Focus has been a firm favourite in Ireland selling over 115,000 models since its launch in 1999. In fact, a Focus represents one in every twenty cars sold since its debut. The most striking feature of the new, lower car is the handsome trapezoidal grille that gives the car a classy, almost Aston Martin-like look. The front end also gets a new bonnet and headlights that look smart on all three body-style variants: hatch, saloon and estate. New tail lights and a revised tailgate feature at the rear.
Inside the cabin gets a smarter look but is still clearly a Ford. The makeover concentrates on making the ambience more up market and to a good degree it succeeds. All grades, Focus, Style, Zetec and Titanium have been improved. The last generation Focus was the first car in its class to offer ‘Active City Stop’ as an option (autominous emergency braking) and the latest model also innovates with ‘Park Out Assist’ (auto car space exiting) and ‘Cross Traffic Alert’ – that warns drivers of hazards when reversing. The learner/novice driver friendly ‘My Key’ (generation 2) is available too. This programmable key lets the owner of the car programme/tell the car how they want the vehicle to perform for a specific user with that key e.g limit top speed or reduce the maximum volume of the stereo etc.
Renowned for its driving dynamics the front-wheel drive Focus continues to deliver an involving driving experience. Behind the wheel Focus feels nice and tight - so when you point it in a direction it reacts quickly. The electric power-steering has been tuned and now features an industry first ‘ETS’ (enhanced transitional stability). This keeps an eye on steering inputs and predicts, then adjusts, the electronic stability control (ESC) to keep the car going in the direction intended. NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) is reduced too.
The engine range features three diesels with 95hp (1.6-litre), 115hp (1.6-litre) and 150hp (2-litre) outputs. A 1-litre ‘ecoboost’ 3-cylinder comes in two power outputs namely 100hp and 125hp. ‘Fast Fords’ fans get a couple of great versions of the family car. The hot ‘ST’, traditionally petrol powered, is available for the first time with a choice of diesel or petrol engines. While the ridiculously hot 320hp ‘RS’ four-wheel drive Focus is due in early 2016.
The estate, while still a minority body choice in any range, is perhaps our favourite machine. The 115hp 1.6-litre diesel version makes a lot of sense as it has enough torque to haul the family along yet was reasonably economical averaging 5.3-litres/100km (or 53mpg).
Prices start at a competitive €20,295 for the hatch (85hp petrol), €20,695 for the (85hp petrol) four-door saloon and €23,445 for the (100hp petrol) estate. Ford expects to sell around 4,500 Focus in Ireland in 2015. Focus comes with a 5-year/100K km warranty (a no cost dealer option) and represents 35-45% of Ford’s new car sales in Ireland. Ford intends to have Focus at the number one sales spot in Ireland by the end of the year.
Ford’s new Focus… is sharp.
Michael Sheridan
