All New Focus on the way

[russellw]

The dynamic all-new Ford Focus is on its way to Australia and will come to market in August, with an exciting two-model line-up featuring a sporty five-door hatchback and sleek four-door sedan.

The all-new Focus is a key element of the Ford product portfolio in Australia and has been expanded to include a new high-series Titanium variant, offering luxury levels of convenience and comfort that will please buyers shifting from larger and luxury-class vehicles.

With over 10 million units sold since its introduction in 1998, the Ford Focus has become a firm favourite with consumers worldwide for its outstanding value, comfort and safety, and above all, for being great fun to drive.
Following an unprecedented global development program under the company's One Ford strategy, the next-generation Focus is set to continue the successful tradition of its predecessors.

“In every world market where Focus competes, customers are looking for expressive design, affordable innovation, superior quality, responsive performance and exceptional fuel economy,” said Bob Graziano, President and CEO, Ford Australia.
“In Australia, the all-new Focus presents all these elements in an outstanding package. It will raise the bar in these areas and deliver a new level of standard and available content, enabled by its global scale.”

Distinguished by its sleek and sporty design, the new Focus is packed with more affordable technologies and features than ever previously offered by Ford in this market sector.

“The new Focus is evidence of One Ford in action, and truly represents the best of Ford Motor Company,” Graziano said.
“Our investment in a new global small car platform is enabling us to provide consumers in Australia, and around the world, with an affordable range of cars which offer quality, fuel efficiency, safety and smart technology beyond their expectations.”

Developed in Europe, for sale worldwide
Developed in Europe, for sale in over 120 markets worldwide with 80 per cent parts commonality, the next-generation Focus is the hero model created from Ford Motor Company's new global small car platform. This platform will underpin at least ten vehicles around the world and account for two million units of annual production by 2012.

“A year ago, we shared our vision for a new generation of small cars from a common global platform,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president for Global Product Development.
“We've delivered the all-new C-MAX and Grand C-MAX for the European markets and with the all-new Focus we’re demonstrating the possibilities this new global approach has for transforming the core of the Ford product line-up around the world.”

Volume production has already commenced at the lead Ford Focus assembly plants in Saarlouis (Germany) and Michigan (USA).
European production will be expanded in mid-2011 when the assembly plant in St. Petersburg (Russia) starts building the four-door and five-door models.
Australian Focus models will be sourced from the lead European assembly plant in Saarlouis.

Striking, streamlined design
Both new Focus body styles share a sporty and dynamic character, marking the next evolution of Ford’s acclaimed kinetic design form language, which has contributed to the growing popularity of the company’s latest small and medium global cars.
With its striking front end, sleek profile, dramatic rising beltline and athletic stance, the new Focus clearly signals the rewarding driving experience that awaits customers when they take to the road.
The all-new Focus sedan has a drag coefficient as low as 0.295, compared to 0.320 for the current model. The streamlined Focus shape and steeply raked windscreen contribute to significantly reduced drag, while optimised aerodynamics help reduce wind noise at speed and contribute to improved fuel efficiency.
Noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels have been reduced and driving dynamics improved by the increased stiffness of the body structure, with 30 per cent greater rigidity than the previous Focus model.

Stylish, functional interior
The dynamic quality of the exterior is reinforced by the distinctive design of the interior. The new Focus has a modern, cockpit-style interior, with the stylish centre console wrapped around the driver and providing outstanding access to the vehicle’s major controls.
Ford’s latest-generation Human Machine Interface (HMI) system is used within the cockpit, with twin five-way toggle switches on the steering wheel controlling the two main vehicle displays located in the instrument cluster and high in the centre of the instrument panel.
The interior combines outstanding functionality with outstanding craftsmanship. The cabin’s bold and contemporary graphics, the sculptured shape of the soft-touch instrument panel and the choice of superior trim materials all help to give occupants the feeling that they are travelling in a premium-class car.

Smart technology enhances convenience and safety
The global scale of Ford’s small car program makes additional technologies and features more economically viable for cars in this segment. This unprecedented technology investment is aimed at ensuring the new Focus offers customers an exciting array of advanced features generally found only in larger, more expensive vehicles.
While the number of features offered in each market will vary according to local customer demand and acceptance, the full range of technologies has been engineered for the new Focus.
Smart innovations available on the all-new Focus for Australia include Active Park Assist, cruise control with Adjustable Speed Limiting Device (ASLD), keyless entry system with push button start and Adaptive Cruise Control.

Active Park Assist is a semi-automatic parallel parking system that uses sensors around the vehicle and the new Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) system to guide the vehicle into place. It measures the length and depth of the chosen parking space and then steers itself into position, while the driver controls the accelerator, brake and gear selection.

Passive safety features include a new generation of advanced air-bag restraint systems with driver and front passenger air-bags, side front air-bags and side curtain air-bags for front- and rear-seat occupants, as well as an exceptionally strong and light steel body-shell.

The new body-shell makes use of more high-strength steels than any previous Ford.
High strength steels comprise 55 per cent of the body shell and more than 26 per cent of the vehicle structure is formed from ultra high-strength and Boron steels. These advanced materials help the structure meet the most stringent crash legislation across world markets while minimising overall vehicle weight.

Unmatched driving quality
When it was introduced globally in 1998, the original Ford Focus brought new levels of agility and responsiveness to the small car segment. The next-generation Focus plans to raise the benchmark once more, targeting class-leading driving quality that blends outstanding steering precision and road feedback with significantly improved refinement and ride control.

Ford engineers have enhanced Focus' cornering stability and agility with the introduction of an advanced Torque Vectoring Control system, which is fitted as standard equipment.
The system behaves like a limited-slip differential to constantly balance the distribution of torque between the front wheels, which results in reduced understeer, improved traction and better turn-in. This technology has, up to now, typically only been available on premium sports vehicles.

Ford engineers have also retuned and enhanced the innovative suspension concepts from prior models, developing optimised new designs for the Control Blade Independent Rear Suspension (IRS) and the semi-isolated front subframe.
The new chassis design also now incorporates a completely new Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) system on mid- and high-series models, which has been tuned to deliver precise response at speed while remaining light and manoeuvrable for easy parking.


Spirited performance with outstanding economy
The engaging driver appeal of the new Ford Focus is magnified by a three-prong power-train range that delivers spirited performance and offers outstanding fuel economy and CO2 emissions.
The power-train line-up includes an all-new 2.0-litre GDi (gasoline direct injection) petrol engine that combines high-pressure direct injection and twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT) for enhanced performance and fuel efficiency
A completely updated 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi common rail turbo diesel engine is also part of the line-up. Both engines offer significant increases in power and torque compared to the outgoing model.

Both engines can also be matched to either a manual transmission – a five-speed manual with the GDi engine or six-speed manual with the TDCi engine – or the latest six-speed PowerShift automatic transmission, depending on the variant.
The third power-train comes in the form of a 1.6-litre Duratec Ti-VCT engine, which will be the fuel economy leader for the new Focus range, providing a reduction in fuel consumption of more than 15 per cent compared to the outgoing model.

Ford Focus – a history of success
With well over 10 million units sold since its initial launch in 1998, the Focus brand has been a tremendous success in markets around the world. Previous generations have been produced in Germany, Spain, USA, Mexico, China, Taiwan, Russia, Philippines, Vietnam and South Africa.
"The launch of the next-generation vehicle marks the start of an exciting new chapter for Focus in Australia," said Graziano.
"The all-new Focus is at the centre of a convergence for automotive trends. It was designed with an acute understanding of global customers yet it's tailored for each individual region, combining the best from Europe, North America and Asia to deliver a new level of emotional driving enjoyment.

"New Focus offers a desirable combination of dynamic design, outstanding driver appeal, affordable technology, quality craftsmanship and impressive fuel economy, which will not only delight our existing customers but also expand the appeal of the Focus brand to a whole new generation of Ford customers."



Source: Ford Media

[fou_bleu]

Glad to see we are finally getting a TOTR model with the Titanium!!!

[phillyc]

This August release date is a couple of months sooner than I had anticipated. Being produced in Saarlouis, Germany is something of a suprise too.

Wonder what level of sales Ford can get out of the new Gen 3 Focus? Current sales are about 1,000/mth. Could we see Focus steal some sales from the hugely popular Mazda3 and Corolla? Surely, 2,000/mth is not unrealistic in the near term which is another 1-1.5% market share for Ford, whilst stealing it from it's closest competitor Mazda.

By way of comparison. The old Fiesta was getting 500-700/mth and the new one is 1400-1500/mth now.

Really looking forward to when Focus launches. New style adverts?!

PS Titanium too. Just like Mondeo and new Territory. Falcon will get Titanium?

[Smoke Pursuit]

Lets hope build quality is better, but not coming from South Africa is a good start.

As always supply will be lagging for the first 6 months.

Ford's going to have a very nice line up of cars within the next 12 months!

[MickyB]

When will the Ecoboost/XR4? version come out? A friend is looking at picking up a new XR5, I'm guessing that it'll be worth holding out for the new one.

[kevino]

Built in Europe not Thailand. Higher tarriff-higher price.
Can see this being ,ore expensive than current model.
1.6 litre motor will be price leader I guess.

[Fordman1]

Initially from Europe - moving to Thailand next year.

Will be very well "contented". Great value.

[fou_bleu]

Still no mention of MyFord Touch for the Titanium, just the basic HMI in all the other models... Not so 'Titanium' without it...

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by 4RD4TW

Glad to see we are finally getting a TOTR model with the Titanium!!!

In the UK, they also have Titanium X model.

Anyone wanting a Focus XR5T had better hurry up and order one...

[R-Design]

The Focus & T6 Ranger are the last pieces in the puzzle as far as Fords model range is concerned.

If they can’t gain market share after these launches their sales results can be attributed to management, not product.

I love this car by the way, cant wait to see them go up against the Cruze.

[In Focus]

Get the pricing and advertising right on this, and it should eat into Cruze sales.

Actually, it should murder Cruze because it's a much better car, but we all know "Australia's own" will keep selling well - just because.

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by jpd80

In the UK, they also have Titanium X model.

Anyone wanting a Focus XR5T had better hurry up and order one...

Cant order havnt been able to for a long time.
I really do like this new car, in particular the tech that comes with it compared to the current Focus its leaps and bounds ahread. But the telling will be in the drive.
Well done Ford

[Road_Warrior]

Ford should market the crap out of this car and advertise it next to the Cruze just to show how dog ugly it (the Cruze) is. This thing should fly out the door.

[Joe5619]

Anyone know the fuel economy of the 2 engines? Hard to find this on the OS websites.

Seriously considering swapping my XR6T for one of these...

I'm loving the tech in these cars!!

[uranium_death]

They should push the fact that it is a European design and a sleek new design.

The Cruze in its own right is a decent car, but it look about as frumpy as Julia Gillard (even her 'secret outfit' couldn't make her look decent - it's the same as the Cruze) and contrary to what the majority of Australians want to believe, it's a lovely Korean design which is conservative...

[jpd80]

Key features on Titanium:

"Ford Power" engine start/stop button
Dual zone electronic air temperature control
Sony branded audio system
Cruise control with speed limiter
Deflation Detection System (DDS)
Rain sensing windscreen wipers
Automatic headlamp control
Auto-dimming rear view mirror
Rear lamps with LED technology
Passenger seat height and lumbar adjustment
Interior ambient lighting with LED technology and footwell courtesy lights
Rear armrest with stowage
Front and rear floor mats
High gloss black lower grille



Key features on Titanium-X:

17" alloy wheels
LED driving lamps
Leather trimmed seat bolsters
Heated front seats
Bi-Xenon headlights
Active park assist (including front and rear parking sensors)
Power folding door mirrors
Power operated driver seat
Interior ambient lighting with multi-colour LEDs

[Road_Warrior]

The 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel is available overseas in three different tunes: 85kW/300Nm, 103kW/320Nm and 120kW/340Nm. Ford Australia says the engine will offer a significant increase in power and torque, suggesting the 120kW/340Nm unit will be the one sold Down Under.

Well choke my chicken.

I remember when Commodores and Falcons came out with this sort of power and it was a big deal.

[stevz]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

Ford should market the crap out of this car and advertise it next to the Cruze just to show how dog ugly it (the Cruze) is. This thing should fly out the door.

Those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. I'm sure the new Focus is a technologically advanced vehicle, but IMHO it is fugly, bordering on vomit inducing.

I'm sorry, but I just can't see how this can be some sort of styling benchmark like people are making it out to be. The tail lights are twice as big as they should be for starters. I bet if it wasn't a Ford people here would be ridiculing it.

[Polyal]

The sedans have never been much chop, although this version is better. Everyone knows a real focus is a hatch..LOL