With the boom in C-SUVs comes a pan-European decline in the segment's traditional four and five door models. Ford is looking to hold on to its market share by adding an Active crossover model to its redesigned Focus range from next year.
Helmet Reder, Focus vehicle line director for Ford of Europe, said emphasis had also been placed on the wagon model currently being rolled out with the rest of the line-up – although still to come – in autumn – is an upscale Vignale version.
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He said: "The passenger C car segment is in decline but the market for wagons is growing, particularly in Germany, France and the UK so we were motivated to make a good wagon. While people want load capacity and practicality, they do not want boxy and square – they want sleek and sexy. There is a long history of wagons in Ford and we have concentrated on small details. For example the tonneau cover can be removed with one hand, the floor has been lowered and there are fold out hooks all round the cargo space."
The attention to detail was echoed by design director Amko Leenarts who believes the Focus is the best car he has been involved with.
He said: "We have been obsessed with detail, if you add up all the hours put in by every member of the design team it would span 12 years. This means we have been able to achieve a longer wheelbase, a lower, wider body and shorter overhangs all without increasing the size of the car.
"Interior space has been increased by pushing the instrument panel forward and lowering the centre console which has given us more shoulder and knee room. We have also reduced complexity with 50% fewer buttons."
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By GlobalDataPowertrain choices include the latest version of Ford's I3 1-litre EcoBoost and a new 1.5-litre I3 EcoBoost petrol engine, both with cylinder deactivation.
There are new 1.5- and two-litre EcoBlue diesels and a new intelligent eight -speed automatic transmission which apparently adapts shift patterns to suit driving style.
The Focus has lost none of its fine handling and now feels even smoother and tighter even over rough surfaces.
The 1.5-litre 3-cylinder petrol is an outstanding engine, pulling cleanly and evenly without any intrusive noise or vibration – not a lot to choose between that or the I4 1.5-litre diesel.
Lead-in model is the Focus Style with 16-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, DAB digital radio with Bluetooth and emergency assist, electronic parking brake, autonomous emergency braking, tyre pressure monitoring, hill start assist and lane-keeping.
The Zetec adds Ford's SYNC3 DAB radio with a 6.5-in touchscreen and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto functionality, cruise control, front fog lights and heated windscreen.
Titanium gets front and rear parking sensors, heated front seats, dual zone climate control, keyless entry and start, a larger eight-inch colour touchscreen, satnav and FordPass Connect wireless connectivity.
The Titanium X has partial leather trim, a power adjustable driver's seat, privacy glass and 17-inch alloys. The sporty ST-Line and ST-Line X (GBP21,570 and GBP24,050) add mainly go-faster styling tweaks and 18-in alloys on the X.
The Vignale features the larger wheels, full LED lighting front and rear, leather upholstery, head up display, rear view camera, heated steering wheel and 675-watt, 10-speaker B&O Play Premium Audio.
Options include Speed Sign Recognition, Adaptive Front Lighting with predictive curve light, automatic high beam lowering, Parking Assist, Pre-collision Assist with pedestrian and cyclist protection, Evasive Steering Assist, Blind Spot monitoring and Post Collision Braking which can several thousands of pounds to the price if all the boxes are ticked for the various items either singly or in packs.
