DRIVE TALKING

What’s hot on the road

CHANGE OF FOCUS

THE all-new Ford Focus arrives in showrooms shortly, with two new variants on offer: the upmarket Vignale and the Focus Active, due early in 2019 and, like its Fiesta counterpart, a more SUV-like bodystyle. It also has new driver assistance technologies to help drivers see more clearly in the dark, to park using a single button, and for accident avoidance and mitigation.

There’s also the option of an onboard modem for internet connectivity. There’s an extra five centimetres of space between the front and rear wheels, and this has been used to offer best-in-class knee clearance for rearseat passengers. Pricing will start at €24,900, and the car initially will be available in Zetec, ST-Line, Titanium and Vignale trims. Powertrains will include the award-winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol (123hp) and 1.5-litre diesel (118hp). All models come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a minimum 6.5-inch touchscreen display, cruise control, selectable drive modes and pre-collision assist.

ROLLS-ROYCE ON A ROLL

THE global economy clearly is recovering, as sales of Rolls-Royce cars rose by 13% in the first six months of the year, compared with the same period in 2017. Demand is steady in Europe and the US, and while there are signs of recovery in China, sales in the Middle East slowed.