PRODUCTION of the new Ford Focus - the company's all-new lower medium sector contender - is expected to start next week when the manufacturer's factories resume work after the summer shut-down. The Focus was first revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March and goes on sale in mid-October with a choice of 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0-litre petrol engines, with an all-new 1.8 direct injection turbodiesel to follow.

The range will encompass three-, four- and five-door formats as well as an estate. Ford of Britain is 'buzzing' at the potential for the Focus, which it expects to become Britain's best-selling car. It will go on sale alongside the smaller Escort which continues in production at Halewood for a further two years.

Focus will be built at Ford plants in Germany and Spain and in the run-up to production start-up more than 22,000 Ford dealer principals and their staff from 20 European countries - including the UK - have been through the 'Focus experience' in Berlin. With styling cues internally and externally from the widely applauded Ford Ka, Puma and soon-to-be-launched Cougar, Focus continues the manufacturer's New Edge design theme. Fleets are expected to account for 50% of Focus sales.