LW Focus

TOUTED AS the company’s most important car since the Model T, Ford released the third-generation Focus in August 2011.

At launch four models were offered – Ambiente, Trend, Sport and Titanium – with three engine (1.6 and 2.0 petrol and 2.0 TDCi diesel) and two body style choices (four-door sedan and five-door hatch).

A 1596cc 1.6-litre twin-cam 16-valve Ti-VCT petrol engine powered the CL-replacing Ambiente, producing 92kW of power at 6300rpm and 159Nm of torque at 4000rpm and connected to a five-speed manual transmission (not sedan) or a six-speed dual-clutch Powershift from November 2011.

Trend replaced LX, and brought with it an all-new 1999cc 2.0-litre twin-cam 16-valve GDi direct-injection petrol engine producing 125kW at 6600rpm and 202Nm at 4450rpm.

More torque and economy are for the taking in the 1997cc 2.0-litre twin-cam 16-valve turbo diesel dubbed TDCi. Available only with Powershift, it delivered 120kW at 3750rpm, and 350Nm from 2000 to 3250rpm.

Designed and engineered in the UK and Germany, the LW Focus adopted Ford’s Kinetic Design language.

As before, the front suspension consisted of MacPherson struts and coil springs, while the Focus is famous for pioneering a multi-link rear arrangement in the small car class.

In the name of improved economy and lower emissions, and with the exception of the Ambiente 1.6 Powershift model, Ford switched from a hydraulic to an EPAS electric power assisted rack and pinion steering.

The base Focus included remote central locking, power windows, trip computer, air-conditioning, adjustable steering, Bluetooth, voice control, six-speak audio, six airbags – including side curtain bags for front and rear passengers – ABS, ESC and hill-launch assist.