Focus entry model dropped.

[Yellow_Festiva]

https://www.drive.com.au/news/ford-f...=homePageNews4

The Focus Ambiente has been kicked out of the Australian market before it got a chance to settle in.

Ford Australia announced its quietly-introduced price leader has already been axed.

In a statement issued today, Ford Australia said the entry-level Ambiente variant of its new German-sourced Focus range – priced from $23,490 plus on-road costs – will be dropped shorty after its limited release, making the Trend the entry point once again.

“Feedback from Australian customers in this segment shows that they are looking for a high level of content and innovative features as standard, and this has led to the Focus Trend as the natural starting point for the all-new Focus,” the company said.

Priced $1500 cheaper than Trend specification, the Ambiente loses the turbocharger from its 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, with outputs rated at 90.5kW (@6500rpm) and 150Nm (@4500rpm).

Drive is sent to the front wheels through a six-speed automatic as standard (down from eight cogs), while fuel use is a claimed 6.9L/100km on the combined cycle – the turbocharged version is more frugal, rated at 6.4L/100km combined.

We don’t have official performance figures from Ford Australia, though the Chinese-market version with the same engine completes the 0-100 sprint in a rather leisurely 12.7 seconds for reference.

Standard equipment includes autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, six airbags, 16-inch alloys, LED daytime-running lights, halogen headlights, lane departure warning, a rear-view camera, rear parking sensors, an electric park brake, leather trim for the steering wheel and gearshift, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and DAB+ digital radio.

In addition to the turbo engine and eight-speed auto, the Ambiente forgoes the Trend’s in-built satellite navigation and Sync 3 software, automatic headlights and wipers, climate control air conditioning, and different alloy wheel design.

Buyers of the Ambiente can, however, opt for the $300 Convenience Package, which adds auto headlights and wipers, along with an auto-dimming rear-view mirror. Prestige paint is also $650 extra.

While we don’t have local imagery of the Focus Ambiente, there’s a few kicking around in dealerships – so if you want one, get in while stocks last.

The wider Focus range hasn’t quite taken off on the sales charts yet, posting 282 registrations for the month of May, and sitting at 1803 sales year-to-date as of May 30 – declines of 36.1 per cent and 18.3 per cent respectively.

By comparison, the Hyundai i30 outdid the Focus’ YTD figure in May alone (2901 sales), as did the Mazda 3 (2359 sales) and Toyota Corolla (2467 sales).

Australian buyers have recently been given the added choice of the crossover-styled Focus Active model, joining the Trend hatch, ST-Line hatch and wagon, along with the top-spec Titanium hatch.

James Wong

I never liked the name, and way too expensive as a base model. Who wouldn't pay $1500 more for the Trend?

It needed to be priced at $21,990 DA to be competitive in the auto considering that's what a base model i30 / Elantra and Cerato are going for.

Hard to get in manual as well it seems.