The Focus Global Test Drive will be held in early 2011 in southern Europe. (The location will be confirmed next month.) Driving exercises will be created to give participants an early, behind-the-scenes look at the new Focus and allow them to enjoy a few high-speed, high-adventure activities. Participants will be free to document and share their experiences.

The new Ford Focus Facebook page launches today, inviting friends and fans from around the world to submit video applications explaining why they should be included in the first-ever Focus Global Test Drive.

The application process invites prospective test drivers to "start more than a car" by providing the market equivalent of $10,000 for a charity they are passionate about, in the categories of hunger, education, and environment/sustainability (with up to $500,000 to be distributed worldwide).

Ford will select a total of 100 participants to travel to Europe to be among the first external test drivers of the next-generation Focus. Participants will be selected based on criteria including individual creative content, social networking vibrancy, and number of votes received.

The new Focus will be nearly identical in all 122 world markets in which it will eventually be sold, with 80 percent parts commonality.

The Focus will be manufactured in Ford plants around the world, from Asia to Europe to North America. Rollout begins in early 2011. For more information on the Focus, go to newfordfocusmedia.com/.