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Ford's refreshed Focus gains new styling, enhanced features

Pretoria – Customers in the market for a C-segment hatchback or sedan now have the choice of an even broader, more advanced and alluring range of Ford Focus models matched to a segment-defining array of new features.

The latest additions to the Focus Trend Styling Pack, available for the five-door hatch, include an exciting new body styling kit and a factory-fitted sunroof, which adds a whole new dimension of visual appeal. Significantly, the updated Driver Assistance Pack includes Ford’s new SYNC®3 infotainment system with embedded navigation.

Fans of diesel performance and fuel economy will be delighted by the introduction of the latest-generation 1.5-litre Duratorq TDCi engine in sedan and hatchback guise, as a replacement for the outgoing 1.6 TDCi engine. The Focus ST and range-topping Focus RS also benefit from equipment upgrades.

“The Ford Focus has always been a trend-setting model in the highly competitive C-segment, offering outstanding design, refinement, performance, and value for money,” says Tracey Delate, General Manager, Marketing – Ford Motor Company Sub-Saharan Africa Region.

“We have raised the bar further with the new additions to our Focus range, from the eye-catching body styling kit and sunroof added for the Trend Styling Pack to the segment-defining capabilities of the SYNC®3 with Navigation infotainment system which is available for the first time in South Africa in the Driver Assistance Pack.”

“The introduction of the sophisticated 1.5-litre TDCi turbodiesel engine is noteworthy too, although it will be available in limited numbers,” Delate says. “This expands our Focus range to a total of 19 derivatives, starting off with the impressive 1.0 EcoBoost to the sporty Focus ST and the exhilarating Focus RS.”

Efficient performance

Ford says its sophisticated new 1.5-litre TDCi turbodiesel engine makes its debut in the Focus to replace the outgoing 1.6 TDCi.

The 1.5 TDCi engine produces a peak power output of 88kW, allied to an impressive 270Nm from 1 750 to 2 500r/min, linked to a slick-shifting six-speed manual transmission.

Trend Styling Pack

Ford claims the Focus gains even greater visual appeal with an updated and expanded Styling Pack, available as an option on the Trend five-door models only. With a greater measure of sporty and aggressive design cues – clearly emulating its bigger brother, the Focus ST – the pack incorporates an attractive new full colour-coded body styling kit, along with a racy rear spoiler, plus the added attraction of an electrically-operated tilt and slide sunroof.

Striking multi-spoke 17-inch wheels further enhance the athletic stance, while the lower profile tyres up the ante in the handling department.

The standard Focus headlights make way for top-end Bi-Xenon HID units derived from the Focus ST3. These incorporate dynamic cornering beam functionality as well as distinctive LED daytime running lights.

This is complemented by heated and folding power mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control and rear privacy glass.

Driver Assistance Pack

The Driver Assistance Pack, which is available on four and five-door Trend models, has now been upgraded significantly with the introduction Ford’s pioneering SYNC®3 infotainment system, which includes embedded navigation.

Fully integrated SYNC®3 with Navigation provides advanced turn-by-turn navigation with an elevated 3D map view, enhanced full colour graphics and points of interest (POI) that can be selected with voice commands. Destinations can be entered via the simple one-box search by typing the address, POI category, intersection, city, post code or GPS coordinates. The search function is predictive, with results appearing as the information is typed.

Customers will receive free annual map updates for a period of five years. Additionally, text and voice guidance are available in a multitude of languages, comprising Afrikaans, Arabic, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Zulu.

Compared to the previous-generation SYNC®2 system, SYNC®3 provides faster performance, a brighter capacitive eight-inch colour touch screen with clearer icons and convenient multi-touch gestures (such as swipe, slide, scroll and pinch-to-zoom), plus voice recognition that uses simple, real-world voice commands.

The enhanced Driver Assistance Pack also incorporates several other trend-setting features, comprising Advanced Active Park Assist for hands-free perpendicular and parallel parking, Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keeping Aid, as well as an integrated rearview camera.

Enhanced specification for ST and RS

The performance models in the Focus range benefit from enhanced equipment levels too, with rear parking sensors now standard fitment on the Focus ST1 and high-spec ST3 versions, and on the mighty Focus RS. A reverse camera is now included in the Focus ST3 spec as standard.

SYNC®3 with Navigation and a high-series 10-speaker sound system with built-in sub-woofer are available as options in the Focus ST3 and Focus RS.


Package costs

Trend Styling pack with Sunroof – R19 984
Trend Driver Assistance Pack with Navigation – R17 089

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