Focus on pure style (From Craven Herald)

Focus on pure style

2:04pm Wednesday 27th July 2011 in Road Tests By Steve Teale

From humdrum motor to the most stylish, desirable car in its class... welcome to the revamped Ford Focus.

Not so long ago it was a run-of-the-mill car. It sold in huge numbers but people bought it with their head, not their heart.

But Ford designers have done the impossible and made a mass-market hatchback stylish, funky and affordable.

That’s no mean feat. Ford has a tough job in the shrinking middle ground. There are cheap-and-cheerful models ever improving below them and big-badge executive models becoming cheaper and better above them.

But Ford has achieved wonders with the new Focus. Not only is it a dazzling looker, but it contains some very unusual hi-tech features which you might not expect to find in a mainstream car. I’m talking about lane departure warnings, automatic high beam which illuminates darkened roads but switches off when it spots oncoming vehicles, and an engine which is stunning in its power and economy.

Focus has been a success since it replaced Escort in 2000, and has been a top-seller. Last year it was in third place in UK car sales and now the new Focus is a world car, rather than just a European one. That means it has been built with America in mind, but it is engineered to cope with British demands for cornering ability.

The range kicks off with an engine which emits 109g/km, which is low. Tested here is the 2.0 litre diesel which I think is the pick of the bunch. It offers whopping economy and near-sports car performance.

So what’s new? In a nutshell, everything. This Focus will be sold around the world. That brings economies of scale, one reason why the car can be had with a range of value optional equipment packages such as an impressive safety kit bundle.

There’s a greater emphasis on economy and emissions, with the range kicking-off with a 109g/km diesel and the promise of more to come. Engine stop-start technology plus the use of Ford’s new EcoBoost petrol engines and fuel-sipping DSG Powershift gearboxes add to Ford’s frugal approach to motoring.

It’s not a hair-shirt experience, though. In keeping with other recent new Fords, the Focus is a polished performer inside and out. This third generation car boasts a more streamlined and sexy profile.

Inside, there’s an equally high quality approac. The cabin is noticeably driver-focused, a world apart from Focus cabins of even a couple of years ago. All the major controls are close to hand. There’s also no shortage of information available to the driver, with a pair of clear electronic displays – one for the audio unit and one between the main dials.

Fans of the old car will feel right at home thanks to a familiar feel to the various types of switchgear. Newcomers will be faced by a more upbeat and engaging experience than what’s available in some rivals, as the overall ambience is lighter and brighter than the traditional German opposition.

It takes more than a cursory glance around the cabin to fully appreciate the lengths Ford has gone to in order to, hopefully, maintain its class-leading status.

The same is true out on the road as, initially, the experience appears to have shifted considerably more towards comfort. What has Ford done with the car’s sporty and engaging character?

In truth it never left, only this time it’s been cleverly contained in a more refined and composed wrapper.

The engine seems quiet and not particularly lively, but it whips to 60mph in under nine seconds and is very quiet, even at motorway cruising speed. Push a little harder in a corner and you’ll soon experience some of the old Focus magic. Everything is so polished that executive brands need to be worried.

Ford is offering 1.6 and 2.0-litre engines in both petrol and diesel form, in a range of power outputs. In petrol guise there’s a choice of 105, 125 and 150bhp, while diesels run from 115bhp to 140bhp and 163bhp.

Predictably, the highest output diesel motor scores well if you plan on racking up the miles. Its flexible nature makes light work of long distances, while its six-speed manual gearbox can be swapped for a DSG-style auto if you wish.

Ford’s petrol motors have improved beyond all recognition in recent years. As a willing, free-revving alternative to the more frugal diesel units, such engines prove ideal for shorter, stop-start journeys and boast less weight, which further enhances the car’s agility.

As the old saying goes, power is nothing without control, and the Focus isn’t short of systems to keep you and the car in check. Apart from the predictable abundance of air-bags, this Focus can be had with some interesting Volvo-type features, which shouldn’t be a surprise considering the two were once very close.

Packaged as a bundle of features, you get a blind spot warning, lane departure alert, city speed auto braking function and a speed limit sign reader that displays the relevant information in the electronic fascia readout.

I’m not sure about the automatic main beam, though. In theory it sounds good, but I’d much rather be in charge of my own lights, thank you very much!

Make no mistake, this Focus is a supremely competent and attractive car. It might take a few minutes and a few miles behind the wheel to fully appreciate the progress made by Ford’s engineers, but when you do you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what’s been achieved.

The combination of big-car refinement and equipment levels, a rounded and polished driving experience and an engine range offering great savings are just a few of the highlights. If its performance is anything to go by, this Focus is destined to be another chart-topper.

Ford Focus Titanium 2.0 TDCi six-speed manual:- PRICE: £20,745 on the road.

ENGINE: a 2.0 litre turbo diesel generating 140PS via a six-speed gearbox and front wheel drive.

PERFORMANCE: Top speed 129mph, 0-60mph in 8.9 seconds.

COSTS: urban (town) 44.8mpg; extra-urban (country) 67.3mpg; combined 56.5mpg.

EMISSIONS: 129g/km.

INSURANCE: Group 19E.

WARRANTY: Three years, 60,000 miles.

Steve’s ratings: Performance: 4/5 Economy: 5/5 Ride/Handling: 4/5 Space/Practicality: 4/5 Equipment: 4/5 Security/Safety: 4/5 Value For Money: 3/5 OVERALL: 4/5