A new face-lifted version of the 2014 Ford Focus has made an appearance ahead of its official confirmed July launch date. Having debuted at the Geneva Motor Show for the first time, the overhauled Focus features an array of updates and upgrades inside and out, which include a series of styling enhancements and a variety of technological additions to the interior.
By the looks of it alone, chances are it will prove a pretty stiff rival for the newest VW Golf. Prices are yet to be confirmed, though it’s expected that the face-lift Focus will launch in the same trim levels we’re used to – Edge, Zetec and Titanium – for the same prices as the outgoing models.
Ford’s New Look
The latest Ford Focus has been built using very similar design language to that of the firm’s most recent Fiesta and the upcoming Mondeo. The key feature of course being the oversized grille that’s clearly been inspired by Aston Martin – a comparison which by anyone’s standards can’t be anything but a positive thing.
Having realised that not everyone was entirely won over by the front bumpers triangle-shaped air inlets that appeared on the existing Focus, Ford has learned its lesson and done away with them entirely. Both the headlights and foglights have been redesigned to compliment the much edgier overall look of the front-end, while the five-bar grille takes elegance to all-new heights.
Ford has also gone to town with the bonnet for the new Focus and produced a brand new set of alloys for the newest model. It will also be on the market in two new blue hues, which judging by press images alone will both be pretty gorgeous to say the least.
More At the Back
When you look at the back end of the new Focus however, you start to realise that while the changes have actually been somewhat on the subtle side, they add up to a pretty enormous overall improvement. Ford has fitted the estate and hatchback versions alike with new taillights, and new curves and creases make the whole back end appear wider and the redesigned rear bumper compliments the new styling superbly.
As for the interior, it’s again mostly a tale of minor tweaks like the addition of matte grey accents here and there that make all the difference. However, one thing that’s far from the subtle side of anything is the new centre console – a loud and proud 8-inch touchscreen that’s enabled Ford to do away with the annoying physical buttons that were never the proudest feature of the current Focus.
There are still physical controls for climate control, though in this case they are mercifully easy to use…at least comparatively speaking.
Also simplified for the new Focus is the steering wheel, which sees one of the four spokes removed to take the total count down to three – heated wheels can also be added as an optional extra.
European versions of the new Focus will be sold with Ford’s iconic EcoBoost 1.5-litre powerplant, good for 178BHP or 148BHP depending on the option taken.
As stated, prices are pending but chances are they won’t come in a great deal higher than the outgoing Focus.
