Ford Motor Co. is already very well represented at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, but now there’s a new kid on the street. It’s Ford’s Electric Focus. A bright orange version of it has just joined the permanent collection of rare and collectible automobiles on display.
And who better to “induct” the vehicle than car guy Jay Leno, who had celebrities race the vehicle in a segment called the Green Car Challenge on his failed 10 p.m. show. Leno, who still seemed bitter about the prime time program and not in a particularly good mood, nevertheless gamely answered questions about the vehicle and compared it to his own 1909 electric car that’s part of his extensive collection. He said it cost about $1.50 to charge the Focus and that the vehicle had a range of 100 miles– and went surprisingly fast, hitting a top speed of 78 mph. It takes about three or four hours to charge up the car through a 240-volt outlet, the type used for washing machines and refrigerators, and the battery lasts for up to 10 years.
The racing prototype of the vehicle was designed for Leno’s show and outfitted with Recaro racing seats and a vibrant orange paint scheme. You can see it now in the museum’s permanent alternative power exhibit.
