Road TestCar reviews - Ford - Focus - Sport 5-dr hatchFord modelsOverviewNew Ford Focus ticks even more boxes than before. We test the tidy Sport hatch2 Sep 2011 THE new Focus was engineered in Cologne with 80 per cent of the old model’s team back on the job to create a 93 per cent changed vehicle. Using the VW Golf and Audi A3 as its benchmarks, previous weak points like noise pathways disappear while completely fresh looks inside and out arrive within a stronger, greener, safer and more efficient small car package that – somehow still – is claimed to evolve its predecessors’ first-class dynamics. After 10 days in the $27,390 Sport 2.0 GDI, we find out if Ford has succeeded. Model release date: 1 August 2011 to 1 August 2015 All car reviewsAlfa Romeo Abarth Alpine Alpina Audi Aston Martin BMW Bentley Chevrolet Chery Citroen Chrysler Dodge Cupra Ferrari DS Ford Fiat FPV Foton GWM Great Wall Holden Haval HSV Honda Hyundai Hummer Isuzu Infiniti Jeep Jaguar Lamborghini Kia LDV Land Rover Lotus Lexus Maserati Mahindra McLaren Mazda Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-AMG Mini MG Nissan Mitsubishi Peugeot Opel Proton Porsche Renault Ram Rover Rolls-Royce Skoda Saab SsangYong Smart Suzuki Subaru Toyota Tesla Volvo Volkswagen Previous modelTHE facelifted version of Ford's MkII Focus continued with the popular Zetec variant, featuring new sheetmetal from the base of the windscreen forward, and also a different hatch. Importantly, however, the cars bound for Australia – XR5 Turbo and RS excepted – did not introduce revised side body panels boasting a more pronounced crease line as they did in Europe and elsewhere, because our cars came from South Africa. Being a Zetec, the cars sported a bodykit, racier interior trim, more equipment levels, lower-profile wheels and tyres and a firmer suspension tune compared to the lesser CL and LX. But there was no more extra performance from the 107kW/185Nm 2.0-litre DOHC four-cylinder petrol engine, mated to either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic with a Tiptronic-style shift pattern. As with the LT from 2007, there were both five-door hatch and four-door sedan Zetec models. Ford’s biggest issues with the LV Focus were a drab interior, dated exterior styling, inconsistent build quality and disrupted supply due to industrial action – but the car still held the dynamic high ground compared to its newer rivals. |
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