Ford reveals Europe-only Focus Active wagon
BY TUNG NGUYEN | 22nd Nov 2018
FORD has unveiled the wagon version of its Focus Active small car, but Australian showrooms will only stock the high-riding hatchback that was confirmed earlier this week priced at $29,990 before on-road costs.
Speaking to GoAuto, Ford Australia product communications manager Damion Smy ruled out the Active wagon for the local market, confirming the big-booted body style will be exclusive to the $30,990 ST-Line variant.
“For the foreseeable future, Focus wagon will remain with our ST-Line,” he said.
“For people who might not want a full SUV, the ST-Line wagon is a great alternative in terms of packaging and takes advantage of the longer wheelbase for the new Focus, but Active will be hatch only.
“We’re looking forward to introducing the hatch, we don’t have the wagon in Active at this stage.”
Ford’s ST-Line wagon competes in the niche small wagon segment against the likes of the Volkswagen Golf, Renault Megane and Holden Astra, while perceived rivals for the Active version could include the Subaru XV and VW Golf Alltrack.
However, while the Focus Active wagon sends drive to the front wheels, the XV and Golf Alltrack sport all-paw traction.
Like the Focus Active hatchback, the wagon body style sports a raised ride height to the tune of an extra 30mm at the front and 34mm at the rear over the standard car.
The wagon offers 608 litres of storage capacity with the rear seats in place and up to 1653L with the second row stowed – the same as the ST-Line wagon.
All hatchback versions of Ford’s new-generation Focus sport 375/1353L of storage space.
In addition, the Active wagon also features a front and rear skid plate, black-plastic wheelarch cladding, 17-inch wheels and two extra drive modes – Slippery and Trail.
Standard kit on the high-riding estate mirrors the hatchback with Ford’s 8.0-inch Sync3 infotainment system, wireless smartphone charging and Active-specific cloth interior with blue stitching, while adaptive cruise control, adaptive front lighting and a head-up display will also be available.
While Australian versions of the Focus Active will be available next year exclusively powered by a 134kW/250Nm 1.5-litre turbo-petrol EcoBoost engine, overseas markets also have access to a 92kW 1.0-litre petrol, 88kW 1.5-litre or 110kW 2.0-litre diesel engines in both hatch and wagon body styles.
As previously reported, the fourth-generation Focus range will hit showrooms in December with the $25,990 Trend, $28,990 ST-Line and $34,490 Titanium hatchbacks, as well as ST-Line wagon.
The high-riding Focus Active hatchback is earmarked for a 2019 release.
