Geared for Ultimate Street Performance

          Concept Car Unveiled at 2000 SEMA International Auto Salon


    LOS ANGELES, March 31 Addressing the rapidly-growing
compact performance market, the Ford "TOONER" Focus concept car was unveiled
at the Third Annual SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association)
International Auto Salon in Pomona, California today.
    Based on the production model "Sony" Focus, which features a high-fidelity
Sony system, the "TOONER" Focus was modified with performance and appearance
items from 25 top aftermarket manufacturers and tuners.  The "TOONER" Focus
highlights the latest California car trend, the compact performance market,
and embodies today's "hot rod" movement that is built around highly modified
compact economy cars.
    "Ford has become an integral player in the compact performance market and
we demonstrated this at last year's event with the unveiling of the Ford ZX2
S/R which has become a successful niche vehicle, and again with today's world
premiere of the 'TOONER' Focus," said Mike Gearhart, Ford SVC Race Program
manager.  "We have shown that we can be responsive to the market and to
consumer preferences -- they demanded a car they could personalize and we have
provided just that."
    In addition to the "TOONER" Focus, Ford has on display at the SEMA Salon
additional "hot rods for the new century," including Ben Ma's Focus Race Car,
which has been timed in the eight-second bracket over the standing start
quarter-mile.
    "Consumers and enthusiasts will have an opportunity to see what they can
do to their Focuses," said Gearhart.  "The beauty of the Focus is that it
provides the perfect platform -- it is adaptable to different interests for
those who like enhanced performance and those who just like to personalize
their cars."
    The International Auto Salon takes place March 31 - April 2, 2000, at the
Pomona Fairplex in Pomona, California.  Special activities and attractions
include a new products showcase, feature vehicle displays, product
demonstration clinics, seminars and meetings and free prize drawings.  The
event is open to the public.  For more information, call SEMA at 909-396-4679
or visit their website at http://www.sema.org .