Leno's Electric Ford Focus is Based on Mk2 Focus ST

When Drew Barrymore gets into an electric Ford Focus on The Jay Leno Show tomorrow night, it won't be like any of the Focus BEV prototypes we've seen to date. Instead, the Focus BEV for the show is based on a European-spec Focus ST.

"The Focus BEV foreshadows many of the same systems that Ford will begin selling to consumers in an all-new electric Ford Focus, scheduled to go on sale in North America in 2011," says the official Ford press release.

Ford notes that Leno's celebrity challenge car started life on a production line in Germany and was shipped to Michigan, where engineers spent 6 weeks installing its electric drivetrain.

As we reported previously, this Focus BEV actually has two lithium-ion battery packs (one under the cargo floor, one in place of the fuel tank) to achieve a better weight distribution -- it's 50/50, according to Ford. Total capacity is 23 kilowatt-hours. The 98 batteries motivate a front-drive electric motor rated at 141 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. Range is "nearly 80 miles," so it likely wouldn't go as far on a charge as our long-term Mini E

Interestingly, Ford says the celebrity-spec Focus BEV's curb weight is only 3,421 pounds -- less than 300 pounds more than a stock five-door Focus ST. We're going to guess that the air-conditioner and various interior components may have been yanked to achieve that. This car will have a pair of Recaro seats, five-point harnesses and a rollcage (though the harnesses and cage aren't apparent in the media photo).

To get the handling up to par, Ford says it borrowed front springs and dampers from the Focus RS and specified unique springs and dampers for the rear. We'll see what Barrymore thinks of the car's control feel come tomorrow.

Categories: Celebrities,Ford,Green Tech,Hatchbacks