2015 Ford Focus

1. 2015 Ford Focus

   Compact car
3. it's '88 years from orchestral work of Converse, Flivver ten million, has been run before. Inspired by Arthur Honegger's Pacific 231, a composition of a steam locomotive, the work of Converse was a celebration of 10 million Ford to be produced and has been divided into five movements that begin with sunrise in Detroit and ends portentously, with May night on the edge of the road. It's actually pretty good.

   Ford, who then took possession of the term Flivver for its cars cheap, do not do a lot of music Converse these days, but could easily have played this piece at the launch of the new version of the Focus last week. Since its launch in 1998, this family sedan has reached a total production of 12 million over three generations. A sweet 16, the Focus is a car world in almost every aspect, built in eight plants, sold in 140 countries, with 6.9 million sold in Europe (1.5 million of those in the UK). Depending on who counts, this is both a Mk3 or Mk4 facelifted Focus.

   We'll go with the former. The tailgate and bonnet are printed simpler, while the front grille and rear and bottom panels are cleaner, with far fewer mouths. The dashboard is more smooth, made of the best materials, with a smaller number of keys of confusion (also thanks to the introduction of the control system of Ford Sync2 voice activation). The seats are upholstered in tapestry best artificial and center console has been the subject of advanced engineering storage drink that some people might declare as simple cupholders.

   
   

   On the frame there is a bit 'of strengthening to make the machine more rigid, a series of new shock absorbers with valves advanced and the changes to the suspension bushings to reduce unwanted movement of the wheel under load. There are also two new engines, a diesel and petrol, both turbocharged and displacing 1.5 liters.

   
   

   Other than that it's the same focus old, same curb weight, the same interior space, the same as a bit 'too small boot. Sounds simple? It is not, because it is a car of mass market sales to fleet managers and astute audiences. So there are sedans, hatchbacks and estates, in six trim levels, with a choice of six engines, all with at least two levels of power and of five and six-speed transmissions over a semi-automatic. Obsolete combinations engine / transmission, as the 84bhp, 1.6 liter petrol stay of five-speed on the list, which gives the range a superficially attractive initial price 13.995 pounds.

   What you probably need to know is that the vast majority of sales will be the 1.0-liter, three-cylinder Ecoboost petrol existing engine with 98 or 123bhp, price (in mediocre Zetec trim) to £ 18.295 and £ 18.795, respectively, or the new 1.5 TDCi four-cylinder diesel with 94 or 118bhp price (in style and Zetec trim respectively) to £ 17.995 and 19.495 pounds. Confusingly, the old 1.6-liter diesel is derived from continues to be offered, too.

   
   

   Ford has not had a 1.5 diesel available for us to try, so we drove the new 1.5 petrol EcoBoost petrol instead. This will occupy only 1.5 percent of sales in the UK Focus and the 180bhp version will occupy only 30 percent of the 1.5 per cent, so that is going to be a rare car. It 'a nice engine, however, redolent of Essex engines of a time with a strong mid-range (177 pounds ft of torque), a throaty roar induction contagious and good figures on paper consumption and emissions 50.4mpg average Band D (127g / km). Hard drive and you can almost double the official consumer.

   "If there is anything that the Focus is, you are driving dynamics," said Rainer Wode, Focus project manager, at the launch. Too right it is; 16 years ago the Focus has stunned the world with his agility and pure driving pleasure and later models have kept the torch lit too

   
   

   First impressions are that the new Focus feels as if the ride height has been raised by a centimeter. He did not, but the body moves more on the bumps, the wheels seem to have more travel and the whole car feels more lively. Comfort is definitely better, especially over small bumps nibbly that in previous machine will feed their way into the car as vibrations, but the management has lost a smidgeon its accuracy in the process. The steering does not feel just as scrupulously accurate and control of the body, while still good, not quite have that quality tied-down as before.

   
   

   
   

   The focus is still the leader of the group, but its dynamism was a little diluted in this renewal.

   
   

   THE FACTS

   Ford Focus 1.5 EcoBoost Titanium X

   
   

   TESTED

   1,499cc, four-cylinder petrol engine with turbocharger, manual six-speed gearbox, front-wheel drive

   
   

   PRICE / SALE

   23.250 pounds as tested, range £ 13,995- £ 23.520 / November

   
   

   POWER / TORQUE

   180bhp @ 6,000rpm

   £ 177 ft @ 1,600rpm

   
   

   TOP SPEED

   138 mph

   
   

   ACCELERATION

   0-62mph in 8.8sec

   
   

   FUEL ECONOMY

   39.8mpg / 50.4mpg EU urban / combined

   
   

   CO2 EMISSIONS

   127g / km

   
   

   VED BAND

   D (£ 0 first year, £ 110 thereafter)

   
   

   VERDICT

   Very necessary reorganization for the body, a pair of new capabilities for existing engines, and a dashboard talk. The new Focus is like the old fire, great handling, useful and good to drive, but Ford needs to look at the competition because it is incredibly strong