Funny Ford Focus, Funny Ford Focus Fu

DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 19, 2001 – Ford is sending the all-new, ultra-hip, Focus ZX5 off to college this fall through a multifaceted program designed to plug into college life through connections in music, fashion, entertainment, technology and sports.

The What’s Your Focus Festival will include a road rally, a Ford Focus-sponored concert headlined by the band Live and a celebrity roundtable. The What’s Your Focus Forum will be hosted by celebrity entertainer Jay Mohr, (Jerry Maguire, Pay It Forward, Saturday Night Live) and is designed to help college students make smart choices in their careers.

"The Ford Focus lineup, including the all-new five-door ZX5, offers a wide array of choices to suit anyone's needs," said Bob Fesmire, Focus marketing manager.  "Ford is using this campaign to assist college students in making the same smart choices in their careers."

The What’s Your Focus Forum, features notable actors, directors, musicians, designers and athletes, as panelists, putting their careers in "Focus" for an audience of young adults seeking career advice. With the support of celebrities such as Tony Hawk (professional skateboarder and entrepreneur), Brooke Burke (host of

E!'s Wild On Series), Kenneth Cole (fashion designer), and

Daryl Johnston (former NFL player/commentator), Ford is helping college students who are unsure of their post-graduation careers to make smart choices.

"They don’t call it ‘breaking’ into the business for nothing," said Mohr. "Making a career in music, fashion or entertainment takes a lot of hard work. Our goal is to share our stories so that the next generation can avoid our mistakes and follow our successes."

The centerpiece of the program is a What’s Your Focus Festival tent. The heated area will give students a place to relax by listening to music, viewing Focus-inspired short films or enjoying computer games such as DJ Fu Wax Attack. In addition, students will have the opportunity to win tickets to the conclusion of the festival, a concert performance by the popular alternative rock group Live at a local venue that night.

Ford’s seven-market tour will make stops in Los Angeles (10/25-26: UCLA), The Bay Area (10/28-29: San Jose State), Dallas (10/31-11/1: University of Texas at Arlington), New York (11/5-6: Queens College), Chicago (11/7-8: Northwestern University), Atlanta (11/12-13: Emory University) and Miami (11/15-16: University of Miami).

Focus’ big news for 2002 is the addition of the ZX5 to the Focus lineup. The ZX5 offers the contemporary, edgy design of the ZX3 model with the added convenience of four doors for owners who prefer easy rear-seat access for passengers. In addition to ZX5’s ease of entry, rear seat passengers will enjoy the same spacious cabin for up to three adult passengers with shoulder and lap safety belts in all three positions. When using ZX5 to haul cargo instead of people, the ZX5’s split 60/40 rear seat folds down to a flat load-floor. The ZX5 is expected to boost Focus’ appeal to both entry-level and mature buyers.

Since its introduction in Europe in 1999, and the United States as a 2000 model, Focus has won praise for its performance, handling and package ingenuity. Focus is available for 2002 in four distinct body styles: ZX3 two-door hatchback, four-door sedan, four-door wagon, and the new ZX5 four-door hatchback.