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By
EWAN KENNEDY
13 November 2006
Ford Focus is finally starting to make the sort of numbers it has
always deserved in the sales race. A combination of less challenging
styling than in the previous model, a swing towards smaller cars due to
fuel prices have certainly played a major part. But there's a third
factor in the focus on Focus, one that’s, perhaps, the most important
of all, a willingness by people within Ford to think of themselves
working for something other than the Falcon-car-company.
Despite its less radical shape this is still an attractive car
with plenty to say in the styling stakes. It has good proportions
and enough interesting details inside and out to make it fresh and
European in its looks.
Though Ford of Germany designed this new Focus, it had
significant input from engineers in other countries, including
Australia, from the earliest stages of the design process.
In particular, our local engineers had a lot to do with the
suspension setup. Focus underwent secret road testing in Australia
for two years before going on sale, with a lot of attention being
paid to the suspension’s ability to handle rough bush roads.
There was also considerable emphasis on hot-weather testing of
the Focus in the outback The result is a small-medium car that’s
very much suited to local Australia conditions, be it in the bush
or the ‘burbs.
Ford Focus is bigger than ever before and, though it’s
technically classed as a small car for statistical purposes, is
closing on many medium-sized competitors.
So there's good interior space, meaning that Focus can be used
as a family machine with a little bit of compromise in seat
spacing. The front seats are comfortable, with plenty of
adjustments and are well suited to long trips, even on rough
roads.
Boot space is most impressive, particularly in the sedan and
the space advantages of not having a differential under the floor
and the use of a space-saver tyre mean the Focus sedan’s boot is
similar in volume to that of the Ford Falcon.
All Australian Focus models have a 2.0-litre engine. It’s a
new design and is smooth and refined in the way it delivers power.
Torque is reasonably strong and the spread is good across the
everyday rev range.
However, if you’re a Falcon driver who’s considering moving
down a car size it may not have the sort of lowdown grunt you’re
accustomed to. If that’s the initial impression it makes sense
to go for a long test drive rather than just a quick punt around
the block.
The manual has a lovely shift action that belies the fact this
is a front-drive car. Our European cousins still prefer a manual
to an automatic in this class, partly because they want to save
fuel, but chiefly because they really do love to drive.
Our week’s testing on a Focus five-speed showed typical fuel
consumption of about 10 to 11 litres per hundred kilometres in
suburban running. On the open road this dropped to eight to nine
litres which is pretty good for a car of this size with a petrol
engine.
The steering and suspension are beautiful to sit behind making
Focus a great family car for the keen driver. There's plenty of
feedback through the steering and it can be tossed at corners with
the knowledge that it will look after you and feel safe and
predictable. Not there aren't limits of course, the laws of
physics will always win in the end if you do something really
stupid.
Yet it achieves this sporting feel and delightful handling
without any loss of comfort. Some bad backroads may test the
suspension, but the local design work is obvious and Focus really
does feel at home on country trips.
The sporting model in the Focus range, the Zetec, has slightly
firmer suspension than the rest of the models, as well as changes
to the steering geometry to give it extra urge during sharp
turn-in. In reality only the full-on enthusiastic driver is likely
to need this variant as the rest of the Focus range already has
such good dynamics.
Build quality is pretty good, though perhaps not quite to the
high standards set by the Japanese marques. There were no real
rough spots in Focus' interior and nary a whisper of a squeak or
rattle.
Ford is pushing hard on the second-generation Focus and
Australian buyers are responding in a positive manner. It will be
interesting to see if Focus can reach sales levels of its number
one competitor, the Holden Astra, the latter having had quite a
head start in the push by a local maker to market European
machines.
AT A GLANCE
MODEL RANGE
CL 2.0-litre five-door hatch - $20,990
CL 2.0-litre four-door sedan - $20,990
LX 2.0-litre five-door hatch - $24,990
LX 2.0-litre four-door sedan - $24,990
Zetec 2.0-litre five-door hatch - $27,490
Ghia 2.0-litre four-door sedan - $30,990
XR5 2.0-litre turbo five-door hatch - $35,990
FEATURES
ABS Brakes: Not offered on CL, standard on all other models
Air Conditioning: Standard on all models
Automatic Transmission: Standard on Ghia, not offered on XR5,
$2000 option on all other models
CD Player: Standard on all models
Central Locking: Standard on all models
Cruise Control: Not offered in CD, standard on all other models
Driver Airbag: Standard on all models
Passenger Airbag: Standard on all models
Front Side Airbags: Not offered on CL, standard on all other
models
SPECIFICATIONS (Ford Focus LX 2.0-litre five-door hatch)
ENGINE:
Capacity: 1.999 litres
Configuration: Four cylinders in line
Head Design: DOHC, four valves per cylinder
Compression Ratio: 10.8:1
Bore/Stroke: 87.5 x 83.1mm
Maximum Power: 107kW @ 6000rpm
Maximum Torque: 185Nm @ 4500rpm
DRIVELINE:
Driven Wheels: Front
Manual Transmission: Five-speed
Automatic Transmission: Four-speed
Final Drive Ratio: 4.06:1
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4341mm
Wheelbase: 2640mm
Width: 1840mm
Height: 1443mm
Turning Circle: 10.7 metres
Kerb Mass: 1301kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 55 litres
Towing Ability: 900kg with braked trailer
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: Independent, MacPherson struts, lower L-arms,
coil springs, anti-roll bar
Rear Suspension: Control blade independent
Front Brakes: Ventilated disc
Rear Brakes: Disc
PERFORMANCE:
0-100 km/h Acceleration: 10.8 secs
Standing 400 Metres: 17.9 secs
FUEL CONSUMPTION/EMISSION RATINGS:
Fuel Type: Petrol 91RON
Fuel Consumption - Combined Cycle (ADR 81/01): 7.1 L/100km
STANDARD WARRANTY:
Three years/100,000km
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Marque Publishing Company
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