The eagerly awaited new Ford Focus has just gone on sale, and ford boasts it delivers more style, space and advanced driving technologies for mid-size family car customers than ever before.
Ford tells us its engineers collaborated closely with car buyers to develop the new Focus five-door hatchback and even more practical Focus wagon models in distinctive versions, each with its own personality, including the stylish Focus Titanium, sporty Focus ST-Line and upscale Focus Vignale.
The new Focus will initially be available here in four specification levels: Zetec, ST-Line, Titanium and Vignale. The Active series will arrive in Ireland in 2019.
The entry-level Zetec five-door, 1.0T EcoBoost 125PS with a manual six speed transmission has a starting price of €24,900.
Powertrains will include the well-proven and award winning 1.0 litre EcoBoost petrol (125ps ) and 1.5 litre diesel (120ps ).
Specification details for the range is as follows: Focus Zetec features: 16” alloys; LED DTRLs; 6.5” SYNC 3 with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay; selectable drive modes; cruise control with lane-keeping aid; pre-collision assist including vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.
The Focus ST-Line adds in addition to Zetec: 17” sport alloys; ST-Line body kit; twin polished tail pipes; large rear spoiler; keyless start; interior sports trim; sports suspension; ST-Line scuff plates. There are two further higher spec trim levels - the Focus Titanium and range-topping Vignale.
Then there’s a new Focus Active crossover model, arriving in Ireland early 2019, features rugged sports utility vehicle-inspired styling that includes raised ride-height, roof bars and additional cladding.
Advanced technology
The new Focus also introduces a comprehensive range of advanced driving technologies that can help drivers make light work of stop-start traffic; see more clearly when driving in the dark; park simply by holding down a button; and avoid accidents.
Launched originally in 1998, the Focus nameplate is celebrating 20 years this year. Very soon after its launch, the car established a reputation as the C-segment leader in terms of both technological excellence and great driving dynamics. More than 129,000 Focus models have been sold in Ireland since its original launch, making it one of the most popular cars in Ireland.
The sporty new Focus silhouette is the most aerodynamic in its class. Athletic and dynamic with a long bonnet and muscular rear haunches, each model is differentiated with unique elements including satin aluminium details for the Vignale exterior; large spoiler and open front apertures for the ST-Line; and contrast silver front and rear skid plates for the Active.
Inside, simple, clean lines, expressive materials and seamlessly integrated surfaces make travelling in the Focus a more calming experience. The front doors now flow fluidly behind the instrument panel for a wrap-around effect, and soft touch materials deliver a more premium feel.
The new Focus also provides more space inside for passengers and luggage. More than five centimetres additional length between the front and rear wheels allows class-leading knee clearance for rear seat passengers, and all occupants benefit from the wider interior – there is six centimetres more shoulder room in the rear. The impression of spaciousness is enhanced with a rear door design featuring windows that stretch further back for a more open sensation, and an openable panoramic roof that lets light flood into the interior.
Able to accommodate a large dog crate without needing to fold the rear seats, the new Focus wagon boot space is easy to access, using a simple kicking motion under the rear bumper to open the hands-free tailgate. Folding the rear seats is also simplified, they now drop simply by pulling a switch in the boot space.
Ford claims advanced driver assistance technologies make driving a Ford Focus on motorways, in stop-start traffic and in town easier than ever before; and they are designed to make the driving experience more comfortable, less demanding and safer. It says that the new Focus delivers the most fun-to-drive experience of any mid-size family car. All Focus models now feature drive modes that adjust the car’s characteristics to match the driving situation.
Customers can also choose from manual six-speed transmissions that are smooth and refined to operate, and a new eight-speed automatic gearbox that adapts to different driving styles to offer the smoothest gear changes at the best possible time.
The new Focus introduces ‘FordPass Connect’ onboard modem technology for customers in Europe, turning the vehicle into a mobile WiFi hotspot with connectivity for up to 10 devices.
FordPass Connect also enables live traffic updates for the navigation system, and using the FordPass mobile app drivers can easily locate their car in sprawling shopping mall car parks, check fuel levels, remotely lock and unlock their car, and even start it remotely.
A new Wireless charging pad for compatible smartphones means drivers can wave goodbye to storing a tangle of charging cables in the centre console, and devices can remain connected via Bluetooth to Ford’s SYNC 3 communications and entertainment system while charging.
The new Ford Focus is the pinnacle of technology and driving appeal in its segment, claims Ciarán McMahon, chairman and managing Director of Ford Ireland. “In spite of the rise of the SUV over the last number of years, Focus is consistently in the top 10 for car sales in Ireland and we are sure that this high tech new Focus will delight the many fans that the nameplate has won over the last 20 years.”
