FORD has confirmed it will team up with Pininfarina to build a production version of the Focus Vignale concept shown at September’s Paris Motor Show.

Lewis Booth, president of Ford of Europe, said: ‘The reaction to the Ford Focus Vignale Concept in Paris was outstanding, and confirmed that we should put this vehicle into production at the earliest opportunity.

‘Its elegance and flair emphasise the dynamic design of the new Focus range.’

Full technical details and the name of the production version of this new Focus model will be announced closer to its launch towards the end of 2006.

Ford and Pininfarina already collaborate on the Streetka roadster.

The production hard-top convertible Focus will be built at Pininfarina’s manufacturing facilities in Turin with some parts sourced from Ford’s Saarlouis plant and others from Pininfarina.