Three years after the introduction of the current generation of Ford Focus, it was the turn of the facelift. The modernized Ford Focus was shown to the general public for the first time at the 2014 Geneva International Motor Show, and we did the first kilometers in this popular middle-class car in the eastern part of the Greek Peloponnese. These are our first impressions.
The front of the car has undergone the biggest changes. We will recognize the refreshed Focus at first sight by the elongated lights, new bumpers and a new radiator grille. Know more about Golf 4.
On the design side, we can say that the modernized Focus has gained a new corporate identity. The 2015 Ford Focus has a redesigned front end, in the style of an Aston Martin vehicle. Everything is designed in the spirit of a new design direction called One Ford , from an attractive front bumper, wide hexagonal radiator grille, elongated light clusters irresistibly reminiscent of those we saw on the new Mondeo, to the new “hood”, which is more compact. A “pillar of a car.
The live car looks more elegant and mature than ever. True, the biggest changes have been made to the front, while changes in the rear of the car will be noticed only by better connoisseurs of cars of this brand – new graphics of light groups and discreetly changed the fifth door, ie the part above the license plate. “Our” car was also equipped with attractive 17-inch diameter wheels, on which 215/50 R17 tires were mounted .
Only good “connoisseurs” of Focus will notice the changes at the back. The light groups are new and the fifth door has been redesigned. It is a pity that the classic large antenna on the roof has not been changed within the facelift. It could be integrated into a window, like the Golf.
Interior
Modernized Ford Focus comes to us with a refreshed interior, richer equipment and better quality materials. The center console has been redesigned, and between the front seats it is possible to put bottles and cups of different diameters. We haven’t tried it, but Ford says that it is possible to put a 1 liter bottle or a cup up to 0.4 liters in the console. Between the seat and the central tunnel, there is a classic parking brake lever. At the top of the center console, attention is drawn to the eight-inch diameter touchscreen display, through which the SYNC 2 system can be “commanded”. The volume of luggage space remained at the same modest level, we can say below the competition average – 277 liters, or 363 liters, if the car is not equipped with a spare wheel.
The Ford Focus also boasts new engines. We were especially interested in the 1.5 EcoBoost, a turbo gasoline engine with direct fuel injection into the cylinder, so we will start from it. Although a 110 kW version is also available, in Greece we had the opportunity to test the most powerful version of this unit, which develops 134 kW (182 hp) at 6,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 240 Nm, available in a wide range of speeds of 1,600 up to 5,000 rpm. We can pay tribute to the engineers, because it was certainly not easy to get this much power from 1.5 liters of volume. What we immediately noticed, and which is not common for turbo-petrol engines, is the linear development of power. This means that there is enough torque in low mode, but there is always enough “reserves” for sporty driving. For something like that, we can also thank the optimally measured transmission ratios in the six-speed gearbox, more precisely the shorter second and third gears. We used the sixth gear on the highway, where at a speed of 130 km / h, the engine runs at 2,750 rpm. This way, the motorized Focus needs 8.6 seconds from a standstill to 100 km / h, and the maximum speed is 224 km / h.
The modernized Ford Focus has been given a revised suspension. There is a new control system with electronic amplifier, and softer shock absorbers, springs and silent-block housings are also new. Although the winding roads around the city of Nafplio (the first capital of modern Greece) are in excellent condition, we can say that the comfort is at an enviable level and can be compared to the best in the segment. Given that softer shock absorbers also contribute to comfort, we wondered how this affected the “behavior” of the car in corners. Everything remained at the expected level – the car is “communicative”, the management is precise, and the sports DNA is somewhat preserved, although due to the softer shock absorbers it is somewhat more moderate than before.
Goran Sarić, the editor of the Automagazin portal, tried the improved Focus on winding roads along the coast of the Gulf of Corinth.
Considering that the third generation of the Focus model has only been modernized, it should be said that the new generation would not be ashamed of some changes. Design changes have made the Focus more elegant and attractive, and the new engines, which meet Euro 6 environmental standards, offer an optimal balance of driving dynamics and economy.
Focus is a key model for the brand with a blue oval in the sign. Since the introduction of the first generation on the market in 1998, 12 million copies of this car have been sold worldwide, of which 6.9 million in Europe. Ford can also boast of the fact that the Focus is currently the best-selling car in the world.
