Driven the NEW Focus

[zetec]

That's right!!!!!! :dr_Evil:

Won't write an article on it, it's not my place, but even being a pre-production unit it was pretty damn good. I won't comment in depth simply because it's not fair until a final production ready and customer built vehicle can be tested. Enough to say that it was very good, handling was first rate, it's not that much heavier, is much more refined, brakes are great, Tim gets his beloved Duratec (which has some seriously big pulling power and sensational lowdown to midrange torque, you can feel every one of the 107kw), the engine is smooth and revs very cleanly all the way to redline - more so than the Mk I, gearbox is precise and short shift, clutch is light to medium (between a current CL and Zetec in feel), it feel like a quicker car than the current Zetec (having put over 50,000km in a current model). It is much torquier in feel, whereas the current model seems to rely less on torque and more on top end power. But that might just be my exhaust-liberated top end. Wait for the final model before we really evaluate it in the magazines, I'll be keen to read, but I was very, very impressed. And the fuel economy is unbelievable. MORE power, BIGGER car, LESS fuel!!! Jackpot.


*This is my personal opinion and in no way a reflection of the company opinion or the final production model.

[b2tf]

Certainly sounds good, when's it due again?

[zetec]

Due in showrooms around June.

[Suth]

*This is my personal opinion and in no way a reflection of the company opinion or the final production model.

*just had to add that in so you don't get your *** fired? _2:

[zetec]

No, I added it just to make sure nobody think I'm trying to post anything official, it's just personal opinion. The car is released publicly now so we can drive them in public. I just want to wait until the magazines publicly test them and offer their professional driving opinions as I am not a professional driver, just an enthusiast. I'm somewhat biased!! The model I drove is a pre-production build so it's not a 100% true representation of the final vehicle.

[Suth]

dude, don't take me so seriously. You sure are one lucky bloke though, do ya think you will trade up when the next model is well established? or are you one of these chaps that has to have the latest and greatest? I have just had my car for a year now, not quite ready to trade it in yet.

[zetec]

Mine's only 2 years old, I can't afford a new one at this stage. I'm totally 100% happy with my car, it's brilliant. I'll just own mine and get to drive the new one all the time through workmates and evaluation vehicles hopefully! Best of both worlds. I am hoping to keep mine until it's at least 5 years old, the plan is to keep it for 10-20 years no joke, so I can keep it and work it over in about 9-10 years and either put in a race spec Zetec engine or return it to factory and keep it lookin good forever. I want my Mk I Focus to be like a Mk I Escort in 20-30 years time. Sweeeeet

[WASACL]

LOL i reckon we organise a cruise to a dealership when they are released and just test drive all the models for a day!

What do you think?

Russ

[Suth]

Russ, you could be onto something there. Just as long as we present ourselves as enthusiasts and purists and promise not to thrash their newly delivered cars. That would be fun though.

[The MaDDeSTMaN]

Originally Posted by zetec

I am hoping to keep mine until it's at least 5 years old, the plan is to keep it for 10-20 years no joke, so I can keep it and work it over in about 9-10 years and either put in a race spec Zetec engine or return it to factory and keep it lookin good forever. I want my Mk I Focus to be like a Mk I Escort in 20-30 years time. Sweeeeet

Sounds like a good plan to me mate.

Have you seen what the british think of the new Focus? I think it was "top gear" or "5th gear", can't remember which one, anyway my brother has a copy on DVD if you're interested, full road test and proper evaluation by some real professionals who also happen to be HUGE car enthusiasts!

[Mick K.]

Please tell us 3 things -

- Is the bonnet still key operated?
- Is the fuel door still key operated?
- Is there a external button / handle / etc to open the boot?

Also - how much Mazda3 is carried over to the Focus - is the 2lt the same?

Cheers,

MK

[Teki04]

As for the engine, im pretty sure its not shared. Only thing shared is the platform and i THINK the suspension components. The platform was shared with the Volvo S40 / Mazda3 / Focus...

[whippet_zetec]

Originally Posted by The MaDDeSTMaN

Sounds like a good plan to me mate.

Have you seen what the british think of the new Focus? I think it was "top gear" or "5th gear", can't remember which one, anyway my brother has a copy on DVD if you're interested, full road test and proper evaluation by some real professionals who also happen to be HUGE car enthusiasts!

well seeing I am going to be in the UK in 2 1/2 weeks I am going to have a carck at the new Focus over there myself.......will let you all know how it goes (have been trying to track down an RS to get into over there but am finding it a little difficult)

[Teki04]

Wow.... just saw pics of the Focus Estate.... i gotta admit it looks almost better then the Hatch.... check it out at www.ford.co.uk

[Timmeh]

Not a fan of the Estate - the rear looks exactly like a Fiesta rear end, not a Focus.

In the brochure scans I did of the UK Brochure, you can see what I mean pretty easily by the dimension drawings:



Have a look at the rear end shots of the hatch versus the estate - one could be a current model Fiesta for all you knew! Hot tip: it's not the hatch. The estate looks good everywhere but not in the rear, in my opinion. Not that the Fiesta looks bad, but I would prefer some differentiation between the two. I highly doubt we'll see the estate anyway - no market for it. I'd prefer to see the turbo diesel!! 340Nm Torque!!


The whole brochure of the new Focus in the UK has been on the eurofordclub site for months, and can be found here, for those that haven't seen it yet:

http://www.eurofordclub.com/gallery/newbrochure

Tim.

[Teki04]

Might see the estate.... i think that Ford Australia is waiting for Holden to release the astra estate later this year and then make a decision on how the Astra goes. Just to note, Holden did a good thing selling the old astra beside the new one... this month they sold more Astras then the Mazda3... whilst the Ford Focus didnt even make the top 20... Ford needs to do some work with their marketing!

[marcosambrose]

Its was a 3 and half year old car when it was released, you cant sell a 6 year old car competitivly when a new Mazda, VW and Holden hatch have been recently released.

and lets not forget the go-slow sell-well corolla.

[zetec]

The current Focus is still a superior car to even the latest Corolla, hate to admit it to you. Sure it doesn't have the features or abilities of some of the newer models, but the Corolla is still a dungbox...

[zetec]

Originally Posted by Mick K.

Please tell us 3 things -

- Is the bonnet still key operated?
- Is the fuel door still key operated?
- Is there a external button / handle / etc to open the boot?

Also - how much Mazda3 is carried over to the Focus - is the 2lt the same?

Cheers,

MK

Sorry Mick, didn't see your post!!!

Bonnet is still key operated.
Fuel door is now remote, although no internal button, is ismply unlocked when car is unlocked, locked when doors are locked. Also good idea, even simpler than button operated.
Boot has an electronic touchpad under the grip, unlocked when doors unlocked, locked when not. Brilliant idea. No internal button.

[Mick K.]

Originally Posted by zetec

Sorry Mick, didn't see your post!!!

Bonnet is still key operated.
Fuel door is now remote, although no internal button, is ismply unlocked when car is unlocked, locked when doors are locked. Also good idea, even simpler than button operated.
Boot has an electronic touchpad under the grip, unlocked when doors unlocked, locked when not. Brilliant idea. No internal button.

Thanks for that info - the boot thing sounds like a similar one to what the VW Bora has on it and the fuel door tied into central locking is a sensible idea - I think a lot of cars have this.

Those Europeans must still be into stealing batteries - apparently that was the reason Ford have got the key operated bonnet. It's just annoying when you read a Focus review and they waste a paragraph criticising the lack of cabin bonnet release! Also annoying when the sponge / chamois gets caught on the flip up badge!

MK