The theme at the launch of the all-new 2011 Focus hatchback was how Ford had led the way with successive cars over its 100+ years. Ford of Britain is 100 years old and had a 99-year-old Model T on hand to celebrate. Built at Trafford Park, Manchester, it's in perfect working order and a brief trip around the grounds of Mar Hall Hotel showed it to still have plenty of pep. The clear implication was that the Model T had brought motoring to the masses; now, 100 years later, Ford's first 'World Car' is bringing levels of quality and technology to an affordable car that were previously only seen on much more expensive cars. As time has progressed, Ford has looked increasingly to Ford of Europe for its 'world cars', such as the Mondeo, Fiesta and Focus. Although sales of European-sourced Fords in the US have generally been disappointing, the Focus has proven an exception. In fact, the Focus has emerged as America's best selling compact car since it first launched back in 2000. This latest generation Focus will be aiming for a similarly high level of success in the UK, US and other markets around the globe. Prices start from £15,995 for the five door hatch 105bhp 1.6-litre petrol in Edge trim. That may be £500 more than the outgoing model, but Ford says that there is over £1,00 worth of extra kit. The cheapest diesel is the 95bhp 1.6-litre Edge, which starts at £16,995 with Ford predicting an even sales split between petrol and diesel. The excellent 148bhp 1.6-litre petrol EcoBoost models are only available with higher Titanium and Titanium X specifications, at £19,745 and £21,245 respectively. Styling and interior Design in the new Focus develops the theme seen on the new Fiesta and C-Max, with sweeping lines heading backwards and upwards in the latest iteration of Ford's Kinetic design langauge that theoretically makes cars look like they're moving even when they're not. It doesn't, but the styling is sharp. However, the design compromises interior space which means that the rear of the Focus appears, initally, somewhat cramped. Boot space is around 50 litres less than the previous model, or close to 100 for drivers who opt for a full spare tyre - leaving a pitiful 277 litres of luggage space. Ford says that the C-MAX is designed for buyers who want more people space and storage space. But with the Fiesta, outgoing Focus, new Focus, C-MAX, Grand C-MAX, Kuga and forthcoming B-MAX all fulfilling similar roles in Ford's small-car range, it's all looking rather crowded in that B- and C-segment mix. Whether buyers will agree with Ford's prognosis, or simply turn to a rival C-segment hatch remains to be seen, especially in relation to what fleet managers make of the new Focus. For the record, the new Focus is 4,358mm long and 1,823mm wide, with boot space between 316 to a more respectable 1,101-litres with rear seats folded down. By comparison, the Vauxhall Astra five-door is longer, if a little narrower, and features superior boot space at 370-1,235-litres. The interior is a huge advantage to the Focus, especially in a sector where interior design and comfort is developing so rapidly in cars like the Vauhxall Astra and Renault Megane. The seats are comfortable and adaptable and the finish to the dashboard, steering wheel and other inside trim feels excellent. Oddly, different specifications get different centre console designs. Lower specifications get the same fascia and layout as the Fiesta, while high specifications get a new design that - to my mind - didn't look as impressive. With lots of new gadgetry come lots of new buttons, but the layout is logical enough. Within minutes I'd located Test Match Special on the digital radio, zeroed the trip computer and paired my phone via Bluetooth. The layout may take a bit of getting used to, but no more so than any other modern car packed with high levels of tech. Focus specifications and gadgetry Four specifications are designed to simplify the line-up - starting from £500 more than the outgoing model but boasting more kit, while there are a wide range of petrol and diesel engines. Entry-level Edge trim boasts standard kit such as air con, remote central locking, digital radio, electronic seats, stability control, front, side and curtain airbags, Bluetooth with voice control and a USB connection. Zetec trims aare expected to be the most popular, while there are also Titanium and the ultra-high Titanium X specs. Meanwhile there are optional extras such as the Driver Assistance Pack, a £750 option crammed with impressive, useful safety and driver assist technology, utilising cameras, RADAR and LIDAR. The option includes Blind Spot Information System - a genuinely useful tool that's particularly good on cars with rising waistlines like the Focus. Also valuable is the a low-speed safety system that will conceivably prevent a rear-end shunt at speed of under 30mph using radar. Impressive too is a traffic speed sign recognition system that uses front cameras to read speed limit signs and warn the driver accordingly. And the driver alert monitoring and auto high beam headlight dimming. Less useful, annoying even, is a lane departure warning system that alerts the driver when he or she strays from their lane. It's frankly annoying and I suspect most people will turn it off immediately on entering the car. Regardless, the pack is incredible value for £750, with only a few of the systems fetching prices of over £1,000 on luxury saloons. There's also a £525 Convenience Pack, which will parallel park your Focus for you and add parking sensors, folding door mirrors and cruise control. Focus engines and performance Every new Focus emits under 140g/km of carbon dioxide. Lowest CO2 is 109g/km from the lower-powered 95bhp 1.6-litre TDCi, meaning emissions are higher than many cars of a similar size and even higher than many larger cars such on some of the Volvo's DRIVe range, which use the same engine. Crucially it's also above the 100g/km of CO2 limit too, which means little financial advantage to car-buyers who drive in London and no road tax exemption. Mileage on the diesel models appears impressive, although none of cars I tested achieved the quoted fuel economy. 58.9mpg was the best I got in fairly conservative driving from the 115PS 1.6-litre TDCi with stop-start, but the quoted figure was 67.3mpg. The engine is smooth when cruising but feels under-powered when accelerating or pulling away. A much more spirited drive was provided by the 150PS 1.6-litre Ecoboost petrol engine, which returns an official 47.1mpg on the combined cycle and emits 139g/km, while delivering an impressive 177lb-ft of torque. There's also a higher-powered version of this engine with 180bhp. Quoted performance is 8.6 seconds to 62mph and the engine tops out at 130mph. During normal driving on windy roads, in towns and on motorways I managed 42.3mpg, though the previous occupant had squeezed a mere 28mpg out of the engine. However, the Ecoboost will make sense for low-mileage drivers and will please those seeking more performance from the eager and even slighty raspy petrol engine. It pulls strongly throughout gears and up through the rev range. There's also a workhorse 1.6 TI-VCT petrol engine in two, lower, power guises and a 2.0-litre TDCi with 138bhp and 161bhp. Both diesel units can be equipped with the Powershift semi-automatic transmission. A new 1.0-litre three-cylinder Ecoboost that emits less than 100g/km is on the way, as is a 160bhp Ecoboost engine. Ride quality was extremely high, with the car soaking up bumps and holes in the road and refinement much better than the outgoing model - the new model is a lot more relaxed and relaxing on the roads. Handling remains crisp and the chassis taut - cornering feels assured thanks to an ESP-based torque vectoring differential. There are some suggestions that the new Focus doesn't match up to the outgoing model in terms of handling ability, but whether car buyers notice the difference seems dubious - as does whether buyers trade more feel for less ride comfort. Overall the new Focus is - as suspected - a very impressive piece of kit. The interior is exceptional, the kit levels and technology similarly strong and the trade-off between ride comfort and handling is well balanced for the needs of buyers. The lack of space across the rear seats and in the boot does seem odd, but perhaps more buyers will diversify across the range of small Fords - to the C-MAX and Kuga. The range of engines also seem incomplete without a sub-100g/km model, and there will be those waiting for an estate or three-door. But at first glance the Focus does what everyone really knew it would - goes straight to the top of the sector again. The hatch hasn't just come a long way since the Model T; it's come a long way since the outgoing Focus. 2011 Ford Focus milestones Price: From £15,995 For: Strong Ecoboost engines, good balance of handling and comfort while driving, smart interiors, impressive gadgetry Against: Some cheap plastics on dashboard, underpowered 1.6 diesel engine, thirsty Ecoboost engines, small boot and rear
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