2015 Ford Focus officially revealed

Ford has revealed the first official images and details of its mid-cycle refresh of the third-generation Focus small car, ahead of its public unveiling in Geneva next month. The new model brings styling upgrades both inside and out, bringing the Blue Oval’s top-selling nameplate in line with the refreshed Fiesta and the upcoming Mondeo.

Differing from the rendering that appeared online in January, the official images show a new headlight design, bonnet and front bumper, plus reshaped taillights and a smoothened hatch treatment over the existing model on sale locally since 2011. Only the hatch and wagon (available overseas) have been shown for now, but the sedan is likely to score the same treatment front and rear.

Those who criticised the current model’s array of interior controls and switches will be impressed that Ford has greatly reduced the button count on the new model, with a significantly larger 8-inch multimedia screen taking their place in the centre stack.

The new Focus will also be the first European model to use the second-generation of Ford’s Sync connectivity system. Sync 2 promises improved voice command interactivity, plus split-screen satnav with more detailed mapping options. Also within the cabin is a redesigned steering wheel, centre console, revised trim materials, and the adoption of the MyKey parental control system.

Among a host of other technological refinements, the new Focus also becomes the first Ford to extend the current Active Park Assist system’s automated parallel parking system to include perpendicular parking, with the new model able to reverse into standard parking spaces alongside other vehicles.

Rear cross-traffic alert will also make its Focus debut, along with a new Park-Out Assist function to help with exiting parallel parks.  The Active City Stop collision avoidance system can now activate at speeds up to 50km/h (up from 30km/h).

Ford will also add its new 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol and TDCi turbodiesels to the Focus lineup, with the petrol available in either 110kW or the 134kW guise already used by the Fiesta ST. The diesel will be available in 70kW and 88kW tunes and Ford is claiming efficiency gains of up to 19 per cent over the existing petrol and diesel options.

In Australia, the 110kW petrol will likely replace the existing 92kW 1.6-litre naturally aspirated engine, and the 134kW would be a logical successor for the 125kW 2.0-litre. Models equipped with the Powershift dual-clutch auto will be available with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters for the first time, replacing the current shifter-mounted manual control buttons.

Under the skin, the front structure has been stiffened and geometry and steering retuned for improved dynamics, and general refinement has been boosted with thicker noise insulation and side window glass.

Australia

Speaking with Carsguide today, Ford Australia spokesman Neil McDonald confirmed that the new Focus will not arrive locally until 2015, despite a European on-sale date soon after mid-year. Local drivetrains and specifications are also yet to be confirmed, but there are still no plans to import the wagon bodystyle to match its Golf, i30, Cruze and 308 rivals.

This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn