A battery-electric Ford Focus hatchback will appear on Friday night’s episode of “The Jay Leno Show” in a segment called “Green Car Challenge.” The car is a one-off performance-oriented variant of the Focus BEV prototype previewed earlier this year. Based on body and underpinnings of the European Focus ST, the car will have a recurring role on the show.
The Green Car Challenge will be a regular segment, with celebrity guests vying for the fastest lap time over this season. The time trials will take place at a makeshift track built alongside “The Jay Leno Show” studio at NBC.
As mentioned, the car began as a Focus ST, which was delivered to Ford ’s engineers for a massive transformtion. The team removed the traditional engine and gas tank and installed an entire electric powertrain — all in six weeks. With Recaro racing seats, a full roll cage, a five-point racing harness, the battery-electric Focus ST is ready for racing.
Thanks in part to the battery placement, the race-ready Ford Focus BEV has a nearly ideal 50/50 weight distribution. The front springs and dampers come from the Ford Focus RS, while the rear dampers and springs are unique to Leno’s Focus BEV.
Peak power is 105 kW (141 horsepower), while range is about 80 miles. Ford says the the zero-emissions Focus BEV delivers nearly as much torque at the wheels as a 2010 Ford Mustang V6.
