Ford upgrades its small cars – again

Little more than six months after releasing its comprehensively upgraded LZ Focus line-up, when it axed diesel and base Ambiente versions, Ford Australia has announced yet more changes for its flagging small car range.

At the same time, it has also announced running changes for the giant-killing Fiesta ST hot hatch, which will gain satellite-navigation and a reversing camera displayed via a 5.0-inch TFT screen as standard from September.

Other upgrades for the manual-only WZ Fiesta ST 1.6L GTDi EcoBoost -- which will increase in price by $1500, from $25,990 to $27,490 plus on-road costs – will include illuminates 'ST' scuff plates, red brake callipers and 17-inch grey metallic alloy wheels, bringing it in line with the latest Focus ST.

Ford is yet to detail the Mountune performance upgrade kits announced for both the Fiesta ST and Focus ST in February, but the latest Focus upgrade attempts to arrest a 50 per cent sales slid to just 1400 registrations so far this year – less than the Mazda3, Toyota Corolla, Hyundai i30, Volkswagen Golf, Holden Cruze, Kia Cerato, Mitsubishi Lancer, Hyundai Elantra, Subaru Impreza and even Nissan's Pulsar.

With the wild new RS performance version of the latest LZ Focus due mid-year, Ford has confirmed that around the same time (July) its small car will be the first model in Australia to offer the company's latest SYNC 3 infotainment system, which brings faster performance, conversational voice recognition and an easier-to-understand 8.0-inch colour touch-screen interface as standard.

In addition, there are two new option packs available for the revised three-variant mainstream Focus range (Trend, Sport and Titanium for the hatch, Trend and Titanium for the sedan), which Ford calls 2016.75MY. The Focus ST hatch continues unchanged.

First is a Technology Pack, which costs $2000 on base Trend and mid-range Sport variants and adds a host of driver assistance technologies including, Lane Keeping Aid, Lane Departure Warning, Driver Impairment Monitor, Adaptive Cruise Control and Active City Stop. Trend vehicles optioned with the Technology Pack will also receive a leather-clad steering wheel at no additional cost.

Titanium vehicles already come standard with Active City Stop and Blind Spot Detection with Rear Cross Traffic Alert (CTA), so the Technology Pack for the top-spec Focus costs $1500 and also adds Auto High Beam Control and Auto High Beam Control.

There's also a Sports Executive Pack for Sport and Titanium models, comprising a sunroof and bi-xenon headlights with static cornering lights, and a Convenience Pack for base Trend models ($300), while prestige paint will be a $450 option.

Pricing continues unchanged as of September last year, starting at $22,390 for the Focus Trend hatch, which like all Focus models except the ST and upcoming RS, is powered by a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol EcoBoost four-cylinder.

“We are investing heavily to offer a line-up of innovative vehicles with outstanding fuel efficiency, safety and quality – including for Fiesta and Focus,” said Ford Australia president and CEO, Graeme Whickman. “We also are increasing our mix of retail sales by offering more of this value to customers, improving their experience today while giving them more reasons to come back to us tomorrow.”