The New Ford Focus.

[ringway]

The new Ford Focus.

Okay, it isn't a Mercedes, and I wont be buying a Ford Focus, but with the features on offer I'd say there is good value to be had in buying one of these cars.

Some clever stuff and within the budget of many people.



ALL-NEW FORD FOCUS
With its dynamic styling, wealth of intuitive technologies and precision-engineered performance, the new Focus delivers a truly addictive driving experience. Thanks to the car’s advanced Ford ECOnetic Technology, the new Focus offers low CO2 emissions and outstanding fuel efficiency. You’ll also find an array of cutting-edge features that include Active Park Assist, which practically parks the car for you. When you start the new Focus, you start so much more than a car.

Torque Vectoring Control
Torque Vectoring Control reacts to the road 100 times per second. The system then uses this information to repeatedly balance the amount of power between the two front wheels.
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Lane Departure Warning
Lane Departure Warning alerts you before you drift out of lane by vibrating your steering wheel. The level of vibration can be adjusted to three levels of sensitivity and a visual alert pops up on your driver information cluster.
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Traffic Sign Recognition
The new Focus features Traffic Sign Recognition technology. The system identifies traffic and speed signs and displays the information on your instrument cluster.
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Active Park Assist
The new Focus has Active Park Assist, which is clever technology that first checks if a parking space is big enough then automatically steers you in.
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Low Speed Safety System
Low Speed Safety System is designed to assist you in slow moving traffic at speeds under 20mph. If the system's sensors detect the car in front has unexpectedly stopped, it brakes automatically.
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EcoBoost
This engine is lighter and more compact, as well as directly and more efficiently injecting fuel into each cylinder. So you use less fuel and produce lower CO2 emissions, while enjoying the performance of a larger engine.
Play video

 

[GP801]

Its all very clever but once you add the options a Focus is not exactly a bargain. Also it looks so uninspiring

 

[moonloops]

Park assist - a sure sign of the human race in decline.

 

[crockers]

I think Ford make some very good cars with great dynamics. BUT. They do seem expensive and depreciate hard. Also not heard any good reports about Ford dealers.

 

[Mr E]

Mrs E was saying the same - look at all the bits it's got.

Ford is a major client and I've driven one recently. Definitely seems a step backwards on the driving front. Previous versions have been great to drive (except for the odd sporting versions...) but this one has lost the sharpness and chuckability that it's forebears had.

 

[Palfrem]

Check out the prices and extras!

£25K for a top of the range estate!

All New Ford Focus - 2011 Ford Focus brochures, prices and specs - Ford UK

 

[st4]

Check out the prices and extras!

£25K for a top of the range estate!

All New Ford Focus - 2011 Ford Focus brochures, prices and specs - Ford UK

Another £5k will put you into a nicer driving, more spacious C class wagon.

Fords are horrifically over priced and do not represent budget motoring.

Want a cheap honest new car, consider the Kia ranges, Hyundia ranges and maybe Skodas offerings.

 

[Charles Morgan]

Nobody unless insane buys Fords without very substantial discounts.

 

[Palfrem]

The trouble is, there's lots of poor buggers driving them as a company car paying BIK on the "list price"

 

[crockers]

Another £5k will put you into a nicer driving, more spacious C class wagon.

Fords are horrifically over priced and do not represent budget motoring.

Want a cheap honest new car, consider the Kia ranges, Hyundia ranges and maybe Skodas offerings.

Agree. The Koreans and Czechs are producing some good quality stuff which is reliable and good dealer backup, especially Skoda.

I actually like the Superb estate. Seems very good value, spacious and well equipped.
The Koreans have good warranties. Not sure how good they are with claims though.

 

[st4]

The Koreans have good warranties. Not sure how good they are with claims though.

Time will tell, but not that many people are claiming on them to begin with. The cars are relatively basic using more proven technology (i.e. normally aspirated petrols rather than silly downsized engines with turbo's) so if you are after an A to B device with peace of mind, a Kia Cee'd is probably the way to go.

Skoda's is only 3 years but they are nicer and I would assume nicer to drive.

 

[trapperjohn]

Lancashire Police have taken delivery of new i30 street patrol cars. The crews that have driven them report back many positive comments.

 

[grober]

I would agree on the uninspiring shape. Seen quite few now in different trim levels and colours and any wow factor is definitely missing. There is also a big jump in trim interior quality and electronic "gizmo's" as you move up the range but by this time you are in big bucks territory. You can't buy that nice turbo'ed petrol engine in the lower trim levels either. Competent but over priced [ list] and slightly dowdy cars that have lost that pizzaz :bannana: Fords used to have. The fiesta though not perfect is a better package imho

 

[st4]

The fiesta though not perfect is a better package imho

Funny you say that, because IMHO the big jump in comfort etc in motoring is from the fiesta to the focus segment. These supermini's still feel like small, cheap, nasty and unsafe (I've driven plenty over the ages).

Jumping to a focus segment car (driven plenty in this class namely Focus, Golfs and A classes) and you feel like you are in a car that's safe, comfortable and capable.

 

[grober]

Funny you say that, because IMHO the big jump in comfort etc in motoring is from the fiesta to the focus segment. These supermini's still feel like small, cheap, nasty and unsafe (I've driven plenty over the ages).

Jumping to a focus segment car (driven plenty in this class namely Focus, Golfs and A classes) and you feel like you are in a car that's safe, comfortable and capable.

What I mean Steve is that for its design "sector" = cheap and cheerful the Fiesta is a more successful attempt--- not that its a "better " car than the bigger Focus.

 

[John]

The new Ford Focus.

Torque Vectoring Control

Lane Departure Warning

Traffic Sign Recognition

Active Park Assist

Low Speed Safety System

EcoBoost

Just sit back in awe at the sheer amount of time your car will spend at the Ford service centre now.

 

[bolide]

You have to credit Ford, though, for a complete & total reinvention of their cars starting with the original Focus

Compared with what went before (Escort Mk IV) the Focus drove like it was built by a different company

Times change, though, and it does seem that companies like Kia have the right products at the right time

Most companies change iteratively and achieve tiny steps forward with each product cycle. Going back to Ford, and the Focus, they made a massive single step forward. That speaks of strong management to me

Nick Froome
the independent Mercedes Estate specialists

 

[Dryce]

Most companies change iteratively and achieve tiny steps forward with each product cycle. Going back to Ford, and the Focus, they made a massive single step forward. That speaks of strong management to me

Ford did it the other way around in the 70s/80s. Hanging on to archaic rear drive and live axles and leaf springs for longer than the other mainstream manufacturers.

That speaks of another kind of strong management - very conservative.

However as you say they seem to have treated the Focus as a sort of mid market flagship and are determined to keep it moving forward aggressively.

 

[st4]

Ford did it the other way around in the 70s/80s. Hanging on to archaic rear drive and live axles and leaf springs for longer than the other mainstream manufacturers.

That speaks of another kind of strong management - very conservative.

However as you say they seem to have treated the Focus as a sort of mid market flagship and are determined to keep it moving forward aggressively.

The 1st two focus's had something in common, Golf beating driving dynamics and fun. Having briefly driven an MK2 focus around, it was lovely. However cost new, I was horrified.

However, the new Golfs are as good, and nicer inside and price wise full cost wise no so much in it.

Plus you can get a proper driving hatch back these days, a BMW 1 series for not a whole lot more and thats really, bar the golf, the only car worth considering in that segment.

 

[bolide]

Plus you can get a proper driving hatch back these days, a BMW 1 series for not a whole lot more and thats really, bar the golf, the only car worth considering in that segment.

I think this is true but the premium German manufacturers & Ford are moving inexorably upmarket with every product cycle. This has left them looking a little exposed to the likes of Kia and Hyundai

Within the premium brands I think Skoda may be on the right track. I drove a Fabia for a few miles recently and was thoroughly impressed by it. Lovely, tractable engine, well screwed together and easy to live with. By contrast the Mini Convertible I drove the same week was one of the nastiest cars I have ever driven

It hasn't stopped the Mini selling well but I predict the market will move away from them at light speed once fashions change

Nick Froome
the independent Mercedes Estate specialists