• F-150 Raptor makes its China debut, bringing new levels of off-road excitement and performance to the world’s largest auto market
• Applications to purchase the all-new Ford GT officially open in China as the supercar readies for production
• Ford GT will compete in this year’s 6 Hours of Shanghai as part of the FIA World Endurance Championship
• All-new Focus RS goes into production and will be available in China soon

A new era of Ford performance vehicles is coming to China.

On display at the 2016 Beijing Auto Show are three unique expressions of innovation and performance technology from Ford: the all-new Ford GT supercar; the highly anticipated all-new Focus RS; and for the first time in China, the F-150 Raptor – the ultimate off-road performance vehicle.

Each of these vehicles showcases a different aspect of the Ford Performance lineup and pushes the limits of how consumers experience their cars in new and innovative ways. Together, they represent Ford’s commitment to expanding its world-class product lineup in the world’s largest auto market, and showcase Ford’s plan to introduce 12 new performance vehicles globally by 2020.

“The next 12 months are going to be remarkable for Ford performance vehicles in China,” said Jamal Hameedi, global chief program engineer, Ford Performance. “Each of these vehicles features unprecedented performance capability. The Focus RS will bring consumers new levels of handling and power on the road and the racetrack. The new Ford GT is the ultimate racing machine and the most advanced production vehicle ever built by Ford. And now, for the first time in China, customers will be able to enjoy unmatched off-road performance in the F-150 Raptor.”

Legendary off-road performance
Unmatched by any other auto manufacturer, the all-new F-150 Raptor is North America’s favorite high-performance off-road pickup truck. For the first time in the vehicle’s history, Ford is bringing the F-150 Raptor to Chinese consumers in 2017.

The all-new F-150 Raptor is the toughest, smartest and most capable Raptor ever built, and will stand apart from all other off-road and performance vehicles in China. It boasts a purpose-built engine, chassis and suspension, all of which enable it to travel fast over challenging desert landscapes or crawl over rocky terrain.

“With the introduction of the F-150 Raptor, Ford is giving its customers in China the chance to experience unprecedented levels of off-road capability,” said John Lawler, chairman and CEO, Ford Motor China. “The new Raptor exemplifies superior off-road ability, from rock-crawling to sand running. No other truck in China can measure up to its off-road performance, which combines raw power with agility and versatility.”

Advanced materials – including high-strength steel and high-strength, military grade, aluminum alloy – help to keep weight down for improved off-road prowess without sacrificing toughness or durability. Combined with all-new EcoBoost engine technology, the F-150 Raptor has a power-to-weight ratio that makes the truck even more agile off-road.

The F-150 Raptor is powered by a Raptor-exclusive high-output version of Ford’s new, second-generation 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine. An all-new 10-speed transmission puts power to the wheels with enhanced efficiency, and an all-new four-wheel-drive, torque-on-demand transfer case, with advanced, easy-to-use off-road mode driver-assist technology, helps drivers to conquer varying off-road terrain.

The ultimate racing machine
For drivers who want to own the most advanced Ford production vehicle ever made, applications for the first all-new Ford GT ultra-high-performance supercars are now open at FordGT.com. The cars will go into production for a limited number of customers in China in late 2016.

Propelled by the most powerful Ford EcoBoost production engine ever – a new twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 producing more than 600 horsepower – paired with a seven-speed paddle-shift transmission, the Ford GT serves as a testament to the innovations in technology and engineering that go into all Ford vehicles.

This year will also see the reappearance of the iconic Ford GT nameplate in the world of endurance racing. Not only will the Ford GT be returning to the 24 Hours of Le Mans – 50 years on from Ford’s famous 1-2-3 outright victory in 1966 – but it will also be racing in the 6 Hours of Shanghai as part of the FIA World Endurance Championship. The Shanghai race takes place on November 6, 2016.

Fastest Focus RS ever
Drifting in to complete the Ford Performance lineup in Beijing is the new 350-horsepower Focus RS hot hatch, already rolling off Ford’s production line in Saarlouis, Germany. Drivers in China will have a chance to get behind the wheel later this year.

Chinese enthusiasts have already lined up to place pre-sale orders since Ford’s announcement that the all-new Focus RS would be available for sale in China. When it arrives, it will add to an already potent lineup of Ford hot hatchbacks in China, alongside the critically acclaimed Focus ST and Fiesta ST.

Developed by a team of Ford Performance engineers in Europe and the U.S., the Focus RS is powered by a specially engineered version of Ford’s new 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine. Its 4.7-second 0-100 km/h sprint makes the high-performance hatchback the fastest-accelerating Ford Focus RS model ever.

The all-new Focus RS features innovative Ford Performance All-Wheel Drive with Dynamic Torque Vectoring, which gives drivers a new level of handling, grip and cornering speed. For the first time, the Focus RS gets selectable drive modes – including an industry-first drift mode that allows controlled oversteer drifts – and launch control.

“With the Focus RS, the Ford GT and the F-150 Raptor, we are innovating performance technology in all aspects of driving, from the racetrack to extreme off-roading,” said Hameedi. “Ford has a long history of creating unique performance vehicles, and each of the vehicles on display here today builds on that history to bring something new and exciting to the world of high-performance cars.”