Meet the Focus

Ford today crossed off another item on its busy to-do list for this year.

In the lead up to the local launch of the third-generation Focus in August, the blue oval posted comprehensive specification info for the small car. The press releases confirm the 'LW' Focus, as the Carsales Network has previously reported, will be offered here in hatchback and sedan variants with a choice of three engines.

A 2.0-litre petrol engine (GDI) will be one of those three. With a combination of direct injection, DOHC and variable valve timing, the four-cylinder delivers 125kW of power and 202Nm of torque. According to Ford, that's a 17 per cent jump in power and nine per cent torque increment over the figures for the port-injected four-cylinder currently powering the LV II Focus. Fuel consumption in combined-cycle testing (per ADR 81/02) is 6.6L/100km when the engine is coupled to the six-speed PowerShift transmission in Focus Trend and Sport models. CO2 emissions taken from the same test are rated at 154g/km.

As an alternative to the GDI petrol engine, Focus buyers can opt for an upgraded version of the 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engine. Peak power and torque figures for this engine are 125kW and 340Nm. In this application the diesel, when matched to the PowerShift transmission, returns a fuel consumption figure of 5.5L/100km and produces 144g/km of CO2 emissions.

For the base grade Focus Ambiente, the engine is the 1.6-litre Duratec petrol engine, with variable valve timing, all-alloy construction and a DOHC/16-valve head. Power and torque figures for the base model's powerplant are 92kW and 159Nm respectively. Fuel consumption is 6.2L/100km and CO2 emissions are rated at 144g/km. A five-speed manual transmission is available as the default for this grade.

The six-speed PowerShift box is a dry-plate dual-clutch transmission available at extra cost with the 2.0-litre GDI engine in Focus Trend and Sport models. It's the standard unit for the Focus Titanium and can be optioned with the 1.6-litre engine powering the Focus Ambiente.

Both body styles measure the same width (1823mm, excluding mirrors), height (1484mm unladen) and wheelbase (2648mm), but at 4534mm the sedan is 176mm longer than the hatch (4358mm). As a consequence, the luggage capacity of the hatch is just 277 litres with a full-size spare, versus 372 litres for the sedan. Opting for a spacesaver spare will liberate 39 extra litres in the hatch for a capacity of 316 litres, and 49 litres in the sedan for a total of 421 litres. Kerb weights for the Focus range from 1311kg for the Focus Ambiente manual hatch up to 1543kg for the Focus Titanium TDCi sedan with PowerShift.

Active safety in the Focus is enhanced with emergency systems the likes of Corner Brake Control, Emergency Brake Assist, Electronic Brake Prefill, Emergency Brake Warning, Brake Lock Differential, Torque Vectoring Control (standard across the range), Engine Drag Torque Control, Hydraulic Rear-Axle Boost and Hill Launch Assist.

According to Ford's press material, the new Focus will be 15 per cent stiffer, torsionally, than the current LV Series II model. This will lead to reduced NVH and improved dynamics, as well as boosting crash safety, the company says. Among the measures adopted to achieve better crash safety, Ford has settled on ultra-high-strength boron steel for the A and B pillars, the rocker panels and door reinforcement beams.

Ford has already secured a five-star rating in the latest round of Euro NCAP crash testing for its newest model, despite the Focus going on a weight reduction program. Lower weight is complemented by slippery styling for better aerodynamic efficiency: 0.274Cd for the sedan or 0.295Cd for the hatch. The two new drag coefficient figures represent a 10 per cent gain for the sedan and a seven per cent improvement for the hatch.

Ford has structured the LW Focus range in a four-strata hierarchy. Focus Ambiente is the entry-level model, with Focus Trend filling the role of mid-range luxury and Focus Sport equating to the previous Zetec grade. The grade with all the bells and whistles is the Focus Titanium.

Premium comfort and convenience features the Focus will deliver in select variants include Active Park Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Voice Control, Bi-Xenon headlamps and rain sensing wipers.

Ford is among the pioneers in the VFACTS small-car segment to offer a parallel parking aid (Active Park Assist) and the new Focus fitted with the feature can slot the car into parking spaces as short as 120 per cent of the car's overall length. As with other similar systems, the Focus relies on ultrasonic detectors to size up the space and the electric steering takes care of the manoeuvring as the driver modulates brake and accelerator. According to Ford, the system works at speeds as high as 10km/h.

Active Park Assist will be standard for the Focus Titanium, unlike the Adaptive Cruise Control, which will be an option for the flagship models. The radar-based system expands the functionality of the conventional cruise control system, which also incorporates a speed limiter for operation above 30km/h. Cruise control and the speed limiter are standard for all models other than the base-grade Focus Ambiente. Ford is offering the Adaptive Cruise Control bundled with Bi-Xenon headlights, static cornering lights and an electric sunroof in the Sports Executive Pack.
        
Focus Sport and Titanium models will come equipped with a standard Sony audio system, featuring nine speakers, a 4.2-inch colour TFT display, MP3 compatibility, a USB port, AUX connection, remote controls and audio streaming from mobile phones. Other standard kit in these variants will run to adjustable LED ambient lighting with a cabin lighting hub and auto-on/off headlights plus rain-sensing wipers – with the automatic headlight and wiper facilities available to Focus Trend buyers as extra-cost options.

The flagship Focus Titanium alone will be fitted as standard with Ford Smart Key/Power Start Button and heated front seats.

Focus Trend, Sport and Titanium variants boast rear parking aid sensors and the flagship Focus Titanium gains sensors at the front also, integrated with the Active Parking Assist system fitted as standard. All models provide safer refuelling through means of the standard Ford Easy-Fuel capless refuelling system, which prevents drivers from filling the tank with diesel fuel in lieu of petrol, or vice versa.

The Focus Ambiente five-door hatch rides on 16-inch steel wheels and is fitted with electric windows and a 3.5-inch dot matrix display in the centre fascia. A six-speaker audio system provides AUX and USB/iPod connectivity. Bluetooth hands-free operation can be facilitated through the standard Voice Control. Occupants are protected by side curtain airbags, side-impact (thorax) airbags in the front seats and dual front airbags.

Unlike the Focus Ambiente, the Focus Trend is available in five-door hatch and four-door sedan variants. Buyers can choose from the standard 2.0-litre GDI petrol engine or the optional TDCi diesel. Standard transmissions are the five-speed manual for the petrol powerplant or the PowerShift box for the diesel. The PowerShift transmission is also available with the petrol engine at extra cost.

Wheels fitted are 16-inch alloys and the Focus Trend is upgraded with a leather gearknob and manual driver's seat lumbar adjustment.

As for the Focus Trend, the Focus Sport will be sold in four-door or five-door variants, with the basic engine being the 2.0-litre GDi, driving through the standard five-speed manual transmission. PowerShift is optional with the petrol engine or standard with the optional TDCi engine.

The Sport variants ride on 17-inch alloy wheels and the hatch can be further distinguished by its large rear spoiler. External mirrors are heated and feature side indicators in the shells. Over the Trend level of trim, the Focus Sport also gains follow-me-home lighting,  rear LED tail lights for the hatch, chrome moulding along the waistline, dual-zone climate control, electrochromatic rear-view mirror, recontoured sports seats, leather steering wheel, centre console with armrest, Z-shape handbrake, illuminated dual sunvisors for front-seat occupants and rear-seat centre armrest with cupholders.

At the top of the tree, the Focus Titanium offers the same bodystyle and drivetrain choices as the Trend and Sport grades – minus the manual transmission for the petrol engine - but rides on 18-inch alloy wheels. Standard features include partial leather seat trim, four-way electric adjustment for the driver's seat and heated front seats.

All models come with remote central locking, electric mirrors, trip computer, air conditioning and reach/rake-adjustable steering.

Ford plans to unveil the third generation Focus at the Australian International Motor Show in July – the first opportunity many prospective buyers will have to see the car close up. Bob Graziano, president and CEO of Ford Australia anticipates they will be impressed by what they see in Melbourne.

"In every world market where Focus competes, customers are looking for expressive design, affordable innovation, superior quality, responsive performance and exceptional fuel economy," Graziano was quoted as saying in a press release.

"In Australia, the all-new Focus presents all these elements in one outstanding package. It raises the bar in all these areas, which will not only delight our existing customers but also expand the appeal of the Focus brand to a whole new generation of Ford customers."

Just how delighted those customers will be depends on the pricing of the new Focus - something the Carsales Network hopes to reveal from the car's launch in two months' time.

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