Ford’s new Focus: a feast for the senses

THE REFRESHED Focus units at the Aquino ancestral home. Photo by Ardie O. Lopez

It’s been a long while since my last media road trip with Ford, but I can vividly remember how immersive it was in terms of the actual driving experience.

Ford, in my opinion, has always had that inherent driving quality that’s ahead of its class from way back then, and more so now.

It was the Ford Escape that I first got my hands on as a newbie in the motoring beat about 14 years ago, and though I’d already been driving for 18 years at the time, I definitely was inexperienced when it came to properly and thoroughly evaluating an automobile properly, which at that time was probably a boon.

Being pleasantly surprised at what a well shoed-in driving position was like; the loss of words to describe how effortlessly drivable it was; the amazement of getting a better “feel” of the road, and the raw realization of how much better a car could handle—from a compact SUV at that—was such a deeply sensorial experience that I had a perennial expression of amazement mixed with confusion on my face throughout the drive.

And if I had a veteran motoring journalist passenger at the back, he would’ve whacked the side of my head with a rolled-up (Inquirer) newspaper just so I could get over it.

Ford carried over that admirable quality quite well on their other nameplates that followed during those years, like the Explorer Sport Trac, the F-150, and the Lynx. Then, I finally got to drive the Focus.

Sure, I had high expectations due to its WRC heritage, but it certainly didn’t disappoint. It was, for me, the automobile that had the most engaging feel in its class.

It provided a handling quality that helped define for me what the simple joy of driving was all about.

Fast-forward to several generations and countless iterations later, the Ford Focus remains one of the best handling cars in its class in my book, and I know many of us in the beat are on the same page on this.

Just a few years back, it also became the best featured, with Active Park Assist (auto park) and Active City Stop (auto brake) systems, coupled with a voice-activated Ford Sync for safe and near-effortless control of pertinent in-car functions.

So, the car that’s tops in handling and features became the smartest, too. Those class-leading equipment were packaged in a totally reworked look for the Focus back then, which was unabashedly cutting-edge.

It was, decidedly, the car of tomorrow, for your budget today. You see, for those of us who weren’t born with a carbon fiber spoon in the mouth.

Refinements were made with the next generation of the Focus that we had first dibs on in Adelaide, with more precise handling and an improvement in comfort.

The power, of course, was always exhilarating—everything seemed to go hand-in-hand, with the driver pleasurably cocooned in a cockpit that had everything he needed plus a little buffer.

So what else can Ford add to the mighty Focus? Well they added ST and RS badges, but that’s for another story, but just recently a small bunch of us auto journos were treated to a Northern drive to Tarlac from Quezon City in its latest iteration, for us to experience the subtle but significant improvements on the already exceptional new Ford Focus.

Evolution as per its definition, points to better adaptation, and improvements in the literal sense.

The refreshed Focus is now sleeker in its modernistic character, with tighter and smoothed-out lines that emphasize a more athletic and squat stance.

 Wedge-like profile

Its profile is more wedge-like, and its fascia a tad more aggressive and purposeful. Kinda gives you a visual insight to what it’s quite good at—and that’s to reward you with a smug smile on your drive-enthusiastic face, no matter what the skill level.

I personally love the sculpted rear spoiler on the five-door/hatch variant, as well as the subtle but effective daytime running lights (that some brands tend to overdo) as I consider them well-thought-out design cues.

Speaking of which, I wanna give its designer a big (tight/awkward) hug for so expertly zeroing-in on what could well be the best interior to match the new Focus, one of the best in its class, for sure.

It sits right in the median of being understated, and looking complicated. The lines are crisp, the controls intuitive, and the materials and surfaces look and feel premium to the touch.

Again, I’d have to cite its capability to almost mold to your most ideal driving position with its well-bolstered and snug leather-clad seat, and its tilt and telescopically adjustable three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel.

Now, this can’t simply be the cherry on the cake: Ford’s new 1.5-liter GTDi engine endowed with its multi-award-winning EcoBoost technology is what moves the new Focus, and gives it the power of an Olympic sprinter, the precision of an aikido master, and the practicality of an accountant.

With EcoBoost technology (which garnered the international Engine of the Year Award several times over for its 1.0-liter Ecoboost engine for the Ford Fiesta), the Focus’ subcompact car-level engine displacement is literally boosted with a respectable 180 ps of power, and 240 Nm of torque that’s spread out from 1600-5000 rpm.

So basically, you get the assertive and very linear acceleration, and ample power at three-digit speeds without having to pay for having fun with all that at the gas station. It’s exhilaration minus the costly repercussion.

Its engine’s more compact construction translates to lighter weight, which bids well for the Focus’ agile disposition, and its typical driver’s spirited predilection.

From the freeing route we took via the NLEx and SCTEx highways, where we did our best to exercise restraint at the limits, to the narrow and sometimes twisty rural roads of Concepcion, Tarlac (where we had to leapfrog hordes of tricycles, which is a testament to the Focus’ laudable dynamics), it was more of a treat than a test-drive.

We reached Benigno Aquino’s well-preserved ancestral home without breaking a sweat (until we got out of the car, of course), then shortly after, another quick ‘n’ easy drive to the famous Abe’s Farm for lunch, and a stop for delectable local treats at Nathaniel’s as we headed for home.

The Ford Focus established early on its undeniable strengths and endearing characteristics. It’s a driving enthusiast’s car, I always say.

What’s fascinating and actually inspiring is Ford’s drive to keep bettering itself at its game, and consistently improving on what’s already a tough act to follow.

It’s a bit boggling how, every time I drive the Focus, it just gets better.