Ford today revealed for the first time the new Focus mid-sized family car, featuring expressive new design and fuel-efficient electrified powertrains
alongside advanced connectivity and driver assistance technologies designed to make the ownership and driving experience easier and more rewarding.
A new iteration of Ford’s “human-centric” design philosophy brings greater confidence and boldness to the Focus exterior, with a more distinctive approach to the Titanium, ST-Line and Active variants. Each gains unique styling elements that express their individual personalities, with an expanded Vignale pack delivering ultimate luxury and exclusive design features.
The new Focus introduces Ford’s next-generation SYNC 4 technology to greater numbers of customers than ever before, enabling cloud-connected navigation and connected voice control with natural language understanding. SYNC 4 is supported by an all-new, largest in segment 2 13.2-inch landscape centre screen with an intuitive interface designed to make it effortless to navigate a comprehensive range of driving and comfort features. The technology also allows Ford Power-Up wireless software updates to improve functionality over time.
Advanced driver assistance technologies introduced to Focus for the first time include Blind Spot Assist, 3 which monitors the driver’s blind spot for vehicles approaching from behind, and can apply counter-steering to warn the driver and discourage a lane change manoeuvre if a potential collision is detected.
New Focus also for the first time introduces an automatic transmission option for the fuel-saving EcoBoost Hybrid 48-volt mild hybrid powertrains, offering up to 155 PS. The seven-speed, dual-clutch Powershift automatic makes driving less demanding – particularly in city and stop-start traffic – while complementing the hybrid powertrain’s electrically-boosted performance for typical Focus fun-to-drive.
Ford has also enhanced the 1,653-litre loadspace 4 of the Focus wagon variant for greater practicality, responding to customer feedback to introduce a new wet zone, easy-clean carpet and side trims, and a vertical divider for simple and effective organisation of the loadspace. A spacious and practical five-door hatchback is also offered.
In addition, Ford today also revealed the new Focus ST, developed by Ford Performance. Featuring sporty new exterior styling and alloy wheel designs, a head-turning Mean Green paint option and all-new, in-house developed Performance Seats, the Focus ST continues to be offered with a high performance EcoBoost petrol powertrain and five-door or wagon body styles.
The new Focus introduces a fresh and confident exterior inspired by Ford’s “human-centric” design philosophy, giving each new Focus variant a distinct personality.
A new bonnet design increases the height of the nose for greater visual presence across the line-up, and the Ford “blue oval” badge is relocated from the bonnet lip to the centre of the larger upper grille.
New LED headlights are standard on all new Focus variants and now include integrated fog light functionality that allows a cleaner, sleeker lower fascia design, and deliver a distinctive and purposeful light signature. Five-door and wagon models feature a darkened taillight lens for a premium look, while high-series LED taillights feature a new internal design with a darker central section and an eye-catching new loop light pattern.
Each new Focus variant benefits from unique design details, with upper grille and fascia designs reflecting distinct personalities and creating greater differentiation across the range. Connected and Titanium series feature a wide upper grille with a gloss chrome surround, distinguished by its strong horizontal bars and matched by upturning side vents that flow from the lower grille. In addition, Titanium series features a hot-stamped chrome finish to the upper grille bars.
The Ford Performance-inspired ST-Line variant’s sportier character is delivered using a uniquely proportioned trapezoidal upper grille, supported by a gloss black honeycomb finish alongside broader side vents and a deeper lower grille. ST-Line variants also feature side skirts, a rear diffuser and a discreet rear spoiler.
The adventurous Active variant takes inspiration from SUV design cues for a more rugged appearance. A wider upper grille features more substantial vertical strakes, and a deeper lower grille and taller side vents complement the raised ride height and black body cladding.
Expanded availability of the Vignale pack for new Focus introduces ultimate luxury specification for Titanium, ST-Line and Active models. Alongside enhanced equipment levels and interior finishes, Vignale specification introduces satin finishes to the upper grille and side vents in place of a body colour finish, and exclusive alloy wheel designs. The new Focus benefits from five new alloy wheel designs across the range.
A diverse powertrain line-up includes electrified options that enhance the efficiency, refinement and the renowned fun-to-drive experience that has been a key part of the Focus appeal for more than 20 years.
More Focus drivers will be able to benefit from the enhanced fuel efficiency and performance of new Focus’ EcoBoost Hybrid engines following the introduction of a seven-speed Powershift automatic transmission option, with WLTP fuel efficiency from 47.9 mpg and CO2 emissions from 119 g/km. 1
In addition to a less-demanding two-pedal driving experience, the dual-clutch Powershift transmission delivers seamless acceleration and smooth, fast gear changes, with triple downshifts for responsive overtaking. In Sport Drive Mode, the automatic gearbox holds lower gears for sportier responses, and the transmission also offers manual gear selection, with sporty paddle-shifters as standard on ST‑Line variants.
The Powershift automatic also supports fuel-saving by keeping the hybrid engine at the optimum rpm for efficiency, and by allowing rolling Auto Start-Stop to operate below 12 km/h (7 mph).
Available with 125 PS and 155 PS power outputs, the new Focus’ 48-volt mild hybrid 1.0-litre EcoBoost Hybrid powertrain is also available with a six-speed manual gearbox, with WLTP fuel efficiency from 51.4 mpg and CO2 emissions from 116 g/km. The hybrid powertrain replaces the standard alternator with a belt-driven integrated starter/generator (BISG), enabling energy normally lost during braking to be recovered and stored in a dedicated lithium-ion battery pack. The BISG is also able to act as a motor, providing torque assistance to either increase the total torque available from the powertrain for more responsive in-gear acceleration, or reduce the amount of work required by the engine for improved fuel efficiency.
The new Focus also offers Ford’s 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine with 125 PS power output and a six-speed manual gearbox, and from 47.1 mpg fuel efficiency and 121 g/km CO2 WLTP. Features including Twin-independent Variable Cam Timing and high-pressure direct injection contribute to overall efficiency and responsive performance.
For higher mileage drivers, Ford’s 1.5-litre EcoBlue diesel engine is available with 120 PS power outputs, with fuel efficiency from 56.5 mpg and 120 g/km CO2 WLTP, offered with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The new Focus also features selectable Drive Mode technology, enabling drivers to choose between Normal, Sport and Eco modes that can adjust the responses of the throttle pedal, Electronic Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) and automatic gearbox to suit the driving scenario. Active models also feature Slippery mode for increased confidence in low-grip conditions and Trail mode that is designed to help maintain momentum on deformable surfaces.
In response to customer feedback, a range of innovative new features have been introduced to the new Focus wagon loadspace that make it even more practical and convenient for customers.
The luggage space is now trimmed with a high-quality cropped carpet – previously used exclusively as cabin flooring and floor mats on Vignale-specification vehicles – which not only delivers a premium feel but uses short fibres that make it easier to clean. An additional side load net is ideal for storing smaller items that could otherwise move freely around the loadspace while travelling, and twin LED lights provide clearer illumination in low-light conditions.
The adjustable load-floor now has a central hinge, allowing it to be folded to create a vertical divider that locks into place at a 90-degree angle, creating two separate spaces to keep items more securely in place.
The load area also now features a wet zone, with a load-floor liner inserted into the space to provide water resistance against items such as wet suits and umbrellas. The water-resistant lining can be removed from the space for easy draining or cleaning, and the area can be enclosed from the rest of the boot with floor folded down, or separated with the vertical divider to create wet and dry zones.
In addition, the Focus wagon luggage space now contains a “quick guide” customer instruction label with simplified diagrams to explain the multiple functionalities of the load area. During customer research, Ford found that 98 per cent of current Focus wagon owners were not aware of all the existing features such as the stowable tonneau cover and boot floor, remote seat release and floor divider system. The label simply and clearly explains the features without the user needing to consult the owner’s manual for instructions.
Priced from £22,465 on the road.
