Ford has (finally?) taken the sheets off the new Focus - here it is in all its Mark 4 glory, appearing roughly 8 years since the previous generation was first revealed. The all-new model will be making its showrooms debuts first in select European market as well as China later this year before winding its way to North America in 2019.
Just as it did before, the Mk4 will come in three essential body styles that kick off - naturally - with the five-door hatch. From there, the sedan offers a greater overall length thanks to an extended overhang and a larger boot to match, while estate builds on this by keeping those measurements but keeps the roof going past the C-pillar.
The Focus’ new emphasis on new markets, China in particular, is punctuated by the fact that the all body styles will be sold there and that plans are underway to produce both local and US-bound units in the People’s Republic. Units destined for Europe and other markets, Australia included, will be manufactured in Germany.
Once it does make its respective debuts in individual countries, it will almost immediately have to face off against the fierce adversaries that plagued its predecessor. Chiefly, the Hyundai i30 presents the most recent threat, but so too does the ever-present Volkswagen Golf threat, a car that is due to be replaced by an all-new model within the next couple of years. And hey, even the next Toyota Corolla is looking very promising.
To combat this, Ford is lobbing the Focus into the fray with a familiar arsenal but one with added firepower. Kicking off the trim range we have the entry-spec Ambiente, followed by the sporty ST-Line mid-packer, and the higher end Titanium. Accompanying this will be crossover-themed Focus Active for the first time, taking its cue from last year’s Fiesta Active, and the luxurious Focus Vignale.
Built on Ford’s evolved C2 platform, the new Focus promises to intrinsically benefit from improved torsional rigidity, weight savings, and packaging flexibility. Compared to the outgoing Focus, this Mk4 is only been marginally expanded. Comparing five-door hatch bodies reveal a 30mm height drop, a 20mm increase in length and a body that’s a mere 2mm wider.
It’s exterior certain is one that doesn’t really conform to the established cues set by its predecessor, wearing a bolder face, flatter bonnet, and a more planted stance that echoes certain other cars such as the Mazda3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class, and even the BMW 1 Series.
While pinpointing these visual similarities can be a little tricky, there’s no denying that the all-new Focus now has a more sophisticated looking exterior - an attribute that’s amplified to great effect in the top-spec Vignale.
Time will tell if the Focus’ design will lend the same kind of individuality that its predecessor, and indeed the 1998 original, had, but for now we can conclude that the more accentuated curves are design traits that are shared by multiple cars in the same segment. Of course, nearly all Focus variants have a distinctive tone thanks to their respective trim treatments, so this should help distinguish it on the streets.
At the reveal, which was held simultaneously in Europe and China, Ford detailed four turbocharged engine options comprising of equal counts petrol and diesel burners. The first of the three-cylinder EcoBoost duo displaces 1.0-litre and will be offered in three states of tune of 63kW, 74kW, and 93kW, while the second is a 1.5-litre three-pot shared with the Fiesta ST that should be good for either 110kW or 135kW.
The oilers are taken from the EcoBlue range and are four-cylinders, starting with a 1.5-litre that produces either 70kW or 90kW with 300Nm. The second is a 2.0-litre unit with 112kW and 370Nm, likely a relative of the Panther unit found in the Ranger Raptor. Depending on the market, Ford will be pairing these engines and variants with a six-speed manual or/and an 8-speed torque converter automatic.
A significant update to the Focus’ repertoire will be the widespread inclusion of semi autonomous and active safety features, wrapped up in the Co-Pilot360 suite. Sans lower-tier variants, most units of the Mk4 Focus should be seeing AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection, Adaptive Cruise Control, Active Park Assist, lane keep assist, and even Traffic Jam Assist popping up as available kit if not standard equipment.
Another advantage of selecting a higher grade Focus will be a more sophisticated rear suspension. There were fears that its independent setup would be ditched at the back end and replaced with a less expensive torsion beam setup. This is true, but only relegated to variants with the lower-tier engines, deeming it more than adequate to deal with the lighter overall weight.
A Mk4 Focus with a higher output engine will not only retain that independent rear suspension but will be eligible for torque vectoring control and an all-new adaptive damper system that will be one major parameter altered depending on which of the Drive Modes are selected - Normal, Sport, Eco, Comfort, and Eco-Comfort; the final two are specific to cars with the Continuously Controlled Damping system installed.
While the torsion beam rear setup might be less mechanically impressive, it’s hardly reason to doubt Ford placing a high priority on the Focus’ handling. There are many examples of an identical suspension set up being used on proper hot front-drive cars, with many RenaultSport products presenting a strong defence for it.
Inside, Ford’s designers have clearly taken the previous generation car’s criticism to heart, endeavouring to give the Mk4 a more upmarket ambiance and feel no matter which variant is chosen. The revamp takes its lead from the 7th-generation Fiesta hatch, introducing a generally more low-set dashboard, and floating infotainment screen.
The the changes in layout are done in service of ergonomics while Ford also placing a high emphasis on build quality and material choices for a more impressive tactile feel. On the luxury-minded Vignale, for example, there’s fine grain wood trim interspersed with premium leather while on the sportier ST Line models, there are accents of faux carbon fibre and brushed aluminium.
Despite only growing marginally in overall size, the Mk4 Focus promises a much better use of space with the cabin far more commodious. Rear legroom has been expanded significantly and so has shoulder room for all occupants. Even the gear knob has been replaced with a rotary dial on units equipped with the 8-speed auto, partially to improve interior airiness.
The aforementioned freestanding infotainment system is based on Ford’s SYNC3 and, like before, measures 8-inches. However, it now supports wireless hotspot connectivity, wireless phone charging and wireless integration via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, and additional remote functions through the FordPass mobile app. Higher grade variants can even opt for a 10-speaker 675-Watt Bang & Olufsen stereo.
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