Since the launch of the Focus in 1998, the ‘best-selling vehicle’ nameplate in the world for two years running has sold more than 12 million vehicles globally. Due to its overwhelming response, Ford has introduced the refreshed Focus four-door sedan set to debut at next week’s 2014 New York Motor Show.
The new Focus sedan will be offered with an efficient 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine with a six-speed manual transmission in the U.S spec. The smallest engine in Ford’s growing EcoBoost family will come standard in the Focus with an Auto Start-Stop feature that automatically shuts down the engine at stops and instantly turns it back on at take-off.
Just like the facelift Fiesta, the new Focus sedan now comes with the Aston Martin-inspired grille along with the signature LED lighting for headlamps and taillamps, new rear lamp clusters and a restyled trunk lid.
Inside, colours and materials have a clean, modern look, with satin chrome detailing, new seat trims and switches, and an available heated steering wheel. A new centre console incorporating adjustable cup holders improves storage capacity.
A package of sensors brings a new level of convenience for compact car customers by adding driver-assist technologies, including a rear view camera, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) and a lane-keeping system.
Apart from that, the new Ford Focus sedan benefits from suspension and chassis upgrades. These include a new shock absorber valve design providing improved interior quietness, and a change to the rear suspension to give drivers a more connected feel to the road. The electric power-assisted steering has been retuned to make the driver feel even more connected to the road.
The new Ford Focus sedan will be assembled in eight manufacturing plants on four continents. This includes Germany, the United States, Russia, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan and Argentina. The combined capacity-build is more than 1.5 million units annually at a rate of more than two per second. Ford also mentioned that China is responsible for more than one out of three Focus vehicles sold globally, where demand for the Ford Focus in China rose more than 50% in 2013 to 403,219 vehicles.
