Ford unveiled its next-generation Focus today at the 2010 North American International Auto Show, where the company showed off its best bet for making deeper inroads into the market for fuel-efficient -- as well as efficiently made -- compact cars.

The firm previewed the four-door sedan and five-door hatchback styles of the Focus, which will be almost identical in all markets: The vehicle will have 80 percent parts commonality with its counterparts in other markets around the world.

"The new Ford Focus is a clear demonstration that our 'ONE' Ford strategy is providing global consumers with great products that harness the best of Ford Motor Company," Ford's President and CEO Alan Mulally, said in a prepared statement.

"The efficiencies generated by our new global C-car platform will enable us to provide Ford Focus customers with an affordable product offering quality, fuel efficiency, safety and technology beyond their expectations," he said.

In conjunction with its debut of the new Ford Focus, the company confirmed its plans to begin building battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in 2011 for the North American market. The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid also was in the limelight today when it was named the 2010 North American Car of the Year.

GreenBiz.com's Jonathan Bardelline reported last month on Ford's ambitious agenda for producing more green cars. The company's plans include forging ahead with its work on hybrids to releasing plug-ins and BEVs.

In the meantime, production for new next-generation Focus that was spotlighted in Detroit today will begin in North America and Europe late this year with market launches expected in early 2011. The company said launches in Asia, Africa and South America are to follow and that production, at least for the onset, will be concentrated at Ford's Saarlouis plant in Germany, in Michigan in the U.S. and in Chongqing Assembly Plants in China.

For the North American market, the Focus features a new 2.0 -liter gas engine with DI and Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) that is as much as 20 horsepower more powerful than the currently 2.0 I-4 unit. Fuel economy gains from the new engine are projected at more than 10 percent.

Image courtesy of Ford.