Test drive Ford Focus 5 doors since 2010 hatchback

Test drive Ford Focus III: progress, money and a modest exhaust

Ford Focus has changed conceptually; If until recently it was bought primarily as an affordable car, then the new model is at the forefront of technological progress. The portal kolesa.ru, having tested the car, found out that the filling of the new hatchback did not even dream of Mondeo - it remains to find out how much it will be necessary to pay for all this ...

Most likely, the new Focus will be more expensive than the previous one. So far, the manufacturer has not to voice prices, noting only that Focus is obliged to get into the government program of state consumption (in the list of vehicle vehicles, cars assembled in the Russian Federation, worth not higher than 600,000 rubles.) But taking into account all those systems and devices that are executed by the executed Pride of the Fords demonstrated to reporters, top versions really have the right to be evaluated by the class above.

The three -door body could make the starting price of Focus a little lower, only the new car will not be three -door - they say in Ford, noting that even sports versions of ST (they will appear next year) will be five -door. Well, even in a more utilitarian body, a stylish car with a body kit is like from Need for Speed. The company believes that the new Focus and in a five-door body looks quite dynamic and sports (they say, therefore, the company abandoned the 3-door car), and, in general, there is no reason to not agree with them.

The 1.6-liter turbocharged engines of the Ecoboost series with a volume of 1.6 liters, which Ford promised to install on the new Focus, also debuted with the new generation of Focus. The promise was kept, but only 105- and 125-horsepower engines Duratec Ti-VCT without a boost and a 2.0-liter diesel engine with a capacity of 140 hp will come to Russia.

Inside
The Focus salon not only looks great, but also surrounds the driver with soft pleasant materials. The manufacturer says that the interior is made in the style of the aircraft cabin, with a dashboard and a central remote control that wraps around the driver. True, due to such an affordable front panel, the driver feels somewhat constrained.



The steering wheel with a thick rim has thickenings made for the convenience of a grip, but in practice brushes get tired of them. It is literally covered with the control buttons of various on -board systems, this is great. Just remember which of the two exactly the same remote controls for which it is responsible for, it does not work right away.

On the road
From the first meters, it became clear that Focus became quieter. Even a 140-horsepower diesel engine (yes, the same thing that will get to Russia), even at idle, even at 160 km/h, does not deliver acoustic discomfort to the driver and passengers. And how he is going! The diesel will be available with us only with a PowerShift automaton - a very fast and clear transmission that works great in pairs with this engine (Kolesa.ru published a Ford Kuga test drive with diesel engine and PowerShift). The only difference between this gearbox on Focus in the manual transmission buttons: yes, now these functions are entrusted to the buttons that are directly on the AKPP handle. It will be convenient for someone to use them, but I most often pressed these buttons by chance ...

The new Focus chassis is also new, but the settings are the same: it is still a gambling, responsive car, which is more interesting to drive the more turns lie in the way. Excellent feedback is the result of the use of a new steering system, which, with an increase in speed, pours the steering wheel in weight in proportion to the speed of speed. Although small rolls are still observed in corners. Perhaps it was from this that passengers began to rock the passengers on the serpentine ...

Green
Ford is a socially responsible brand. To reduce the harmful effects on the environment, Focus received a whole arsenal of funds aimed at reducing harmful emissions. In addition to new engines that satisfy Euro-5 standards, there are a lot of other methods by at least a couple of percent reduce carbon dioxide emissions. An electric power - and it is 3% less harm the atmosphere than the power steering. In addition, for the sake of reducing CO2, the aerodynamic resistance coefficient is made extremely low: only 0.27. Focus is also the first car in its class, which installs the system of active radiator graternities (in standard configuration), which allowed to reduce the number of harmful emissions by another 2%.

Technology
The new Focus received a whole arsenal of gadgets that are not previously accessible in such a class of cars. For example, an automatic assistance system for parking, the Start-Stop function, which automatically muffles and starts the motor, the BLIS system (known to us by Volvo models), notifying the cars in dead zones, the system of active cruise control, which not only automatically supports the given Speed, but also recognizes the cars in front, reducing the speed to safe. The list of options also has a device that holds the car in the lane (or simply warns), as well as the device that works similarly to the City Safety VOLVO system: a laser sensor that recognizes the obstacle to the moving car and giving the brakes to stop the car to pedestrian speed.

Focus is also equipped with a road signs reading system. The cameras installed in the car constantly scan and recognize road signs, warning that you need to lose speed, or refrain from overtaking. True, at the moment, Ford is not ready to install this system in Russian tricks, but this is exclusively in demand; If customers want, Ford can change their mind ...

In the Focus market with five doors will appear in June 2011, the sedans will be among dealers later. Next will appear a station wagon. All cars sold in Russia will be produced in Vsevolozhsk.


Competitors Ford Focus III in the Russian market
Fiat Linea
Mazda3


Author: Alexander Korobchenko
Photo: Andrey Skvortsov
 

Source: Wheel magazine [February 2011]