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| Ciaran McMahon of Ford Ireland with the new Ford Focus 5-dr hatchback |
It’s been 20 years since Ford introduced its mid-size Focus model. Since then, it has been the Blue Oval’s best selling car, becoming part of our national street scape having clocked up over 129,000 sales, writes Trish Whelan.
So one in every 20 cars sold in Ireland was a Focus model.
Despite being in run-off mode, the current Focus topped the sales charts here for the month of August.
The all-new Focus 5-door hatchback has now arrived in the brand’s dealerships in Ireland priced from €24,900 - €37,330. It competes in the C-segment which has seen a 20pc drop in sales this year alone and is no longer the largest segment in the Irish marketplace.
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| The Focus ST-Line version |
With this latest model, Ford engineers collaborated closely with car buyers to develop the new hatch and wagon, and each has been given its own personality.
At the new model’s launch today to the motoring press at Barberstown Castle in Straffan, Ciaran McMahon, Chairman and Managing Director of Ford Ireland said this new Focus ‘delivers more style, space and advanced driving technologies for mid-size family car customers than ever before’.
“Our all-new Ford Focus is the pinnacle of technology and driving appeal in its segment. In spite of the rise of the SUV over the last few years, Focus is consistently in the top 10 for car sales in Ireland.
Grades are Zetec, ST-Line, Titanium, and the upscale Vignale.
The entry level model comes with 16-inch alloys, LED DTRLs, 6.5-inch SYNC 3 with Android Auto & Apple CarPlay; selectable drive modes; cruise control with lane-keeping aid; pre-collision assist including vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.
The sporty ST-Line adds 17-inch sport alloys; ST-Line body kit; twin polished tail pipes; large rear spoiler; keyless start; interior sports trim; sports suspension; and ST-Line scuff plates.
Titanium adds front and rear parking sensors; 8-inch SYNC 3; Ford Pass Connect embedded modem; keyless entry and start, and LED rear lamps.
Vignale adds 18-inch alloys and unique body-styling, B&O Play, full leather seats, the head up display, privacy glass, and Vignale chrome tail pipes.
A Focus Active crossover model, due here early 2019, features rugged sports utility styling that includes raised ride-height, roof bars and additional cladding.
Petrol prices start at €24,990; diesels are from €26,800. A wagon Focus will arrive in about six weeks’ time, priced from €26,000.
Powertrains include Ford’s multi-award-winning 1.0 EcoBoost petrol engine (125hp) which has been improved to deliver from 4.8 L/100kms fuel efficiency and €190 road tax; and the company’s new 1.5 EcoBoost diesel engine (120hp) that delivers from 3.6 L/100kms and €180 road tax. Six-speed manual and a new eight-speed automatic gearbox are offered.
The sporty Focus silhouette is the most aerodynamic in its class. The styling includes a long bonnet and muscular rear haunches and each model is different from others with unique elements including satin aluminium details for the Vignale exterior; large spoiler and open front apertures for the ST-Line; and contrast silver front and rear skid plates for the Active.
Inside, simple, clean lines, upmarket materials and integrated surfaces give for a more calming experience. Front doors now flow fluidly behind the instrument panel for a wrap-around effect and soft touch materials give a more premium feel. Vignale gets fine-grain wood-effect finishes and premium leather, the ST-Line has sporty carbon fibre-effect finishes and red stitching, while the Active version has more rugged, textured materials and surfaces.
There’s also more inside space for passengers and luggage with class-leading knee room for rear seat passengers. There’s also more shoulder room in the rear. An openable panoramic roof lets light flood into the cabin.
The new Focus is crammed with new technologies.
Advanced driver assistance technologies make driving a Focus on motorways, in stop-start traffic and in town easier than before. These include Adaptive Cruise Control, Stop & Go, Speed Sign Recognition, and lane centring. Other systems are Ford’s Adaptive Front Lighting System with Predictive curve light and Sign-based light for the first time pre-adjusts headlamps for maximum visibility before reaching a curve, junction or roundabout using a forward-facing camera to monitor lane markings up to 65 metres ahead. The Glare-free high beam means you don’t accidentally dazzle other drivers at night.
Focus is also the first Ford vehicle in Europe to offer a Head-up display (HUD).
Another system makes parking easier by controlling forward and reverse gear selection, throttle and braking, as well as steering and automatically manoeuvres the car into perpendicular parking spaces and parallel spaces just 1.1 metres longer than the car.
FordPass Connect onboard modem technology turns the car into a mobile WiFi hotspot with connectivity for up to 10 devices. This technology also enables Live Traffic updates for the navigation system and, using the FordPass mobile app, drivers can easily locate their car in a shopping mall car park, or check fuel levels, remotely lock and unlock their car, and even start it remotely.
There’s no need to bring along a charging cable for your smartphone as a new wireless charging pad (for compatible smartphones) means your devices can stay connected via Bluetooth to Ford’s SYNC 3 communications and entertainment system while charging. It’s compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. SYNC 3 allows you control audio, navigation and climate functions plus connected smartphones using pinch and swipe gestures on the -inch touchscreen and simple voice commands.
Ford Ireland expect to sell between 3,500-4,000 units of new Focus in a full year.
