Heading for dealership floors Down Under from December, the four-model Focus line-up will offer the option of a five-door hatch or estate, in three trim levels and with power coming from a single EcoBoost engine.
Riding on the marque’s new C2 platform, the range kicks-off with the Trend priced at $25 990 (R279 118), and comes with items such as an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system with SYNC 3, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and satellite navigation, 16-inch alloy wheels, climate control, auto on/off wipers, daytime running LEDs, leather wrapped steering wheel and gear knob, automatic lights, a six-speaker sound system and an auto-dimming rear view mirror.
On the safety-side, the Trend features Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection, reverse camera with parking sensors, Lane Keep Assist and Hill Start Assist.
Moving on up, and available as either a hatch ($28 990 - R311 336) or estate ($30 990 - R332 815), the sporty ST-Line, apart from its model specific bodykit, adds 17-inch alloys, a 10mm drop in ride height, cornering LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry, a flat-bottom steering wheel, wireless smartphone charger and a Tyre Pressure monitor.
Available as an option on both trim levels, the so-called Drive Assistance Package, priced $1 250 (R13 424), comes with Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Information and Evasive Steering Assist, while on the ST-Line, the Design Pack ($1 800 - R19 331) adds Adaptive Headlights, LED interior lighting and running LED indicators. An additional $2 000 (R21 478) meanwhile nets a panoramic sunroof.
Limited to the hatch like the Trend, the top-spec Titanium ($34 490 - R 370 403) boasts a nine-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, High Beam Assist, leather seats with the fronts being heated, ambient lighting and on the safety front, Adaptive Cruise Control with Road Sign Recognition and Lane-Centring, Blind Spot Information with Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Evasive Steering Assist.
Buyers wanting more can specify the Titanium with Heads-Up Display for an additional $300 (R3 221), the same panoramic sunroof as the ST-Line and the Active Park Assist 2 system priced at $1 000 (R10 739).
Up front, motivation for the Focus comes from the upgraded 1.5 EcoBoost motor making 134kW/240Nm, mated to the Blue Oval’s new rotary dial eight-speed automatic gearbox with paddle shifters. Reportedly due to poor sales, the Focus will not be offered with the range of new EcoBlue turbodiesel mills, the smaller 1.0 EcoBoost or the six-speed manual ‘box.
While Ford South Africa is only expected to announce spec and pricing details next year, the Focus will likely come as the hatch with the EcoBoost only, but with either the manual or automatic ‘box.
