Launch of new Focus in France is perfectly timed to coincide with World Cup win

Expectation and anticipation ahead of the arrival of the new Ford Focus have been at an all-time high and it will arrive in Ireland in the next couple of weeks. We were at the European launch in Nice in the south of France on the week that the national team won the World Cup, and this worldwide-targeted new model should again prove to be another global winner for the brand.

At the launch, Ford engineers explained how they collaborated closely with car-buyers to develop the new Focus five-door hatchback, and even more practical Focus wagon models in distinctive versions so that each would have their own personality.

When it lands in Ireland there will be a range of trim levels including the basic Ford Zetec, a stylish Focus Titanium, a sporty Focus ST-Line and the upscale Focus Vignale. In addition, there will be an all-new Focus Active crossover model, arriving in Ireland early 2019, featuring rugged sports utility vehicle-inspired styling that includes raised ride-height, roof bars and additional cladding.

Driving the car in the foothills of the Alps, the quietness and smoothness proved to be the dominant influence. That said, Ford fans will be pleased that Ford has stuck to their principals and delivered a proper hatch with those traditional Ford traits.

That special Ford drive vibe is all there, and while the car is slightly less engaging than some of its predecessors, most of the responsive attributes come through the new swish persona of the car. The cornering and steering sharpness that we become accustomed to from Ford is the predominant feedback without being overly harsh.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune

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