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Ford’s Focus hatch has been a top seller for the brand in recent times, no doubt thanks to the halo model ST bearing such an affordable price tag and setting the standard for all subsequent models in the range. Now, Ford is giving it a bit of a visual revival, some new tech, and a few more engines.
Visually, the Focus gets external upgrades to neaten up the front end, which has been a sore point in the styling area for Ford. The new front end is more Fiesta-like, featuring a revised grill design as well as a new bonnet and upgraded headlights – adaptive Bi-Xenon HID units. The rear has also received minor adjustments to make it sleeker.
The interior has also received a fresh look, reducing the amount of buttons to reduce the clutter. The interior now features a satin black trim and chrome detailing, as well as revised storage areas, a sliding armrest, as well as better cabin insulation with thicker carpeting and side window glass.
Major technological upgrades have been included in the facelift, including the upgrade of Ford’s SYNC system to SYNC 2. The new system features a high-res 8-inch colour touch screen, advanced voice recognition, navigation, and improved mobile phone connectivity. The navigation system is particularly intuitive, responding to voice commands such as, “I’m hungry”, by bringing up a list of the nearest restaurants to navigate to.
The Focus has been mechanically upgraded too, with improved steering and suspension. The shocks, steering, front suspension and the new ESC system have all improved the ride and made the Focus a sharper vehicle. A new addition to the Focus is a host of safety features including Pre-Collision Assist, Active City Stop, Distance Alert, and an adaptive cruise control that slows automatically if you get too close to the vehicle ahead.
Engine-wise, the Focus is said to offer vastly improved fuel economy. The new Focus will now feature the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine (74kW and 92kW states of tune), a new 1.5-litre EcoBoost engine (110kW and 132kW states of tune), a 1.5-litre TDCi diesel with PowerShift automatic transmission (88kW), and a 2.0-lire TDCi diesel engine (110kW). The existing 1.6-litre petrol, 1.5-litre ECOnetic diesel, and 1.6-litre TDCi diesel engine will be retained.
Expect the revised Focus to debut locally near the end of the year, with the ST receiving the facelift a few months later.
