Ford's new small car Focus

THE car Scottish world rally ace Colin McRae has made famous through death-defying stunts in real-life and computer games will be on sale in Australia before the end of this year.

It's the Ford Focus small car and while we won't be getting a chance to buy McRae's actual works rally machine, Ford Australia will introduce a full range of Focus cars to replace the Laser, the latter retiring after 21 years' service.

Ford is promising the 1999 European car of the year will deliver class-leading dynamics and quality. But expect to pay more for it than the equivalent Laser model, with pricing tipped to line-up close to Holden's Astra.

That definitely means no $19,990 starting point, even though the entry level CL Focus will not have standard air-conditioning, a CD player or power mirrors.

From the CL the range stretches through the LX, Zetec and Ghia to the rip-snorting ST170 hot-hatch, with three, four and five-door body-styles to be offered.

The European-built Focus has been an on-again, off-again proposition for Ford Australia for a number of years. First the poor exchange rate worked against it then supply limitations meant there were none spare to be exported here.

Finally, with all the other hurdles cleared, Ford Australia elected to wait until the recent European launch of the ST170 so it could have a performance king for the range. But while the other models will be here before the end of the year, the ST170 will not arrive until early 2003.

The ST170 delivers 127kW at 7000rpm and 196Nm of torque at 5500rpm from its 2.0-litre Duratec engine, combining with sports suspension and heavy duty brakes. It recently finished third overall in a comparison test between 12 hot hatches conducted by English weekly Autocar, beaten only by the Mini Cooper S and Renault Clio Sport.

Ford will be pleased to note the ST finished well ahead of the 140kW-plus Astra SRi turbo in that test. Holden is bringing that in by the end of this year (see our separate Future Models story).

"We've always said we would love to have the car in Australia if the figures stacked up and I'm glad to say we have been able to put together a solid business case for importing the vehicle," said Ford Australia president Geoff Polites of the Focus.

"We want all the cars in our line-up to share a common identity - a Ford DNA. That strategy is the main driver behind our decision to introduce the Focus. We want to create a family resemblance to our cars - from the way they look to the way they drive." Ford is shaping up for a new model rush with the substantially revised Barra Falcon due in October. The third major plank is the E265 Falcon-based off-roader, which is expected to appear in early 2004.

The Laser has been an extraordinarily successful car for Ford Australia, at one stage commanding 30 per cent of small car sales when it was being locally manufactured. But its fortunes have fluctuated since it was imported from Japan.

The current generation was criticised for not being different enough from the Mazda 323, from which it was badge-engineered. But a strong marketing push has succeeded in lifting its sales over the past 12-18 months.

THE FOCUS RANGE: CL
Engines and transmissions: 1.8-litre 85kW/156Nm manual and 2.0-litre 85kW/162Nm auto
Bodystyles: 5-door hatch/sedan
Standard equipment includes: remote central locking, steering column-mounted audio controls, driver's airbag
LX
Engines and transmissions: 1.8-litre 85kW/156Nm manual and 2.0-litre 85kW/162Nm auto
Bodystyles: 5-door hatch/sedan
Standard equipment includes: power front windows, powered and heated side mirrors, air-conditioning, CD player, dual front airbags
Zetec
Engines and transmissions: 2.0-litre 96kW/178N manual and auto
Bodystyles: 3 and 5-door hatch
Standard equipment includes: similar to LX and adding lowered sports suspension, 16-inch alloy wheels, sports seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, sports instrument cluster
Ghia
Engine and transmission: 2.0-litre 85kW/162Nm auto
Bodystyle: sedan
Standard equipment includes: unique grille treatment, side airbags, power rear windows, cruise control, climate control air-conditioning
ST170
Engine and transmission: 2.0-litre 127kW/196Nm manual
Bodystyle: 3-door hatch
Standard equipment includes: sports seats, 17-inch wheels, heavy duty brakes, sports suspension