Ford unveils green Focus Coupé-Cabriolet concept

A bio-ethanol powered Ford Focus Coupé-Cabriolet concept headlines the display of Flexible Fuel Vehicles on the blue oval stand at the British International Motor Show.

The Coupé-Cabriolet Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) concept demonstrates that style need not be sacrificed for cleaner, green motoring. This exciting new concept leads a trio of FFVs on the show stand, including the new Ford C-MAX FFV on sale from today.

Research from Imperial College, London, shows that Ford's 1.8-litre FFV technology in the Coupé-Cabriolet concept, C-MAX and existing Focus bio-fuel car achieves a true CO2 emissions figure of 99.6g/km. This 'well-to-wheel' analysis beats comparable vehicles using hybrid technology.

The new Ford C-MAX FFV adds a Multi-Activity Vehicle alternative to the blue oval's existing Ford Focus bio-fuel range, which includes five-door and estate versions. Prices for the Ford C-MAX FFV, available in LX, Sport, Zetec, Zetec Climate and Ghia trim, are from £14,695 – the same price as a conventionally-fuelled 1.8-litre gasoline Ford C-MAX.

From today there is similarly no price difference in the Ford Focus range between petrol and bio-ethanol models. The Ford Focus LX as an FFV, which can run on bio-ethanol or petrol in any mix in the same tank, a petrol-only model, is priced from £14,045. Launched in Britain in August 2005, the Ford Focus FFV was the first bio-fuel car on sale.

Roelant de Waard, Ford of Britain chairman and managing director, said: "Ford is Britain's leading bio-fuel car manufacturer after launching Britain's first Flexible Fuel Vehicle almost a year ago. Our new FFVs, the Coupé-Cabriolet concept and C-MAX show that every model in the Focus range – Britain's top-selling car – can run on renewable bio-ethanol.

"Both Ford as vehicle manufacturer, and Morrisons as bio-ethanol retailer have invested in the expansion of this new green technology. Now the Government needs to join us and make flexible fuel motoring an even more attractive option for UK customers."