Test drive Ford Focus sedan since 2010 sedan
New Ford Focus. The first test
They waited for this: my wife, mother, all other inexperienced drivers. Finally, they will not be able to envy the owners of super-expensive sedans who have modern assistance systems for a driver like an automatic parking player or emergency braking. From now on, all this is in a car that can be safely called folk. We are talking about Ford Focus!
In addition to the usual Stop Start system, which itself dramatizes the engine when stopping at a traffic light (promise 10 percent savings in the city), and the aid system for switching speeds (if the driver should be, then there will be 10% more savings) the new Focus received Active dampering radiator. If the air supply is required for the cooling system, the damper open. But if cooling is not required to maintain the engine operation, the system closes the damper, reducing the frontal resistance. With completely closed damasets, the aerodynamic resistance decreases, due to which the release of CO2 is reduced by 2%.
Yes, and Focus aerodynamics has become better. At the sedan, the CD coefficient decreased by 10% to 0.274 (the previous value is 0.304), and in the hatchback we are talking about 0.295 (previous value 0.318)
Ford managed to make a real revolution in a golf class, and now it is Focus that is the most sophisticated car in the segment. The new generation of this model is immediately equipped with thirteen (!) Systems that help the driver when driving. Including active cruise control (he himself monitors the distance to the ahead of the car, inhibits and accelerates) and the reading system of road signs. The last thing is a very useful radar sees signs of speed restrictions, overtaking is prohibited, the end of restrictions and constantly reminds the driver about them (the information is displayed on the instrument panel). As a result, it is simply impossible to not notice such a beloved by traffic cops! Moreover, here electronics, unlike some other similar reminders, really reads signs (even temporary and crookedly installed), and does not use data from the navigation system.
Ford marketers assure that Focus is built on a fundamentally new platform. In fact this is not true. From a formal point of view, the third Focus is made on an old cart. But at the same time, it was radically processed. If you understand the technical nuances, then for you the list of what has been changed in the front suspension: lightweight lower levers, a tougher and lighter front lower frame (saving 2 kg per car), a new hollow stabilizer of the transverse stability (saving 2 kg per car), the fastening of the reptile stability stabilizer, the improved shock absorber valve technology, optimized bushings, to reduce road noise and vibration, changed.
But what was done with the rear suspension: the converted design of the regulatory plate (Control Blade), new shock absorbers, larger hub bearings, and a new mount of the reptile stability stabilizer.
In addition, the third Focus received a new electric power steering, which replaced the electro -hydraulic amplifier. Compared to the old model, the gear ratio of the steering mechanism on the new Focus was reduced from 16: 1 to 14.7: 1
There is also a system of automatic shutdown of high beam, a car retention system on the occupied lane, a system of control over the driver’s fatigue, a system for monitoring blind zones. True, many of these bells and whistles (including reading signs) will so far be available only to Europeans, but something very interesting will appear in Russia.
Only it seems to me that the hood of Focus is open? In fact, he is slammed, but the black strip that separates the hood, slightly spoils the visual perception of the machine
So, for the first time in Russia, in class C cars, it will be possible to get an automatic braking system at low speeds. The thing is not just useful it must be put without fail on all cars in the basic configuration! Indeed, thanks to her, in general (!), Accidents at speeds up to 15 km/h are excluded precisely such clashes and occur in urban traffic jams. And there will also be a mentioned system for parking. And, I admit, for me this is the most important joy. Earlier, I already managed to fall in love with such a parking player on a large Volkswagen Passat. But Passat is one thing, and a completely different budget Focus!
The system control system is one of the most interesting options for the new Focus. And what a pity that in Russia it will not be. Thanks to the radars, they are located in the cabin under the very ceiling and, I confess, the electronics sees road signs a little and reminds the driver about them. If such a system stood on all cars in Russia, then werewolves in uniform would be very upset
If you turn on this system, then the machine itself is looking for a parking place along the sidewalk and signals this to the driver. And then the latter can only look at the screen in front of you, switch on the command of the transmission and press the gas or brake pedal (moreover, also following the computer instructions). And all! The steering wheel will spin itself. True, the Ford system is not yet too perfect. For example, Focus can only be parking in parallel (the same Passat is able to call even perpendicularly), and Focus does not know how to leave the parking lot (Passat can).
But there is a couple of nuances. Firstly, no one still knows how much all these assistants will cost. And in general, about prices for the new Focus, no information will be announced only in June (at the same time, by the way, they will begin to accept orders, and the supply of the first cars are scheduled for September). Now it is only possible with a probability of 99% to assume that the third generation Focus will definitely not be cheaper than the current car.
And not only because of the new design. A strong trump card Focus III will be its interior: soft finishes, high assembly quality, decent noise insulation (especially for machines in good trim levels in the Shumka database will be simpler), a huge selection of luxurious bells and whistles. All this raises the bar of a folk car of class C to a new height. And at least there is no shadow of doubt that the new Focus has become better than the old one. Especially in the field of comfort. At the beginning of the test, I even had the idea that Focus is somehow not very good. Click on the gas pedal, but there is no speed. But this impression turned out to be a deceiving Focus wheel even do not even notice how the speedometer arrow is selected by 80-100 km/h. I'm afraid to say such words, but before such feelings were only on premium class cars!
In machines intended for Europe, instead of the spare, there will be a repair kit. Thanks to it, the luggage volume increases to 363 liters of the hatchback and to 475 at the sedan. However, the remote complex is completely useless at a lateral cut or when a disk is bent. That is why in Russia there will probably be a full -size spare wheel. In this case, the volume of the trunk will be noticeably more modest than 277 liters at the hatchback and 372 liters of the sedan
In addition, Focus is still very decent. Moreover, the Vsevolozhsk Focus will go in the same way the Russian representative office Ford decided not to grind the suspension under our roads and not increase the road clearance (except that the spare wheel will have a full -sized, and not a dubious reptile). Although it is worth noting that the second Focus also had a European chassis.
The new Focus will be released in only three bodies: a sedan, a five -door hatchback and a station wagon. But there will be no three -door hatchbacks. This is supposedly done because the five-door model turned out to be some particular sports. But for sure, the reason for the refusal of the three -door lies in low demand for such a model. In addition, no one excludes the appearance through a year or two sports coupes based on Focus. By the way, it was always believed that the most popular Focus in Russia is the classic sedan. But 2010 gave unexpected results that the five -door hatchback began to like our compatriots more than the sedan!
Focus has a classic European character. That is, the car is perfect in a straight line (180 km/h in the rain like on rails), it is abusively steer in corners, and everything is in order with comfort here. As you already understood, a special bet was made on the latter in Ford. True, for now, I would not endure the appreciation and hardness of the suspension. After all, the Spanish paths are one thing, and our directions are completely different. Although Focus showed himself perfectly on several holes. But, I repeat again, we must wait for the appearance of Focus in Russia.
On the steering wheel is a multi-storey music management system, an on-board computer, active cruise control and others. It seems that from the abundance of buttons the head may dizzy. But in fact, you understand them pretty quickly
In Europe, the main rate is on diesel engines: 1.6 l (95 hp or 115 hp) and 2.0 l (115 hp, 140 hp and 163 hp). Diesel will appear with us. But if earlier we sold a 1.8-liter unit (115 hp) and only on mechanics, then the new model will receive a 140-horsepower engine. Moreover, such cars will be complete with an expensive PowerShift transmission with two clutches (it replaces the machine here) and in rich equipment. That is, these will be cars for very large lovers of diesel engines. Everyone else will have to choose among three gasoline engines. Two 1.6-liter capacity of 105 hp and 125 hp, as well as a 2.0-liter 150-horsepower (engines with a capacity of 125 hp and 150 hp. It will be possible to take with powershift).
Ford assures that they paid special attention to how and with what sound the doors of the new Focus close. The work was not in vain cotton sounds like an adult way. And the noise insulation of the new Focus has become very decent
But we will not have chic units of the Ecoboost series with a boost with a boost. They say that because of their complexity they turn out to be too expensive. But, damn it, Ecoboost must be delivered to Russia! And not a basic version with a capacity of 150 hp. (it will replace it with a 2.0-liter unit), and the most sophisticated, 182-horsepower. Focus with such a engine is a magnificent device that combines the comfort of an ordinary machine and a very decent dynamics.
Fortunately, on the first day, a test drive in the Spanish Sherry I managed to ride just such a machine with a manual gearbox. She, as they say, burns, especially if you drive the tachometer arrow into the red zone. But most of all, the 182-horsepower engine did not like at the limit, but in the average revolutions already starting from 1600 rpm, he gives out excellent thrust of 240 newon meters, so you almost do not worry about which transmission is now turned on. Just press the gas and go. Moreover, if you press the pedal with all your strength, then the maximum moment rises briefly to 270 nm! Moreover, Ecoboost surprised us with its consumption of the average one was only 8.2 liters per 100 km. And this is not on the highway, but on a mountain serpentine with a reduced reduced one. With 182 horses under the hood! And according to passport data, the average fuel consumption of the most powerful Focus is even 6.0 liters per 100 km.
One of the advantages of the new Focus is the presence of a system that can be translated into Russian as control of the traction vector. It brakes in a quick turn unloaded wheel, which begins to slip, which, as you guess, most positively affects controllability. Unlike the system of regulating the traction force (anti -boom system), which reduces the engine power, interference on the part of this system is extremely subtle and can not even be noticed by the driver. In Europe, this bell will go already in the basic configuration. We are unlikely to. After all, this system works in conjunction with ESP, for which in Russia they will probably take additional money
I also traveled on a 2.0-liter diesel, and also the most powerful, 163-horsepower. It was not equipped with mechanics, but thereby PowerShift. If you are not a racer who is worn on the track, then you will like this transmission: when you calmly ride, it works clearly, switches smoothly and quickly. There is also a manual shift of gears, but this is the main ergonomic miscase of the Focus buttons of the switching buttons are located on the side of the checkpoint selector. Not only do they look somehow not too serious, but to use them is inconvenient, especially when the armrest is put forward.
By the way, accusations of frivolity can be put forward against the control buttons of the radio and the high -profile system located on the central console. Still, white keys look too simple against the background of the rest of the cabin. Apparently, as one of the colleagues noted, in the third Focus, the prospect of restyling was originally laid down these buttons are the first to ask for replacement.
The third -generation Focus remained one of the strongest players in the S. segment and it can definitely be said that the new car has become noticeably better than the old one. Moreover, this is not about the difference in the nuances, but about a full step forward. However, so far for the final assessment of Focus III there is not enough main prices. But there is no doubt that they will be very interesting, because Ford definitely wants Focus to remain the best -selling foreign car in Russia.
Denis Smolyanov
Photo by the author
Source: Auto.mail.ru
