Arriving quite late to the party, the Ford Focus CC is a smart choice for drop top fun this summer.
Ireland has to be one of the dampest places to enjoy motoring but strangely we like our convertibles. As our economy grows so does our love affair with cars that make us feel good.
Ford’s two-door four-seater joins a growing list of affordable convertibles that feature the added convenience of a tin top. The added sound insulation and sense of security offered makes for a car that can be used all year round without feeling compromised.
Ford continues to have the number one selling model on Irish roads with the Ford Focus but its taken too long for the European arm of the global giant to deliver a drop top.
Opel and Renault have excellent offerings with the Megane and Astra Twin-Top, as do VW with the EOS and Peugeot with the 307 CC, so why should the Ford get a second look?
In the fixed roof end of the market the Focus has built a reputation for class leading handling and the good news is that this continues with the convertible. Focus feels solid and sure-footed, but what about the exterior styling? In a sector where drivers and passengers end up being on show as much as the car, potential buyers have to ask the question do I want to be seen in this car and will it enhance people’s perception of me? Yes it’s a pretty shallow thing to ask but it is a serious motivation when buying a convertible.
Designed with the help of Italian styling house Pininfarina the Focus Coupe Cabriolet does look a little odd in an American way.
The front end is undeniably Focus but the rear is hard to get used to, as it is vast. The nose is straight from the pre facelift second generation Focus and is inoffensive but the rear, which is very 307CC-like is certainly controversial.
The reason behind the large boot is the need to accommodate the folding hard top. Unlike many rivals the Focus CC has a two-piece folding roof to reduce weight and cost. The boot space available (534 litres) is really impressive especially when convertibles are meant to sacrifice practicality for styling.
Focus CC’s boot is so large it easily shames most cars in the bigger Mondeo class! When the roof is lowered down (taking just 29 seconds) the cargo space is reduced to 234 litres, but there is still plenty of storage space for soft luggage.
I’m a huge open top motoring fan and for me there is no better driving experience than putting the roof down on a crisp winter's day and going for a spin. My Focus CC test car was well specified and featured the must have heated seats for this time of year.
Three engines make up the range; a 1.6 litre petrol and two 2 litres (one petrol and one diesel).
If you can get past the iffy rear styling the Focus CC makes good sense. The drop top price premium is softened somewhat when you consider that convertible residuals are among the highest.
Michael Sheridan
