Ford Focus
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If you are lucky enough to see a Ford Focus fly by in the WRC rally championship, then you will quickly realise the pedigree that flows on from these lightning quick cars into the road-going production cars that are produced by Ford for the public.
The Ford Focus XR5 battles for hot hatch first class honours in a segment that is fiercely contested by other car makers. The engine comes from the Volvo 2.5 litre turbocharged car that is normally found in the Volvo T5 models, and packs a mean 166kW at 6000 rpm and a very burly 320 Nm at a very low 1600 rpm. The small hot hatch body gives the Ford Focus ST a high power to weight ratio. Do your sums and you will see how this machine has the potential to fly. Zero to 62 mph comes up in a mere 6.8 seconds and top speed is a heart thumping 152 mph. The Ford Focus performance flagship model is driven through a manual 6 speed gear box and feels just so lightning quick to push through the gears to experience high velocity travel.
On the outside, the Ford Focus XR5 looks brilliant when sitting on 18 inch alloys; and with a spoiler and an aggressive nose, the Ford Focus looks very er? focused. Perhaps, though, the Ford Focus XR5 is subtle in the way the sporty exterior hints at what lies lurking under the suave bonnet lines.
But the Ford Focus' ability and practicality does not just rest on the lightning quick Ford Focus XR5. The models in the Ford Focus range are many. Let's take a look at the entry model. If you are on a shoe string budget and like what the commendable Ford Focus has to offer, then the CL hatch enters the scene with the 2.0 litre 5 spd 107 kW petrol unit and is the one for you. Designed and engineered in Germany the base model Ford Focus CL sedan features not only the smooth 2.0 litre Duratec 16V engine but comes with a 5-speed manual or optional 4-speed automatic. The car has Control Blade Independent Rear Suspension, an Anti-lock Braking System, (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD). Driver, front passenger and side front airbags are all standard and so to is the remote central locking, Electro hydraulic power steering, CD audio system and stylish 15 inch steel wheels. Impressive!
Apart from the 2.0 litre 107 kw normally aspirated engine, which is prevalent in most Ford Focus models, the 166 kW XR5 Turbo leads the charge, while the other engine available is the highly rated 2.0 litre TDCI diesel engine. The 2.0TD comes with a six speed manual gear box which is smooth and quick to use. It also has nice and accessible power on demand - even at low engine revs. There are five speed manuals, six speed manuals and four speed automatics available on various models. You can opt for the sedan or the hatch body and, if you like topless motoring, there is the sexy and fun Ford Focus CC which is co-styled with Pininfarina. This one is sure to tickle your fancy!
The Ford Focus range has been, for a long time, a benchmark car. Performance, comfort and handling are rolled into one very stylish and tempting package produced by Ford. The quicker the car, the stiffer the suspension needs to be. This is the sensible rule of thumb that Ford has stuck with for the Focus range. All Ford Focus models are well mannered to drive and have wonderfully accurate steering action. Each suspension set up works with the road surface, absorbing rather than skidding over bumps and pulling away from the correct driving line.
Inside each Ford Focus variant, passengers and driver can enjoy a roomy comfortable cabin that has pleasant trim levels ranging from cloth to full leather. Driver instruments are clear, simple and ergonomically brilliant. Even the base models are well equipped cars that give occupants a sense of luxury in travel. Safety items are superb. There is plenty of dynamic safety available. ESP, ABS and TCS as well as the necessary airbags are built into Ford Focus' safety packaging. And a five-star Euro NCAP safety test rating isn't too bad, is it?
Whichever the Ford Focus model you prefer, you can be sure that you will not be disappointed. And whatever model tickles your fancy, you can rest assured that it will be a class leader.
Current model series include:
- Ford Focus CL Hatch 2.0
- Ford Focus CL Sedan 2.0
- Ford Focus Ghia Sedan 2.0
- Ford Focus LX Hatch 2.0
- Ford Focus LX Sedan 2.0
- Ford Focus XR5 Turbo Hatch 2.5
- Ford Focus Zetec Hatch 2.0
- Ford Focus CC
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