Home Test Drives & Reviews Ford Focus – 3rd Generation tested in Krabi, Thailand

Ford Focus – 3rd Generation tested in Krabi, Thailand

Test Drives & Reviews

by Kon - Jul 27, 2012

The Ford Ranger T6 launched in June marked the start of an 18-month period in which the Malaysian market will be stormed by the arrival of six all-new and facelifted Ford models. Second vehicle of that six will be the third generation Focus, which is scheduled for a September launch in Malaysia.

First two model generations of the Focus were highly-regarded for their exemplary dynamics, and were well-received in Europe. North America, meanwhile, had a completely different and mechanically-unrelated vehicle that wears the Focus nameplate, although both are C-segment cars. Under the new global One Ford strategy, however, the European and North America Focus are now one and the same, with over 80% part commonality.

Our hatchback test cars had 17-in rims, and felt tighter compared to the sedan.

Zooming into the Malaysian market, the Focus is something of a bit-part player in a market largely dominated by Japanese players. This is rather unfortunate, as the second generation Focus was an excellent product, if lacking a little in terms of ‘wow’ factor and sex appeal. While it was styled decently enough, the Focus’ exceptional driving dynamics were unfortunately obscured by a drab and outdated cabin, and that turned buyers off.

The new Focus seeks to address that shortcoming, and not only does it wear an attractive new shape, it also gets a funky new cabin, and plenty of class-leading features for you to boast at the pubs. Platform, meanwhile, is an extensive rework of the predecessor’s underpinnings, though it will no longer be shared with Volvo and Mazda as before. To compensate for that loss in volume, Ford will use this platform to underpin 10 different models worldwide, accounting for a projected annual volume of two million units. The Focus itself will have a market reach of 120 countries when it reaches peak global production.

Active Grille Shutter varies between 16 positions based on speed and environmental parameters.

Starting work with the predecessor’s underpinnings is a smart move by Ford on two grounds. Firstly, there was nothing really wrong with the C1 platform, and we would in fact be very happy if the new Focus continues to drive like the previous one. Secondly, by not having to spend money on a clean sheet development, Ford’s engineers can pour their resources to glitz up the Focus in areas that the predecessor was genuinely deficient in.

Ford’s list of promised equipment for the Focus makes for impressive reading, and there are plenty of features on board that are not standard even in German cars at twice the price, let alone the sub-RM140k C-segment which the Focus competes in. Depending on variant, the Focus comes equipped with dual-zone climate control, auto wipers, auto headlamps, cruise control, auto-dimming rear view mirror, Active Grille Shutters, Active City Stop, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), and Active Park Assist.

Active Park Assist automates parellel parking.

Active City Stop and BLIS are two systems that would immediately resonate with Volvo owners, and some of you may be thinking that these must have been ‘borrowed technology’ from Ford’s former subsidiary that has since been sold to the Chinese. That’s not a far-fetched conclusion, but as we discovered during a recent media drive held in Krabi, Thailand, Ford’s application of the said technologies differ slightly from Volvo even if they have the same function and use the same nomenclatures.

Volvo’s Active City Stop and BLIS systems both sense their surroundings using cameras, whilst Ford employs radar technology for its BLIS and laser-based scanners for its Active City Stop system. For the latter, we were told that the system continuously projects a laser beam up ahead, and reacts when it detects three reflection points representing the two tailights and the number plate of a vehicle up ahead. At speeds up to 15kph, the system stops the Focus completely, whilst beyond that, it’s all about damage limitation to reduce impact severity. As always, our advice would be that you not put this system into use.

Active City Stop helps to avoid or mitigate collisions.

Looking through the list of USPs offered by the new Focus, it would seem as if as this new model is not just one, but two generations ahead of its predecessor. That impression is reinforced when you sit in the cabin. Compared to the predecessor’s dull and aging cabin (especially when coloured in beige), the new Focus’ interior looks the business, marrying properly cool design touches with a generous spread of soft touch plastics. The designers deserve further credit for thoughtfully switching the signal stalk over to the right side, but one small ergonomic error is that the steering-mounted buttons on the two upper spokes are placed too far from the rim, making it difficult to operate the ‘up’ buttons without lifting our palms from gripping the wheel. Small problem.

Our drive experience with the Focus lasted a day, with the product briefing session held in the morning, and the drive session starting shortly before lunch. As we sat through the various presentations, it was telling that there was very little mention of the legendary ride and handling qualities that has been the hallmark of past Focuses. Instead, Ford’s product planning folks were more interested to immerse us with talk of the Focus’ new array of technologies and the brilliance of its Microsoft-developed Ford Sync multimedia system which features voice operation. The traditional Focus boast of its Control Blade multi-link rear suspension has been relegated to becoming a footnote.

Ford Sync multimedia system was developed in collaboration with Microsoft.

So, does that mean that Ford has abandoned the interests of the driving enthusiasts in exchange for bigger mass market appeal? The fortunate answer to that is no, as the new Focus retains the same exemplary ride and handling of its predecessor. Poor road surfaces are convincingly absorbed, while quick changes in direction are taken well in its stride. Steering is impressively quick and precise, while the suspension’s firmness is brilliantly judged to help maintain cornering stability, both virtues ensuring that the Focus easily retains the dynamics crown in its segment.

Straight-line stability is top notch as expected, as our convoy breached 200kph on certain stretches without breaking sweat. At those speeds, the Focus sat planted on the ground and felt at complete ease. One thing that the new model did regress from its predecessor is communicativeness. Compared to the 2nd gen Focus, the new one does not feel as intimate in its connection with the driver. So, the new car may indeed be more capable, it can be argued that the outgoing model was more fun and engaging to drive.

Ford will launch the Focus in Malaysia with only one powertrain to choose from, a new 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine with direct injection and twin-independent variable cam timing. The much vaunted EcoBoost petrol engines are not on the menu for now, and neither will there be diesels as long as we don’t move our fuel standards up to Euro IV. There is a possibility of a lower-priced model with the Fiesta’s 1.6-litre Duratec engine being offered in the future, but Ford officials were non-committal when pressed.

Manual shift option for transmission is rocker-switch operated. Not a good idea.

The absence of EcoBoost power was greeted with disappointment by some, but the new engine nevertheless deserves its fair share of credit as well – outputs of 168hp and 202Nm are still competitive figures among 2.0-litre NA engines. Standard transmission is the 6-speed Powershift dual clutch ‘box, which operates smoothly and intelligently enough, but for some incomprehensible reason, Ford opted to use a rocker switch for manual operation of the gears. While we can excuse Ford for refusing paddle shifters, there is no reason why the traditional parallel gate arrangement used by countless semi-auto transmissions should not work.

Based on our experience with the Thai-spec models tested here, and assurances from Ford that our Malaysian-spec cars will feature almost identical levels of trim, the new Focus will most certainly eclipse the sales numbers of its two predecessors many times over. Retaining the class-leading dynamics of the outgoing model, the new Focus adds a huge amount of ‘wow’ factor into the package that redefines its prospects completely. This car is a winner. Wait for its launch.