The 2009 Bangkok Motor Show, which concluded on April 6, drew an estimated 1.6 million visitors to a festive display of automakers’ offerings in Asia. Ford Motor Company came away with its own reason to celebrate (two reasons, actually): Car of the Year awards for the Ford Focus TDCi PowerShift and the Ford Escape.
The Ford Focus won for Best Hatchback, Diesel. A supremely efficient, dual-clutch drive paired with kinetic design have made this a prize compact abroad. It offers a seamless blend of power, torque, and economy. Ford engineers developed and refined a PowerShift automatic transmission that smoothly delivers the performance benefits of a manual drive.
The Ford Escape, meanwhile, brought home the award for Best SUV, Petrol. American drivers are well acquainted with the benefits of this landmark crossover:*best-in-class fuel economy, smooth handling, and ample power — matched with a nimble design and decked out with all of Ford’s latest technologies.
They’re two very different cars, of course: evidence of Ford’s versatility in bringing just the right vehicle to every consumer.