Ford released the official details and specs of the new Focus facelift after the first pictures of the car leaked out to the web over the weekend. Set to go on sale in the second half of the year as a 2015 model, the new Ford Focus comes with a new face, advanced technology features, and a host of fuel-efficient engines.
The engine lineup for the 2015 Ford Focus includes the award-winning 1.0 liter EcoBoost unit; an engine so cleverly designed its block fits on a piece of A4 paper. In the Focus it comes in two 100 and 125 PS versions. The other EcoBoost engine offered is a 1.5 liter unit available in 150 and 180 PS guises. The last petrol option is a 1.6 liter TI-VCT, with 85, 105, or 125 PS output.
Alternative fuels to run the new Focus on include diesel – with a choice of 1.5L ECOnetic, 1.6 liter TDCi, and a 2.0 liter TDCi, power ranging from 105 to 150 PS – and electricity. The Focus Electric has the equivalent of 145 PS. All engines can be mated to either a six-speed manual or an automatic PowerShift, except for the Focus Electric which comes with a single-speed automatic.
Design-wise, the 2015 Ford Focus features a lower, wider stance, with a new bonnet, front fascia and grille. The new headlights make the car look like a hatchback version of the Fusion/Mondeo, which isn’t a bad thing at all. The interior design is revised too, but the main upgrades here are in terms of technology, with the addition of the SYNC 2 infotainment system.
The system comes with a high-resolution, 8-inch colour touch screen and advanced voice control for easier access to audio, navigation, climate control and compatible mobile phones. What’s more, the 2015 Ford Focus gets advanced driving technologies such as Perpendicular Parking, a new hands-free parking technology that helps drivers reverse into spaces alongside other cars, Active City Stop collision avoidance system, and Pre-Collision Assist system.
2015 Ford Focus launches with two hatchback and estate body styles. Later on, hotted-up ST and RS versions will be added to the range in Europe, while some markets such as Russia and Brazil will get a four-door sedan version of the car as well.
