The new Ford Focus is a sensational car
Price as tested: £17,045 (both models)
Range price: £11,945 - £20,595
Insurance group as tested: TBC
Insurance group range: TBC
Date and place tested: 27/28 November 2007,
Click here for more pictures of the 2008 Ford Focus
Take one legendary hairpin-crammed French road, add the latest version of
We couldn’t wait to drive the Ford Focus along the route of the opening car-chase in James Bond flick Golden Eye and the revamped car more than lived up to expectations.
Adrian Higgins gets all gooey-eyed over the new look Ford Focus.
When you get the opportunity to tackle a fantastic road, in a beautiful location all you really NEED is a driving licence, a sense of fun and a car.
But what you WANT is a car which will enable you to exploit the opportunity, look the part and make you feel like saying “thank you very much” to it afterwards.
We were driving the Ford Focus, the biggest-selling car in the UK every year since it first went on sale in 1998, on a road which graced the opening sequence from James Bond flick Golden Eye - The Route Napoleon, near the French Riviera – is packed with ascending hair-pinned corners taking you from the coast to 1,000 metres above sea level in ear-poppingly quick time.
It was immediately apparent this first facelift of the second generation model looks the part.
Ford’s number one priority was to bring the Ford Focus’s design into line with the direction seen in the acclaimed Ford Mondeo and Ford S-Max.
The biggest change has been to revamp the front end with a new, more dynamic bonnet shape, enlarged lower grille and new eye-catching headlamps.
Ford has also introduced a strong new waistline and a new rear spoiler as the focal point for a back end which fulfils the aim of giving the new Ford Focus a more sporty appearance.
Sadly we were only able to see, rather than drive, the new
Buyers will, of course, be able to make their own alterations to the Focus’s appearance through the addition of accessories and a variety of packs. But the trim levels will now run from Studio, through Style, Zetec, Titanium and the aforementioned
We liked the interior improvements too. The instrument display is simple and clear with the speedometer and rev counter sitting either side of a small information box.
The central console looks smart and runs back, via the gear stick, to two cup holders and a storage area between the driver and front seat passenger, something many manufacturers are now adopting
The area in front is also due to get a “Ford Power” button from March 2008 for keyless ignition and entry. This will be standard on the
Materials inside have also been improved as part of the update and the Titanium model we drove looked classy as well as very well-finished.
We also found the hugging seats comfortable and snug.
Under the bonnet, Ford Focus buyers will be able to choose from a wide range of diesel and petrol models including a new addition to the manufacturer’s Green range. The Ford Focus ECOnetic model, a 1.6-litre diesel version capable of 65.6mpg and CO2 emissions of 115g/km, placing it into car tax band B (£35 Per year).
Like the
That’s also when we’ll also be testing Ford’s eagerly-awaited Ford PowerShift transmission, a double clutch-system to improve automatic gear changes both in terms of smoothness and fuel economy.
Ford claims this will combine the convenience of automatic gear changes with the performance of a manual gearbox. It’s a similar idea to VW’s excellent DSG gearboxes.
Ford boast the Focus is a “genuine driver’s car” and it’s a mark of confidence to allow motoring journalists to take the vehicle on one of Europe’s most exciting routes with dramatic scenery, superb surfaces and a road which zigzags its way 1km above sea level and back again.
The first thing which struck us was the excellent handling.
The Ford Focus is a car which instils immense confidence through its ability to remain planted to the road – even when thrown through a series of demanding corners - while the electro-hydraulic steering enhances the steering wheel feedback to the driver.
However, this doesn’t mean you’re going to end up battered and bruised at the end of your journey.
Improved torsional stiffness helps make the car feel very solid and with comfort levels very high, the ride is just as enjoyable for passengers – albeit not as much fun as being at the wheel.
This is a car which excels in almost all categories of driving.
We found it comfortable, quiet and responsive to our acceleration needs on the motorway. Likewise, pootling through narrow, windy French village roads was no problem.
But beyond the everyday it’s a car which makes a fantastic companion when you get the opportunity to have a bit of fun behind the wheel.
We drove both the 110bhp 2-litre diesel and the 145bhp 2-litre petrol, both very competent engines.
The 52.3mpg petrol was a joy for the exciting parts of our test route but clearly more day-to-day use would benefit from the better economy provided by the 62.7mpg diesel option.
However, in terms of 0-62mph acceleration, the 9.2 seconds achieved by the petrol model only outperforms the diesel by a tenth of a second.
When it comes to safety, the Ford Focus shares the same features which earned the outgoing model five stars after EuroNCAP crash tests. Electronic Stability Control (ESP) is now standard throughout the range.
And if you’ve ever put the wrong fuel in your car you’ll be relieved to know this will be a thing of the past with the Focus’s capless refuelling, meaning it will only accept petrol on petrol models and diesel on diesel vehicles.
Other newly-available features include DAB radio, touch screen sat-nav, USB port and SD card slot.
Of course not everyone has the time or inclination to go bowling around twisting country roads. We know we’re lucky!
But this was a great opportunity to show what the
The Ford Focus goes on sale on January 1 2008. The
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