The new Ford Focus will launch with a sporty five-door hatchback and sleek four-door sedan. The wagon bodystyle will arrive from March 2012.
The Focus range has also been expanded to include a new luxurious Titanium variant.
The powertrain line-up includes an all-new 2.0-litre GDi (gasoline direct injection) petrol engine that combines high-pressure direct injection and twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT).
A completely updated 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi common rail turbo diesel engine is also part of the line-up. Both engines offer significant increases in power and torque compared to the outgoing model.
Both engines are matched to the latest six-speed PowerShift automatic transmission.
The third powertrain comes in the form of a 1.6-litre Duratec Ti-VCT engine (only available on Ambiente), which will be the fuel economy leader for the new Focus range, providing a reduction in fuel consumption of more than 15 per cent compared to the outgoing model.
The hero model of Ford’s new global small car platform, the company says the new Focus is packed with more technologies and features than ever offered by Ford in this market segment.
The drag coefficient is now a low 0.295, thanks to the streamlined shape and steeply raked windscreen.
Noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels have been reduced and driving dynamics improved by the increased stiffness of the body structure, with 30 per cent greater rigidity than the previous Focus model.
Inside, the new Focus has a modern, cockpit-style interior, with the centre console wrapped around the driver.
Ford’s latest-generation Human Machine Interface (HMI) system is used, with twin five-way toggle switches on the steering wheel controlling the two main vehicle displays located in the instrument cluster and high in the centre of the instrument panel.
Smart innovations available on the all-new Focus for New Zealand include Active Park Assist (Titanium only), cruise control with Adjustable Speed Limiting Device (Trend, Sport and Titanium), keyless entry system with push button start* and Adaptive Cruise Control (Titanium only).
Passive safety features include a new generation of advanced airbag restraint systems with driver and front passenger airbags, side front airbags and side curtain airbags for front- and rear-seat occupants.
The new stronger bodyshell makes use of more high-strength steels than any previous Ford.
Ford engineers have enhanced Focus’ cornering stability and agility with the introduction of an advanced Torque Vectoring Control system, which is fitted as standard equipment.
The system behaves like a limited-slip differential to constantly balance the distribution of torque between the front wheels, which results in reduced understeer, improved traction and better turn-in. This technology has, up to now, typically only been available on premium sports vehicles.
Ford engineers have also retuned and enhanced the suspension concepts from prior models, developing optimised new designs for the Control Blade Independent Rear Suspension (IRS) and the semi-isolated front subframe.
The new chassis design also now incorporates a completely new Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) system on mid- and high-series models.
New Zealand Focus models will be sourced from the lead European assembly plant in Saarlouis, Germany.
