A set of electrically powered Ford Focus models were shown off at the Frankfurt Auto Show in advance of a demonstration partially sponsored by the British government, but stateside owners can benefit from fuel efficient used Ford Focuses in New Jersey while they wait.

Engineers at Ford of Europe are working with British universities to test 15 of the compact cars in real-life testing over a variety of driving conditions.

“Electrification is a key element in the effective use of Ford’s global resources and talents,” said John Fleming, Ford of Europe chairman and CEO. “The development of this fleet of Focus BEV prototypes is an important step in our goal of delivering more efficient and sustainable mobility solutions.”

While those cars may be the future, gas-sipping used Ford Focuses in New Jersey are available now, including the 2004 model which comes in a variety of configuarations such as sedans and hatchbacks.

“The 2004 Ford Focus is a wonderful small car that’s fun to drive [and] frugal with fuel,” note Edmunds.com editors, adding that it has a “spacious interior” coupled with a “fun-to-drive character.”

Today’s new cars are tomorrow’s used cars in New Jersey, especially those that are often auctioned off after short lease periods, so Ford‘s announced commitment to increase production could be good news for buyers considering purchasing used cars.

The automaker announced that it was adding shifts at facilities that produce the compact Focus model as well as the venerable F-150 truck series, meaning around-the-clock construction for both vehicles.

That will also include the compact sports utility vehicles produced by the company like the Ford Escape and the Mercury Mariner, and stands in direct contrast to the capacity exhibited by both General Motors and Chrysler.

“Even with ‘Cash for Clunkers’ behind us, we expect that demand for our fuel-efficient, high quality new vehicles will remain strong,” said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president of marketing, sales and service. “We’re being as creative as we can in pushing the system to meet the demand for our products.”

On the other hand, those interested in the model lines from General Motors and Chrysler may be better served by looking at used cars in New Jersey: both companies posted slower sales growth from the Cash for Clunkers program due to production cuts that have limited the availability of new vehicles.

Buyers who like some Ford models could find themselves looking into used cars in New York, as the automaker recently announced plans to revamp a wide swath of its worldwide product line.

In fact, up to 9 out of every 10 Ford cars offered in 2012 will be either an all-new design or an update of a model that incorporates global cues, another hallmark of the company’s rebuilding plan.

“In the worst of economic times, we are taking the actions necessary not only to strengthen Ford’s business but also to deliver world-class levels of product freshness globally,” said Lewis Booth, Ford’s chief financial officer.

That consolidation is also expected to reduce the variety now available with used Ford cars in New York. Worldwide, the automaker is hoping to cut the number of models it offers from the 59 it offered in 2008, a 40 percent decline from the number of options available just two years earlier.

“As we reduce costs, manage cash and increasingly leverage our ‘One Ford’ global product plan, our critical priority is protecting and enhancing our new vehicle pipeline,” added Booth.

Financial statements have recently been released by Ford showing more than $2 billion in profit in the last three months, but consumers considering used cars in New York may notice that General Motors is still struggling heavily.

It’s a tale of two sides of the government’s efforts to save the Big Three, and right now Ford is looking better after posting a profit in the second quarter of this year, using restructuring tactics to offset the loss of $1 billion in cashflow, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Alan Mulally, Ford president and CEO, told the news provider that he still plans to be cautious in the recovery, and doesn’t expect to post real profits and improve cashflow for the next 18 months, reported the news provider.

The “green shoots” aren’t so strong at General Motors, which saw sales drop by 15 percent worldwide in the same period compared to second quarter figures in 2008, limited only by success in the Chinese market that has seen remarkable growth, noted the Business Courier.