Though the second-generation Focus has been a car worthy of consideration throughout its life cycle, it really has started showing its age of late with the arrival of newer and updated rivals – even after a recent facelift. Not to worry, the blue oval’s compact hatch is back, and better than ever.
Of course, all that has to be put in perspective. Design-wise the previous Focus was nothing of an achievement really, being a careful evolution compared with the dramatic first-generation model. This worked well, because its more grown-up looks didn’t polarise shoppers so heavily.
But that was way back in 2005, and with those in the compact segment now playing a game of “can do better” in terms of perceived quality and features, it really was time for Ford to step up.
Worthy of first comment is the third-generation Focus’ dynamic new design. With the Kinetic theme the Ford product portfolio now follows, a Focus now approaches your rear-view mirror with a bold stance. Even on base-model units, you can’t help but to take in the vast trapezoidal airdam, surrounded by two more triangular vents that so dominates its front end. The headlamps are narrower too, adding to the menacing look.
The profile is visibly sleeker too, thanks to shallower windows, well-placed character lines and a smartly-integrated roof spoiler – but I fear that conservative types will not be won over by the splat of material that doubles as tail lamps, spilling over quite far into the rear-three quarter panel. One thing the Focus can’t be can’t be accused of is boring.
Inside, it’s all soft-touch and premium materials to create the visual appeasement that the Germans seem to have mastered across the board. Granted, there are those who don’t (and won’t) appreciate the high-gloss finish of certain surfaces, but on the Titanium specification model I recently drove with Charcoal Black leather trim, it created quite an interesting contrast. The seats are comfortable, though not as supportive as I had hoped.
A huge talking point is the introduction of a direct fuel-injection system on the range’s 2,0 GDI petrol engine. There’s a notable difference in peak outputs from before (previously 107 kW at 6 000 r/min and 185 N.m of torque at 4 500 r/min) as the new figures come to 120 kW at 6 500 and 198 N.m at 4 450 r/min, but the new engine also allows for more efficient fuel consumption through the use of a six-speed Powershift dual-clutch transmission – which comes standard on the full-house Titanium-spec model.
Unfortunately, engine power was the one area in which I was somewhat disappointed. Despite the improvements in injection and the use of variable timing on both camshafts, the 2,0-litre motor proved quite asthmatic – even along the beautiful coastal road my route consisted of. Added to that, the dual-clutch ‘box is by far the most undecided transmission of its kind that I’ve sampled – or maybe it hunts for a sweet spot in the torque curve that is impossible to find.
Deciding that it was no good leaving the transmission up to its own devices, I knocked the lever sideways to exploit the ratios manually, but apart from the hopelessly counter-intuitive shift selector buttons on the gear lever (even hardcore gaming enthusiast would have a hard time fumbling thumbs fast enough to get the required action right) I just couldn’t muster up enough ponies for satisfactory progress. Perhaps it is the combination of the engine and transmission that left a sour taste in my mouth, but I feel that a good old “stick shift” would have done my drive a whole lot of good.
That said, one of the Focus’ many redeeming features is competent handling, courtesy of the standard Torque Vectoring Control that manipulates the front brakes to imitate the effect a limited-slip differential has on the drive wheels – electronically monitoring the distribution of torque and balancing it accordingly for reduced understeer.
Another boon is the highly-sophisticated MyFord Touch system, which is a sort of new-generation info-tainment tool that Ford and software giant Microsoft have been at for years now. I doubt that we will ever see this system in all employ in our local market, but the prospect of integrated touch and voice controls, satellite radio and upgradeable navigation in a system that is ridiculously easy to navigate (Ford is even capturing dialects and accents to cater to a broader world population) is too promising to just give up on, even for the most dramatic luddites. Let’s hope South Africa gears up for the digital audio visual wave soon enough.
There’s a lot to look forward to, with Ecoboost turbocharged powerplants on the way, the option of manual gearboxes to make proper use of the torque on tap, and Ford’s SYNC info-tainment in some form (even if it’s a basic version), as well as big improvements in perceived interior quality – the Focus should fare well when it gets to South Africa during the latter half of 2011.
Read all about the 2012 Ford Focus in an upcoming issue of CAR
