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It’s just plain difficult to follow Ford Motor Company lately, as there seems to be more rumors about the embattled American icon than any other automaker. On any given day, all, some, or none of the Premiere Automotive Group could be for sale, and everyone from Renault to Hyundai, even the Russians, could be the most interested suitors.

In the past couple weeks, a sale of Jaguar and Land Rover has appeared more and more likely, as Ford has hired KPMG to assist in a possible sale. In a recent interview with the Free Press, however, Way Forward architect and Ford President of the Americas, Mark Fields, claims that Volvo definitely isn’t on the block. The product portfolios of the Ford brand and Volvo are far too intertwined at this point, especially in Europe, for a split to pan out in the Blue Oval’s favor. Ford will likely combine the R&D between the two brands further in North America, where Ford is working to bring down costs.

For our money, it makes sense to keep Volvo in the fold, if only because the Swedish automaker represents one of the few outright success stories in the Ford portfolio.

[Source: Freep]

Today’s reminder of how much more awesome the Euro-market Ford Focus is than our own comes from Ford UK, where the latest, greatest Focus ST goes on sale starting Thursday. As you’re probably well aware, in ST trim the newly-restyled Euro Focus gets the once-over from Ford Europe’s in-house tuning arm, TeamRS. The standard engine is replaced by a turbocharged 2.5L five-banger underhood that’s good for 225 PS (around 223 hp), is mated to a six-speed stick, and lets the Focus ST do 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.8 seconds. According to Ford, the new ST also lapped the Nordschleife in 8:35. The exterior is dressed up with 18-inch wheels, the expected body kit and available racing stripes. Inside, the proper cockpit gets a push-button starter and Recaro seating. Depending on the ST trim level selected (there are three) and available options chosen, you can add all manner of comfort and convenience features to the spiffy-looking pocket rocket. Even Bluetooth… but not SYNC. Something tells us the Brits aren’t crying in their beers over this.

Yes, we know that the next-gen Focus will be global and that the U.S. will share the same car sold in Europe. No, that doesn’t make looking at this any easier in the meantime. Ford’s official missive is pasted after the jump.

[Source: Ford]

Ford is laying out plans for the next version of its Focus compacts. And this time around, Ford says it’s going to try once more to make the 2011 Ford Focus a global product.

Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s product chief, said yesterday that the company is planning the new Focus in its European operations and hopes that 87 percent of the parts in the new vehicle will be common to its global parts bin. The new Focus range could appear in the 2010 or 2011 model years, more likely 2011 since Ford is launching its subcompact Fiesta in 2010.

The current U.S. Focus started life as a part of a global program when it bowed in 2000, but when Ford redesigned the European Focus mid-decade, the American car soldiered on in largely the same format. This year, Ford updated the U.S. Focus’ styling and interior.

The new Focus will ride on an updated version of the C1 platform that underpins the current European version of the Ford Focus. So now’s the chance to start lobbying Ford to keep the hot Focuses in its American plans — cars like the Focus RS and this Coupe-Cabriolet version. Tell us in a comment below if Ford should build a wider range of Focus cars with the next generation - and tell us which version you’d buy.

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By now you’re probably aware of the Zune Guy’s mission to change his name to Microsoft Zune, right? He’s now documenting the entire process to the delight of amateur psychologists and identity thieves everywhere (seriously dude, at least edit out your phone number). You’ll find step 1 of his vision quest — a call into Microsoft to discuss the legality of the move — recorded after the break.

Look, we know that our continued attention just rewards the monkey for his dance. But like any good car crash, our morbid curiosity won’t let us look away. Especially when we learn that the Zune Guy drives a Ford Focus, just like Bill Gates. We’re guessing that’s not a coincidence. Click through for the action.

source:engadget

Henry Ford would be proud of Ford Europe’s latest special edition. Offered only in black

– inside and out – the “Black Magic” edition is based on the new Focus Coupe-Cabriolet launched in this year Geneva. The package includes black powder-coated 17-inch alloys mounted to a sport suspension, plus tinted headlights and fog lamps. The interior is swathed in (you guessed it) black leather, complimented by special floor mats and bundled with an MP3- and Bluetooth-compatible stereo, parking sensors and wind deflector. Only 1500 copies of the Black Magic edition will be made available in Europe with a choice of 2-liter engines running on gasoline (145hp) or diesel (136hp) for Є28,100 or Є30,100 respectively. Check out the images in the gallery below for a closer look.source:autoblog