10 2018 Ford Focus

Ford has unveiled the all-new Focus, with prices starting £2,000 below the outgoing model at £17,930.

The new model is described as “the most accomplished and technically competent Focus ever” and is available as a five-door hatch or estate, with an Active Crossover version expected later in the year.

Customers can order the new Focus now, with deliveries expected in September.

A range of new driver assistance systems raises the bar for Ford. The new Focus is available with Co-pilot 360, an new system which includes adaptive cruise control with stop and go function, plus speed sign recognition and lane centring.

Active Park Assist has been updated too and now allows the car to control throttle, braking and gear selection, for fully automated parking.

Also further enhanced, Ford’s Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection technology can now detect people in or near the road ahead, or who may cross the vehicle’s path.

A head-up display is available for the first time in a European Ford.

Seven variants will be available from launch, starting with Style (£17,930), the range progresses through Zetec (£19,300), ST-Line (£21,570), ST-Line X (£24,050), Titanium (£21,550), Titanium X (£22,820) and Vignale (£25,450).

Focus Zetec and ST-Line – together representing 55% of sales – are now £850 and £250 less respectively.

Entry-level models comes as standard with 16-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, DAB, Bluetooth,  autonomous emergency braking, tyre pressure monitoring, Hill Start Assist and Lane-Keeping Aid.

The engine line-up includes a range of turbocharged petrol and diesel units.

Ford’s existing 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine is joined by a new 1.5-litre Ecoboost, both get active cylinder deactivation to improve efficiency. The 1.0-litre is available with 85PS, 100PS or 125PS and emits from 107 g/km of CO2, while the 1.5-litre (150PS or 182PS) is expected to emit 122g/km.

The efficiency champion is the 1.5-litre diesel. It comes with 95PS or 120PS with CO2 emissions of 91g/km.

Ford says emissions have been improved by 10% across the entire range.

The 2.0‑litre EcoBlue engine delivers 150PS and CO2 emissions from 112g/km.

Connected services include a mobile WiFi hotspot, live traffic updates and the FordPass Connect app, which allows a range of convenient features such as a vehicle locator and remote lock/unlock/start.

Infortainment is provided by Ford’s SYNC 3 system with an eight-inch touchscreen, Apple Carplay and Android Auto.

Comfort is key to the new Focus, the brand claims, with increased shoulder room and the instrument panel positioning is optimised for greater space in the front quarters.

An electric parking brake – standard with eight-speed automatic transmission and for high series models with manual transmission – and Rotary Gear Shift Dial also free up more space for the driver and front passenger.

For rear seat passengers, additional space is delivered by the longer wheelbase and flat floor.