Ford FocusWhen the UK’s best seller for a whole decade dropped from its lofty perch in 2009, it was evident that something new was needed, and now we’ve got it. After a fairly short acquaintance I feel confident the new one will restore the status quo.Manufacturers revising their best selling models don’t tend to make major changes, so Ford hasn’t. Look at the pictures and you’ll readily see that to use that overworked cliché, here’s evolution rather than revolution. It looks like a Focus tuned to the tastes of the ‘tens’ rather than those of the ‘noughties’.The new car is available as hatchback or estate, both with five doors. Along with the expected improvements to emissions and fuel economy over the last model, Ford hopes their buyers will be bowled over by the wealth of technology that’s available. The new Focus offers five driver assistance features based on an advanced digital camera system, and although some of these features have been available in a few cars for a while now, getting them all on a car of this price is impressive.Mounted next to the rear view mirror, the forward facing camera captures a view of the road ahead which is analysed by the on-board computer. Here’s a brief overview of what the system can do:Lane Departure WarningThis is designed to warn the driver via a vibration in the steering wheel if the front view camera detects an unintentional drift out of the lane. The system is deactivated at speeds below 37mph so it doesn’t interfere in urban conditions.Lane Keeping AidExtends the functionality of the Lane Departure Warning system by using the Electric Power-Assisted Steering system to steer the vehicle back into the lane, rather than just triggering an alert.Driver AlertDetects when a driver is becoming tired or even falling asleep. By monitoring the vehicle’s position relative to the road markings, the system can apparently recognise the kind of sideways drifting which is typical when a driver is feeling drowsy or their concentration levels start to drop, and it will trigger a visible and audible warning.Traffic Sign RecognitionUses the digital camera to identify traffic signs on either side of the road and on bridges, providing the driver with information such as the latest detected speed limit.Auto High BeamSwitches the headlamps automatically between high beam and dipped beam, helping the driver to maximise visibility and avoid the distraction of switching the lamps manually.There’s much more besides, such as Park Assist (the system that automatically detects a space big enough for your car, and then steers into it, requiring only gear and throttle assistance from you). You get the point: the new Focus has as much technology as you’re prepared to enjoy or put up with, though needless to say most of it comes in the form of optional extras.More important than all this technology is surely the practicalities of living with the car, and the enjoyment of driving it, and the latest Fords have been universally applauded for the quality of ride and effectiveness of their roadholding. I drove two 1.6 engines, diesel and petrol, and I can honestly say that if someone were to get out of one of those two cars and complain about the driving experience, there’s something wrong with them. I was about to say that ride, handling and noise level are all as good as you can get at this price, but frankly that’s not right…..in almost every respect they’re better. It’s not a perfect car of course – such a thing doesn’t exist, nor ever will – and I found the rearward vision somewhat cluttered, though very good to front and sides. When loading the hatchback’s boot you’ll also need a good heft to get heavy suitcases over the sill, which is significantly higher than the boot floor. Boot volume of the hatch is a minimum 277 litres (just under 10 cubic feet), rising to 1062 with seats folded.More than 1.4 million Focus have been sold in the UK since the car’s launch in 1998. The new one is certainly more expensive than the model it replaces, with hatchback prices rising to almost £24,000 (and a £1,100 addition for estate models compared to the hatchback). Whether it can achieve the long-term domination of our market that the last ones enjoyed neither we nor Ford themselves can be sure, but if it doesn’t it’ll be close.Size: Hatch 4.36m x 2.01m (inc mirrors)Estate 4.56m x 2.01m (inc mirrors)Engines: 1.6 petrol 105-150PS1.6 & 2.0 diesel 95-163PSGearbox: 5/6 speed FWDBest Consumption: 1.6 diesel 67.3mpgPrice at June ’11: from £15,995Full details of the Focus are available on the manufacturer’s website: www.ford.co.ukPeter Cracknell – May 2011
Ford Focus
When the UK’s best seller for a whole decade dropped
from its lofty perch in 2009, it was evident that
something new was needed, and now we’ve got it.
After a fairly short acquaintance I feel confident the
new one will restore the status quo.
Manufacturers revising their best selling models don’t
tend to make major changes, so Ford hasn’t. Look at
the pictures and you’ll readily see that to use that
overworked cliché, here’s evolution rather than
revolution. It looks like a Focus tuned to the tastes of
the ‘tens’ rather than those of the ‘noughties’.
The new car is available as hatchback or estate, both
with five doors. Along with
the expected
improvements to
emissions and fuel
economy over the last
model, Ford hopes their
buyers will be bowled
over by the wealth of
technology that’s
available. The new Focus
offers five driver
assistance features
based on an advanced
digital camera system,
and although some of
these features have been
available in a few cars for
a while now, getting them
all on a car of this price is
impressive.
Mounted next to the rear view mirror, the forward
facing camera captures a view of the road ahead
which is analysed by the on-board computer. Here’s a
brief overview of what the system can do:
Lane Departure Warning
This is designed to warn the driver via a vibration in
the steering wheel if the front view camera detects an
unintentional drift out of the lane. The system is
deactivated at speeds below 37mph so it doesn’t
interfere in urban conditions.
Lane Keeping Aid
Extends the functionality of the Lane Departure
Warning system by using the Electric Power-Assisted
Steering system to steer the vehicle back into the
lane, rather than just triggering an alert.
Driver Alert
Detects when a driver is becoming tired or even
falling asleep. By monitoring the vehicle’s position
relative to the road markings, the system can
apparently recognise the kind of sideways drifting
which is typical when a driver is feeling drowsy or
their concentration levels start to drop, and it will
trigger a visible and audible warning.
Traffic Sign Recognition
Uses the digital camera to identify traffic signs on
either side of the road and on bridges, providing the
driver with information such as the latest detected
speed limit.
Auto High Beam
Switches the headlamps automatically between high
beam and dipped beam, helping the driver to
maximise visibility and avoid the distraction of
switching the lamps manually.
There’s much more besides, such as Park Assist (the
system that automatically detects a space big enough
for your car, and then steers into it, requiring only gear
and throttle assistance from you). You get the point: the
new Focus has as much technology as you’re prepared
to enjoy or put up with, though needless to say most of it
comes in the form of optional extras.
More important than all this technology is surely the
practicalities of living with the car, and the enjoyment of
driving it, and the latest Fords have been universally
applauded for the quality of ride and effectiveness of
their roadholding. I drove two 1.6 engines, diesel and
petrol, and I can honestly
say that if someone were
to get out of one of those
two cars and complain
about the driving
experience, there’s
something wrong with
them. I was about to say
that ride, handling and
noise level are all as
good as you can get at
this price, but frankly
that’s not right…..in
almost every respect
they’re better. It’s not a
perfect car of course –
such a thing doesn’t
exist, nor ever will – and I
found the rearward vision
somewhat cluttered,
though very good to front
and sides. When loading the hatchback’s boot you’ll also
need a good heft to get heavy suitcases over the sill,
which is significantly higher than the boot floor. Boot
volume of the hatch is a minimum 277 litres (just under
10 cubic feet), rising to 1062 with seats folded.
More than 1.4 million Focus have been sold in the UK
since the car’s launch in 1998. The new one is certainly
more expensive than the model it replaces, with
hatchback prices rising to almost £24,000 (and a £1,100
addition for estate models compared to the hatchback).
Whether it can achieve the long-term domination of our
market that the last ones enjoyed neither we nor Ford
themselves can be sure, but if it doesn’t it’ll be close.
Size:
Hatch 4.36m x 2.01m (inc mirrors)
Estate 4.56m x 2.01m (inc mirrors)
Engines:
1.6 petrol 105-150PS
1.6 & 2.0 diesel 95-163PS
Gearbox:
5/6 speed FWD
Best Consumption:
1.6 diesel 67.3mpg
Price at June ’11:
from £15,995
Full details of the Focus are available on the manufacturer’s
website: www.ford.co.uk
Peter Cracknell – May 2011
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