Our recent attention on Ford may have been dominated by the UK
Mustang
Fiesta ST
, but today the focus is on something a little more sedate, if you'll excuse the terrible pun.
There's a new fascia here, apparently
third-generation Focus
for Geneva with new engines, suspension, styling and technology. The facelift promises 'more emotional' design, greater efficiency, better user-friendliness and further improved dynamics.
Starting on that latter point, the Focus now features increased structural stiffness at the front through different suspension geometry, boosting the lateral stiffness of 'steering-relevant' suspension bushes and retuning the dampers. The electric steering has also been tweaked to deliver better response. It's quite an extensive list of changes for a mid-life facelift, hopefully addressing the criticism many had of the standard Mk3 Focus in that it wasn't as inspirational to drive as the earlier models.
There are additional Ecoboost engines in the Focus now as well. The amazing 1.0-litre three-cylinder versions continue unchanged, supplemented by a 1.5 four-cylinder in 150hp and 180hp guises. A new 1.5-litre TDCI diesel also features with either 95hp or 120hp. The range-topping diesel is a 150hp 2.0-litre and all engines offer better economy than previously. There is no news yet on any tweaks to the ST but expect that to incorporate the cosmetic changes, if not any mechanical ones, at some point soon.
Estate gets a nip 'n' tuck too
Those styling alterations are intended to create a 'more sophisticated and advanced' Focus, taking in cues recently seen with the Fiesta facelift and upcoming new Mondeo when that finally arrives. Fortunately the new grille isn't quite as, err, prominent as on the Fiesta, and works quite well in conjunction with slimmer headlights and sculpted bonnet. The rear also features slimmer lights plus a 'new fascia' but it's a fairly minor change.
Now if there was one universal complaint about living with a Focus ST it was the cabin's myriad of confusing buttons. Simple tasks became overly challenging and the dash looked cluttered. Ford's solution is to introduce Sync 2, an updated infotainment system with, thank goodness, an eight-inch touchscreen. There are fewer buttons on the wheel as well and the nav has been updated, another weak spot before.
And the buttons are (mostly) gone!
As if to demonstrate just how far assist technology has come since the Focus was introduced in 1998, this latest offers 'Perpendicular Parking', building on the current model's Active Park Assist to facilitate hands-free parallel parking alongside other cars. In a Focus. The Active City Stop now works at up to 50km/h (31mph) from 30km/h (19mph), Pre-Collision Assist is there at higher speeds and the ESC has been recalibrated if you still manage to get it wrong. Oh, and the
MyKey
programmable key is there for sensible settings if you dare let offspring near the car.
So it's a fairly comprehensive revision for Ford's biggest seller then, and will no doubt keep it at the top of the sales charts. It debuts at the Mobile World Congress today prior to Geneva and British sales will start later in 2014.