With 100,000 Focus cars on Irish roads, it's Ireland's favourite car. But can the new Focus live up to the hype?
The new Focus is due in Ireland in early April and is a big step up. It looks better in the 'flesh' than in pictures, as the new styling has a more sophisticated look. The big selling hatchback version is sleeker, while the saloon (13% of sales) now looks more like a notchback - similar to a Mazda3.
Inside there is more room and a vastly improved feeling of quality, fit and finish. Under the skin is an improved suspension system - it was already class-leading - plus a host of new safety driving aids like Ford's version of Volvo's City Safe automatic, anti-low speed crash system. Most of all, Focus drivers love how their car handles, so just how good is the new car? On the open road Focus offers levels of refinement and handling you could only expect in cars twice the price!
Available from launch as a five-door hatchback, four-door saloon and five-door estate, Focus is definitely Ford's most important car. Sadly for younger buyers the great looking three-door body has been discontinued, but a hint was dropped my way by a senior figure in Ford Europe that perhaps a hot Focus in the future will be a three-door. Trim levels will be 'Entry', 'Style' (bestseller), 'Zetec' and 'Titanium'.
Three diesels and two petrol engines will be available from launch. The entry level 95bhp, 1.6-litre diesel will be the starting point. A 1.6 with 115bhp is next in the food chain and a 2-litre diesel tops the list of oil burners. Two 1.6-litre petrol engines will be available from launch with 105bhp and 125bhp. Later this year petrolheads everywhere will be delighted when the Ecoboost petrol engines arrive. These are lively while being green and VRT friendly, too. Motors took the 180bhp Ecoboost for a serious spin in the south of Spain recently and was very impressed by its responsiveness, balance and driving characteristics.
I drove manual and automatic (powershift) versions of the 2-litre diesel also, but the Ecoboost was my favourite Focus on test. It is very much in the tradition of fast Fords despite not being badged as such. Focus has undergone a radical makeover to its steering, which is now electric to help reduce fuel consumption and CO2 - it shouldn't be as good as the outgoing car's but somehow has managed to get close. The new steering has a stronger self-centring feel to it. Focus has optional lane assist, which helps keep you in your lane by gently steering the car away from crossing the dividing line.
Focus is a global car for Ford and will be sold in 125 markets. Eighty per cent of parts will be common, with only minor changes from country to country. A total of 10 different cars will use the Focus platform.
The Focus class made up 34% of Ireland's new car market in 2010. Ford Ireland expects to sell 3,000 this year (despite having missed the start of the year) and in 2012 a conservative estimate is for 5,000 sales. Yet again, the Ford Focus sets the benchmark for refinement and driving dynamics in its class.
Michael Sheridan
