Test drive Ford Focus 4 doors 2008 - 2010 sedan

Feel the difference

Oddly enough, but the main bestseller of Ford, the last of the now sold, joined the Kinetic Ford regiment. It's time to attract a little attention: over the past five years, the trick was the first on the pedestal of the market of new foreign cars in Russia, but today its leadership is threatened, and seriously.
Changes everything
Ford says that only the roof remained in Focus without changes. They are not far from the truth, if we talk about external modernization. And this is the main reason why the car is called new, not updated. The hood became embossed, a large chrome strip performed on the upper edge of the radiator grill. The protruding sides and wings also attract glare of light to themselves. The form of headlights has become more difficult: their bends continue the lines of the hood and wings. The wide central air intake in the bumper in the form of trapezoid a reminder of the sports spirit of the bestseller. But the real athlete will appear next year: Ford was finally promised to start selling a super-powerful Focus RS hatchback in Russia!
The salon also could not do without changes. Instead of the previous dashboard, relief dials from the S-Max are now installed. The central console began to gracefully bend. The design of the radio and the climate control panel has changed, and at the same time almost all the materials used earlier in the decoration, due to which, in particular, the number of allergen materials decreased.
Finally, the Russian Ford division managed to convince the European authorities that our roads are not so bad. As a result, we began to sell 17- and 18-inch wheels for Focus! In addition, folding electric measures appeared, and access to the interior (and the engine is turned on) can be carried out without a key
For life
What, if not Focus, is ideal for our concept of kinetic design? This car was a decisive factor in the formation of a brilliant Ford reputation as a manufacturer of well -controlled and dynamic machines, Martin Smith, chief designer of the European Ford European Unit, is sure. And what else does a Russian need for life, if not an affordable, stylish and well -controlled car?
The last factor causes the manufacturer special pride. As a result: almost a single change in the running characteristics of the new Focus was made. Almost because some little things are still changed. For example, the ESP stabilization button has disappeared: now the system can be turned off only through the on -board computer. And only on a fixed machine: although the display displays the system of the system even in motion, do not flatter yourself this illusion!
In addition, Ford corrected the adjustment mode of the steering sensitivity. Earlier, on some cars with a restyled dashboard (2006-2007 years), when changing the sensitivity, the steering system did not work (although some might seem to be minimal). Now everything is in order: light mode and hard (Sport) are working.
Focus is still controlled perfectly: a convenient steering wheel, obedient and sports chassis ... A short-flowing suspension still reacts to rails and large pits, but with an increase in the speed of uneven roads, they sprinkle more and more inconspicuously. Driver's complaints can only be caused by uninformative gas and brake pedals, which is getting used to which time takes time.
Listen more
According to the results of the first three months of 2008, Ford Focus lost the leadership of Chevrolet Lacetti: Koreans bought almost 1,500 more. The sales plan for the American brand for 2008 includes the sale of 110,000 Focus cars, of which 74,000 units will be collected at the Russian plant in Vsevolozhsk, and the rest will be ordered from Spanish and German colleagues.
To date, the bank of orders for dealers includes 25,700 cars of Russian and 5,600 European production. This should cause optimism, but this is not enough for confidence in tomorrow. Ford will have to do a lot of work so that in the end you will not feel the difference between the first and second places.
Text: Alexander Korobchenko
Photo: Roman Ostanin
 
 
 

 

A source: Wheel magazine [April 2008]