In 1913, Henry Ford revolutionized the motoring industry with the introduction of the assembly line. Now, over a hundred years later, the company that he built continues to set the bar high with the new Ford Focus. The revitalized American compact combines brains, beauty, and brawn all in one package.
Back in our October issue, we got a first-hand peek at the new Ford Focus in Adelaide, Australia. Its features were just that amazing that we had to go get another look for its Philippine launch.
Beauty
The new Focus gets a facelift that makes it bolder and more aggressive. A lower, wider stance that emphasizes width, and a new hood that sweeps elegantly toward Ford’s signature trapezoidal grille, give the car a bolder and more muscular presence on the road.
Slim, chiseled front headlamps link the aggressive front end to the clean, flowing lines of its sides, which kick up at the rear window. More rectangular, elongated fog-lamps add to the bolder front end. The rear of the car has a sleek new fascia and tailgate arrangement, as well as thinner tail lamps, and a sculpted rear spoiler to enhance aerodynamics.
Brawn
Going through Ford’s custom track, we can’t help but feel the raw power yet gentle response delivered by the new Focus’ cutting-edge engine. The new Focus is powered by a powerful and efficient 1.5-liter four-cylinder EcoBoost engine, which offer 180ps and 240Nm of torque–more powerful that a naturally-aspirated 2.0-liter engine.
Core EcoBoost technology uses turbocharging, high-pressure direct fuel-injection and Twin-Independent Variable Cam Timing to ensure optimum performance.
The engine is mated to a new modern, lightweight, and efficient six-speed automatic transmission, delivering refinement together with excellent performance and fuel economy. Paddle shift controls enable drivers to change gears without taking their hands from the steering wheel for an enhanced feeling of performance.
Its gentle response is because of a more refined Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) system. It further improves the driving experience with more precise steering and lower effort, while reducing unwanted dampening and providing excellent feedback for the driver.
Brains
What’s beauty and brawn without brains? Rounding out the new Focus’ package are smarter features the help drivers stay connected and in control.
The new Focus ensures safety and convenience which makes it a phenomenal car if you’re a beginning driver or even if you just happen to be stricken with driver’s fatigue.
It comes with an Enhanced Active Park Assist, a mix of an old favorite and a welcome addition. Ford’s popular Parallel Park Assist is now also tied with a Perpendicular Park Assist. Once activated, the system scans for available parking spaces alongside other cars. When it finds one, the system takes control of the car’s steering to guide the vehicle into the space while the driver controls the shifting, braking, and acceleration.
The Park Assist uses two new ultrasonic sensors on the rear of the car which also enables a Park-Out Assist to get you out of tight fits. It allows for a stress-free parking experience for both the adept and the inexperienced.
In our jam-packed urban environment, stopping and starting between traffic can get unpredictable. For driving up to 50km/h, an improved Active City Stop system mitigates low-speed collisions. Using a windshield-mounted sensor to detect braking, slower-loving or stationary vehicles in front, the system pre-charges the brakes if the car is approaching a vehicle in front too quickly. If the driver fails to take action, the system reduces engine torque and automatically applies the brakes to reduce the impact of a collision.
Even if drivers have to loan out their new Focus to others, Ford ensures safe driving even if they’re not behind the wheel with Ford MyKey. Owners can program a spare key to reduce the maximum speed of the vehicle, give an earlier low-fuel warning, limit the volume of the in-car entertainment or even disable it completely if the seatbelt is not fastened.
Speaking of entertainment, the new Focus is also equipped with Ford’s advanced connectivity system, SYNC 2, which offers a smarter and safer way to stay connected. It has a new 8-inch, touchscreen infotainment system which enables dual-zone air-conditioning and AM/FM/USB/AUX/SD 9-speaker system. Drivers can operate the car’s climate controls, entertainment system, and a linked smartphone with natural voice commands.
Availability
The new Ford Focus starts delivery this November. It is available in either 4-door sedan (Titanium) or 5-door hatchback (Sport). In total, the new Focus will be offered in four variants with the following price points:
1.5-liter GTDi EcoBoost Sport+ AT – P1,278,000
1.5-liter GTDi EcoBoost Titanium+ AT – P1,278,000
1.5-liter GTDi EcoBoost Sport AT – P1,088,000
1.5-liter GTDi EcoBoost Titanium AT – P1,088,000
The new Focus comes in eight captivating colors: Frozen White, Panther Black, Ingot Silver, Winning Blue, Magnetic Metallic, Lunar Sky, Candy Red, and Mustard Olive.
