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Ford will take the wraps off its brand-new 2011 Focus at the Detroit auto show, while on Tuesday morning, the company will reveal the less significant, 2011 Lincoln MKX midsize crossover. The Fiesta's new big brother -both in terms of size and styling- is quite possibly one of the most important Fords of the past few decades as it will be a truly global car.


In the passel of images released by Ford to announce its new MyFord connectivity suite, the company inadvertently provided an early look at the completely reworked interiors of the 2011 Lincoln MKX and 2011 Ford Edge. The Lincoln is scheduled to debut in Detroit next week, but the Edge isn’t expected to be seen until next month’s Chicago auto show.


Engine options will likely include a 1.0-liter with 89 hp to 108 hp, a 1.6-liter with 170 hp, and a 2.0-liter with at least 230 hp. On the diesel side, Ford will offer a 1.6-liter with 128 hp and 2.0-liter with 168 hp to 197 hp. If that isn't impressive enough, the Focus will also feature both dual-clutch transmission and six-speed manual.


In Europe, the new Focus and the C-MAX models will be offered with several diesel and petrol engines including Ford's new 1.6-liter EcoBoost turbocharged petrol with outputs ranging between 150 and 180 horsepower while in North America, there's talk about a new 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline unit with direct injection.


Clearly visible in the pictures are the new touch controls—including the Lincoln’s HVAC fan-speed and stereo volume sliders—that will be replacing hard buttons for various functions, as well as the configurable high-res displays associated with the MyFord system. The center screen measures eight inches. Touch controls, of course, don’t provide any tactile feedback, but at least Ford has incorporated small nubs that help you locate certain switches. The rockers on the steering wheel provide control for the MyFord functions.
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