The last time I got behind the wheel of the Ford Focus it was on a track with expert drivers Jojo Silverio and George Ramirez giving me tips on how best to handle this Focus on sharp curves and during race-car driving.
So, it was with a derring-do attitude that I took the Ford Focus on a spin — a real driving spin on the roads of Metro Manila, recently.
The new Ford Focus has been refined with a bolder, more sophisticated and advanced technologies, marking an evolution of the Focus. Its sleeker, modern design hints at the updates that make one of the world’s most popular compact cars even better — including new and improved driver assistance technologies that take the hassle out of parallel and perpendicular parking.
The new Focus is also more economical than ever, all while maintaining the fun-to-drive Ford DNA experience that has helped to make it so popular around the world.
“The new Ford Focus has been created with our customers and their needs in mind,” said Kay Hart, Ford Philippines managing director, in a statement I read before the test-drive began. “The sophisticated, energized and progressive new Focus is loaded with the smartest and safest technologies in its segment, making it absolutely more efficient and cleverly designed, all within a more refined package.”
Drive On
Before I boarded the Focus for the test- drive, I gave it a good once over. I liked the stylish and new exterior design with its lower, wider stance: it gives the Focus that look of a serious race-car vibe. Of course, I could not deny that for a small car, the Focus gives the impression of being a sturdy and well-built chiseled ride.
The headlights are slim, and link the front end to the clean, flowing lines of its sides, which kick up at the rear window. More rectangular, elongated fog-lamps add to the bolder front end. The rear of the car has a sleek new fascia and tailgate arrangement, as well as thinner tail lamps, and a sculpted rear spoiler to enhance aerodynamics. Think of it as an athletic car that has been truly built to take on any road.
As I stepped into the cockpit of the Focus, I smiled at how simple it is to get a grip on how to control the car as the driver. The new Focus has a revised instrument panel and reorganization of switches, resulting in a clean interior design that allows drivers to effortlessly control the vehicle’s features.
The simplified interior offers more space with a variety of new convenient storage options for a more comfortable driving experience. An adjustable console fits a variety of bottles and cups, and can simultaneously hold a one-liter water bottle and a 400 ml cup.
Let’s do this
As I drove out of our garage, I tried my best to recall the instructions given by Ramirez on the test drive a few months back. I remember how he told us to floor the Focus on the straight road and then let go of the pedal a bit when we hit a curve and allow the Focus to drive. I smiled as I recalled it because I was still in the village and doing just that was not a wise driving move.
What I do remember, though, was that no matter the road, be mindful that safety always comes first.
I drove to EDSA on that early morning and put the metal to the pedal. I got the Focus humming and ready to drive even faster — just as I did on my first test-drive. I liked how the Focus keeps its rhythm intact and I never felt that I would lose control of the car even as I floored it.
That feeling of being able to floor a car, made me smile. I liked my place in the cockpit, and even if the fast drive only lasted for a few minutes — I was one happy camper.
The Focus is powered by a powerful and efficient 1.5-liter four-cylinder EcoBoost engine, which offers 180 PS of power and 240 Nm of torque.
The engine uses the core EcoBoost technologies of turbocharging, high-pressure direct fuel-injection and Twin-independent Variable Cam Timing to ensure optimum performance. A new aluminum engine block helps to reduce weight, which improves performance and efficiency.
The 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine is paired with a new modern, lightweight and efficient six-speed automatic transmission, delivering refinement together with excellent performance and fuel economy. Paddle shift controls enable drivers to change gears without taking their hands off the steering wheel for an enhanced feeling of performance.
On the go, the new Focus is a class-leading driving dynamics and fun-to-drive DNA to a new level with enhanced handling. Ford engineers have carefully tuned the suspension and shock absorbers for a more solid and responsive vehicle that feels firmly connected to the road.
A more refined Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) system further improves the driving experience with more precise steering and lower effort, while reducing unwanted damping and providing excellent feedback to the driver.
“The new Focus reflects the strengths of its predecessor while evolving nearly in every aspect, from design and technology to driving dynamics, driver comfort and overall performance,” added Hart. “We are very excited to be launching a smarter, safer, efficient and more sophisticated Focus which guarantees to give that fun-to-drive experience that our Filipino customers are looking for.”
Parking made easy
I just had to try out the self- parking feature of the Focus — in real time. The Enhanced Active Park Assist builds upon Ford’s popular Parallel Park Assist with the addition of Perpendicular Park Assist. Once activated, the system scans for available parking spaces alongside other cars. When it finds one, the system takes control of the car’s steering to guide the vehicle into the space while the driver controls the shifting, braking and acceleration.
I made sure to find a wide-open parking space — with parking lines. I did make many mistakes as I tried out the Park Assistance feature. Drivers like me are so used to controlling a car and letting go of the steering wheel when parallel parking is a no-no.
“Let it go and park itself,” I remember Jojo Silverio telling me during the test-drive in the past. I did that again, but as usual, I kept my hands close to the wheel — just to be sure.
The Perpendicular Park Assist uses two new ultrasonic sensors on the rear of the car, which also enables Park-Out Assist. Park-Out Assist takes the stress out of exiting a parallel parking space by taking control of the steering while the driver operates the brake and accelerator.
One last test was the Active Stop feature — and just like I did on my first try a few months back, I failed the test.
You see, what happens here is that when driving up to 50 kph, an improved Active City Stop system can help to mitigate low-speed collisions. Using a windshield-mounted sensor to detect braking, slower-moving or stationary vehicles in front, the system pre-charges the brakes if the car is approaching a vehicle in front too quickly. If the driver fails to take action, the system reduces engine torque and automatically applies the brakes to reduce the impact of a collision.
I stepped on the brake before the Focus could react, my bad!
The new Focus allows drivers to encourage safe driving when they are not behind the wheel with Ford MyKey. Owners can program a spare key to reduce the maximum speed of the vehicle, give an earlier low-fuel warning, limit the volume of the in-car entertainment or even disable it completely if the seatbelt is not fastened.
I loved being in control of the Focus as I drove down EDSA that early Sunday morning. But, I also learned that in the real world, when parking the Focus, it is okay to allow the Park Assist and Active Stop feature to let me let go of the wheel — and let the car do the driving.
Have I told you how much I love to drive?