Ford has revealed the new Focus, featuring a new design and a new fuel-efficient electrified powertrain alongside upgraded connectivity and driver assistance technologies.
For New Zealand, this includes two hybrid-powertrain models.
2022 Ford Focus: Electrified performance for New Zealand
Arriving in mid-2022, the new Focus line up in New Zealand will include three models for customers to choose from including a new electrified 48-volt EcoBoost hybrid powertrain that will enhance the efficiency, refinement and the renowned fun-to-drive experience that has been a key part of the Focus appeal for more than 20 years, says Ford.
Ford’s EcoBoost Hybrid engine with a seven-speed automatic transmission will now be standard for both the Focus Active and Focus ST-Line X in New Zealand.
The new Focus features selectable Drive Mode technology, enabling drivers to choose between Normal, Sport and Eco modes that can adjust the responses of the throttle pedal, Electronic Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) and automatic gearbox to suit the driving scenario. In addition, the Focus Active model features Slippery mode for increased confidence in low-grip conditions and Trail mode that is designed to help maintain momentum on deformable surfaces.
2022 Ford Focus: New Focus ST
Ford also revealed the new Focus ST, developed by Ford Performance. Featuring sporty new exterior styling, a new Mean Green paint option and all-new, in-house developed Performance Seats.
The Focus ST continues to be offered with a 2.3-litre EcoBoost petrol engine, delivering 205kW and 420 Nm of torque supported by a twin-scroll turbocharger with anti-lag technology and paired with a seven-speed automatic with paddle shifters. The Focus ST also features selectable Drive Mode technology including Slippery, Normal, Sport, and Race Track; each with its own unique digital cluster design.
Design details include honeycomb upper and lower front grilles, large side vents, side skirts and aerodynamically optimised spoilers on the lower fascia and rear roof.
Inside, the Focus ST features all-new Performance Seats, developed in-house by Ford Performance engineers. The seats have been given the seal of approval from the leading spinal health organisation Aktion Gesunder Rücken e.V. (AGR) (the Campaign for Healthier Backs).
2022 Ford Focus: Modern, fresh Focus design
A new bonnet design increases the height of the nose for greater visual presence across the line-up, and the Ford “blue oval” badge is relocated from the bonnet lip to the centre of the larger upper grille.
The Ford Performance-inspired ST-Line X variant’s sportier character is delivered using a uniquely proportioned trapezoidal upper grille, supported by a gloss black honeycomb finish alongside broader side vents and a deeper lower grille. ST-Line X also features side skirts, a rear diffuser and a discreet rear spoiler.
The Active variant takes inspiration from SUV design cues for a more rugged appearance. A wider upper grille features more substantial vertical strakes, and a deeper lower grille and taller side vents complement the raised ride height and black body cladding.
“The Focus has always been at the forefront of our ‘human-centric’ design philosophy, and now we have created a line-up that has even more personality,” said Amko Leenarts, Director, Design, Ford of Europe. “Every Focus oozes quality and modernity driven by technology, while each variant has a character that our customers can connect with emotionally — reflecting their own personality.”
2022 Ford Focus: Technology to make life easier
The New Focus will be the first passenger vehicle to-date to benefit from the new SYNC 4 communication and entertainment system,which uses a sophisticated machine learning algorithm to learn from drivers’ behaviour and deliver more accurate suggestions and search results over time.
SYNC 4 is supported by an all-new 13.2-inch central touchscreen, the new touchscreen also incorporates controls for functions such as heating and ventilation that were previously activated using physical buttons, resulting in a cleaner and less cluttered centre console. The system also delivers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Autocompatibility, allowing seamless integration between smartphone functions and SYNC 4.
Ford says that advanced speech recognition allows occupants to use natural speech, combining on-board data with Internet searches – enabled by FordPass Connect – for quick, accurate responses to commands for everything from entertainment, phone calls and text messages to climate control and weather information.
Using the FordPass app,a range of connected services can be accessed using a smartphone, allowing the customer to stay connected with their car from anywhere with a data signal and utilise features such as Vehicle Status – for checking fuel levels, oil life and more – and Remote Start.