Ford unveils electric Focus at CES

LAS VEGAS (WXYZ) - Ford unveiled its all-electric version of the Focus during CEO Alan Mulally's keynote address at the Consumer Electronics Show Friday afternoon.

Ford says it will launch the Focus Electric in late 2011. The automaker says it offers a mile-per-gallon equivalent better than the Chevrolet Volt.

The all-electric Focus is capable of fully recharging in three to four hours. All it requires is the available wall-mounted 240-volt charge station.

“Focus Electric is the flagship of our new family of electrified vehicles, showcasing our commitment to offer consumers choice when it comes to fuel-efficient or fuel-free vehicles,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president for Global Product Development. “Its advanced powertrain will deliver significant energy efficiency advantages and zero CO2 emissions without compromising driving enjoyment. And its suite of smart driver information technologies will transform the way customers think about energy usage and their transportation needs.”

The Focus Electric is powered by an advanced lithium-ion battery system engineered by Ford in cooperation with supplier LG Chem.

The company began ramping up the excitement for the CES reveal by releasing a series of teaser pictures on their Ford Electric Vehicles Facebook page.

The first pictures, showed a fuel cap with an blue neon ring around it and have a very TRON like feel to them.

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT ALL THE PICTURES ON THE FORD ELECTRIC VEHICLES FACEBOOK PAGE

The new Focus is Ford's first all electric car. It is designed to compete with the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf. However, unlike those cars, Ford is using an existing model in an attempt to save money.

The vehicle will be produced at the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, which recently underwent a $550 million renovation. It is expected to be to showrooms by the end of the year. However, it will only be available in select markets at first. Those markets include Detroit, Atlanta, Austin, Houston, Texas, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, New York, Orlando, Phoenix, Tucson, Portland, Ore., Raleigh Durham, N.C., Seattle, Washington D.C., and Richmond Va.

Ford also unveiled its new MyFord Mobile App at CES. The app is designed to work with your smartphone to provide you with the status of your car. In the case of the electric version of the Focus, it will let you know how much of a charge the car has, and when it is ready to go.

Ford's appearance at CES comes as the company is in final preparations for the North American International Auto Show, which will kick off with media previews on Monday, January 10.

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Stay with Action News and WXYZ.com for the most complete coverage of the North American International Auto Show when it kicks off Monday, January 10.