Racy hatch: Ford’s new Focus gets a variety of body styles and engines
C-segment family car comes with a variety of body styles and engines, but Thai sales are unlikely this time.
That’s quite a racy-looking hatch! Ford has just taken the wraps off the fourth-generation Focus in Europe this week, in several guises: five-door hatchback, estate, sedan and a mild-looking SUV called Active.
Along with this, the all-new Focus can be specified with four available trims: Trend, Titanium, sport ST-Line and classy Vignale. The model you see here in official pictures is the hatch with that racy-looking ST-Line package.
Underpinning the C-segment Focus is Ford’s C2 platform, which is also shared with the smaller B-segment Fiesta. Ford says torsional stiffness has increased by 20% when compared with the third-gen model.
The 53mm-longer wheelbase for enhanced interior space is another upgrade. The cabin gets a simpler fascia design to accommodate an 8-inch touchscreen operating the brand’s Sync 3 infotainment options. There’s also a wireless charging tray for smartphones.
What engines are on the menu?
The petrol-turbo engines include a 1.0-litre three-cylinder producing 85hp, 100hp or 125hp, plus a new all-aluminium 1.5-litre four-pot with output of either 150hp or 182hp.
The diesel-turbo motors, meanwhile, comprise a 95hp/120hp 1.5-litre three-pot and a 150hp 2.0-litre.
Replacing the outgoing six-speed torque-converter automatic is a new eight-speed that claims to improve fuel efficiency by 10%. Its operation is now done via a knob on the centre console, similar to those found in Land Rovers and Jaguars.
A plethora of driver-assist features are available to help give the new Focus Level 2 driving autonomy.
One highlight is the second-generation park-assist system that can now automatically choose the gear, accelerate and brake upon the push of a button. The other is evasive steering assist to help the driver avoid obstacles.
Why isn’t it coming to Thailand?
Since the midlife facelift, the third-gen Focus was only available in one body and one grade: five-door hatchback with just a 180hp 1.5-litre Ecoboost petrol engine, priced at slightly over 1 million baht. Because of that price point, it couldn’t generate serious sales.
Sources say the new Focus is unlikely to come to Thai showrooms, now that Ford has made it clear that it doesn’t intend to sell passenger cars any more. The company recently axed plans to produce the latest Fiesta as an eco- car in Thailand. Like Chevrolet, the Thai Ford office will probably concentrate on pickups and SUVs. Aside from the slow- selling MG6, the only other C- segment family cars sold in Thailand with prices starting below 1 million baht are the Honda Civic, the Mazda 3, the Nissan Sylphy/ Pulsar and the Toyota Corolla Altis. All of this is a pity. Consumer choice has narrowed yet again, leaving the Thai C- segment dance floor to major Japanese brands alone.