JAKARTA, Indonesia – Top Gear Indonesia this week named the Ford Focus TDCi as its 'Car of the Year' for 2009, choosing the five-door diesel hatchback from among a group of five finalists.

The magazine noted the design, technology and overall driving experience of the Focus TDCi as determining factors in earning its most prestigious accolade.

“We're both honoured and proud to have Ford Focus TDCi named 'Car of the Year' by Top Gear Indonesia. The Focus TDCi represents an incredibly sporty vehicle that combines style, comfort, fuel efficiency and technology to deliver exceptional appeal,” said Will Angove, president director of Ford Motor Indonesia. 

According to Top Gear Indonesia, the Ford Focus TDCi features substantial design improvements, including a significant upgrade to its ergonomic interior that provides more comfort, space and sophistication. 

The impressive exterior of the Focus TDCi is visually enhanced with its kinetic design cues that were judged to be "expressive and contemporary", making the vehicle more sporty and masculine, and further strengthening its character as “a pleasure to drive”.

The overall athletic appeal of the Focus TDCi is further driven by the performance of its Duratorq turbodiesel engine that is combined with the new six-speed double-clutch PowerShift automatic transmission. The high torque at low rpms makes the Ford Focus TDCi agile in a variety of driving situations, whether climbing, passing, cornering, or the stop-and-go of city traffic.

“The Top Gear Indonesia 'Car of the Year' award is another testament of Ford's commitment to delivering a world-class lineup of Ford vehicles to Indonesian consumers,” concluded Angove.