Ford Focus 2012 News

Ford Australia has confirmed it is contacting almost 43,000 Focus owners to warn of a vehicle defect that could cause a fire.

The Australia Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has commenced legal proceedings against Ford Motor Company of Australia.

Waiting for a new car is never easy. It could be a week or it could be a year — even longer — but a delivery hold-up still means delayed satisfaction.

An automatic transmission designed to save fuel has increased complaints among Ford customers who claim it's not a smooth operator.

Fast Ford fans in Australia are among the big winners from a decision to make the next new Focus RS from Germany into a global model.The turbo-powered pocket rocket is still more than a year away but will eventually sit alongside the new-age Mustang in Ford showrooms.There are scant technical details yet, but the big news according to insiders is that the RS will be all-wheel drive for the first time — good news, too, because it is likely to have a 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine making as much as 260kW.The last RS was a three-door hatch that sold in Australia until the end of 2010, although it was powered by a five-cylinder turbo engine developed by Volvo."To earn the RS badge, the vehicle has to be a no-compromise driver's car that can deliver exceptional performance on the track when required while providing excellent everyday driving," says Ford global product development boss Raj Nair.RS test cars have already been spotted in Europe, running five-door Focus ST bodywork to disguise the hard-edge mechanical package that will make the car a rival to everything from the Subaru STI to the Audi RS3 and Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG."We haven't confirmed the timing yet but it's likely to be in 2016," says Ford Australia spokesman Neil McDonald."There's always keen interest from enthusiasts who like a little more from their performance hatches. We already have the Fiesta ST and Focus ST in the stable so the RS is certainly a car that will sit well with the ST models."However, the RS will challenge some of the premium Euro 'hot hatches' and appeal to a different audience."The previous RS was a hit in Australia, even though it was priced at $59,990 and only 315 were imported from Europe."Many have ended up being quite collectable," McDonald says.The big difference is that the Focus RS will not be a limited-edition model.There will be a regular production run when it joins more than a dozen other global models planned by 2020.

Hypo-hatch poised to get Mustang power. Hot hatch fans have never had it so good, with more choice and more power at their disposal than ever before -- and the battle is about to heat up even more. As our roads become more congested and parking spaces harder to find, more and more car buyers are downsizing without wanting to sacrifice life's luxuries, or a responsive right foot. While Mercedes-Benz set a new benchmark last year with an epic 265kW of power from its 2.0-litre turbo A45 AMG hatch, and Volkswagen says it is working on a 400 horsepower (or 300kW) version of the Golf R, Ford is getting in on the action with a successor to the iconic Focus RS. Based on the hugely successful Focus ST (a facelift of which is due in Australia early next year, with sleeker lights and a revised dashboard layout), thinly disguised prototype versions of the even hotter Focus RS have been spotted testing in Europe and North America. Ford has so far refused to confirm that a next generation Focus RS even exists, but leaks from well placed sources have pieced together the puzzle. According to reputable overseas reports the new Focus RS will be powered by a 2.3-litre turbo four-cylinder engine that will also be used in the new Mustang. The difference, however, is that the engine in the Focus RS will power the front wheels, not the rear, as in the Mustang. Getting all that power to the road will be somewhat of a challenge, which is why Ford is reportedly developing a limited slip front differential for its new hot hatch hero. Race-bred Brembo brakes have also been fitted to the new Focus RS, if the spy photos are a guide. The previous Focus RS -- sold in small numbers in Australia in 2010 -- was powered by a turbocharged five-cylinder engine shared with Volvo. But even though the new Focus RS has switched back to a four-cylinder turbo, it is understood to have more grunt, with overseas reports claiming an output of 250kW of power and close to 450Nm of torque (up from 224kW and 440Nm from the previous model). Ford Australia imported just 315 examples of the previous generation three-door Focus RS in September 2010, after Ireland gave up its remaining allocation of cars due to excess supply and weakened demand in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis. Despite costing $60,000, all 315 examples were snapped up within months. The next generation Focus RS, set to be a five-door only, is yet to be confirmed for Australia but it is highly likely the model will make it Down Under given the company's global "One Ford" policy. It will likely arrive some time late in 2015, as Ford typically introduces the RS version towards the end of the Focus' model life. Don't rush to a Ford dealer anytime soon to place an order, however. Carsguide understands even Ford dealers are yet to be told that the Focus RS is coming. The last time the Focus RS arrived, Ford Australia dealers were only given two months notice that the hypo hatch was coming.

Updated Ford Focus ST unveiled at Goodwood ahead of Australian showroom arrival in early 2015. Ford has given its Focus ST hot hatch a new look and a load of new technology -- but no more power -- as a diesel performance model joins the line-up for the first time. The facelifted version of Ford's rival to the Volkswagen Golf GTI was unveiled at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK ahead of its arrival in Australian showrooms in early 2015. However, the diesel version of the Focus ST has not been confirmed for sale Down Under as it was primarily designed for Europe. The visual highlights on the new Ford Focus ST include sleeker headlights and tail-lights, new front and rear bumpers and optional 19-inch wheels. The 18-inch wheels are the same as those on the current model but have been painted in a dark grey "charcoal" finish. Ford may not have changed the power output of the Focus ST's 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine (184kW and 360Nm) or the straight-line performance (0 to 100km/h in 6.5 seconds) but it has changed the way the car drives by re-tuning the steering and the suspension -- and fitting new tyres to its hottest hatch.  The current model Ford Focus ST rides on a highly-regarded and super-grippy Goodyear tyre that also happens to protect the edge of the wheels as the sidewall sits proud of the rim. But for 2015, the Ford Focus ST will switch to Michelin Pilot Sport II tyres, the same used on Ferraris, Porsches -- and the Renault Megane RS275, the world's fastest hot hatch. Ford fine-tuned the stability control's torque vectoring system, which it says now delivers more grip and more control in corners. Ford also fitted new engine mounts to improve smoothness when accelerating on uneven surfaces. As with the current Ford Focus ST and Ford Fiesta ST, the updated model was engineered by Ford Team RS based in Cologne, Germany, a two hour drive from the famous Nurburgring race circuit. Inside, the Focus ST benefits from other upgrades that came with the facelift of the regular models, such as a redesigned centre dash panel with fewer buttons and a larger screen. The new Focus ST will also be easier to live with day to day thanks to the larger centre console storage and door pockets.  Ford has even revved up the USB port which now charges twice as fast as before. A new race-car-style "flat bottomed" steering wheel has been fitted to enhance driver feel and improve knee room. The Ford Focus ST gains "stop-start" technology (which cuts the engine when idle in traffic and automatically restarts it again when the clutch pedal is pressed) improving fuel economy from 7.4L/100km to 6.8L/100km. In Europe, the Ford Focus ST will be available with black leather seats, bi-xenon headlights, cross-traffic alert (which warns of oncoming cars when reversing out of parking bays) and automatic emergency braking up to 50km/h. It is not clear if any of these options will be available in Australia. Missing from the Focus ST update is the addition of an automatic or dual-clutch transmission which accounts for 80 per cent of sales of the arch rival Volkswagen Golf GTI. Ford sources say the Focus ST is unlikely to develop a twin-clutch gearbox for this generation car. Ford says it has sold 140,000 Focus ST (both this and the previous, non turbo generation) in more than 40 countries since it went on sale in 2002. Meanwhile, reports out of Europe and North America say Ford is putting finishing touches on the next generation Ford Focus RS after numerous disguised prototypes have been caught on camera. The Ford Focus RS is expected to be powered by a turbocharged 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine shared with the new Ford Mustang, but Ford is yet to substantiate the reports or even confirm if there will indeed be a new generation Focus RS. If a new Focus RS goes on sale it's unlikely to arrive until late 2015 at the earliest. Ford Focus STPrice: $38,290 plus on-road costs (estimated)Engine: Turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinderPower: 184kW and 360NmTransmission: Six-speed manualEconomy: 6.8L/100km0 to 100km/h: 6.5 secondsOn sale: Early 2015

Ford says their capped price service offer, MyFord, has been successful in bringing thousands of owners back to the brand -- 13,000 in 2013 alone. So they're taking the offer further, raising it to seven years and 135,000km from the six years/105,000km that rolled out in 2011.The revised program -- available on vehicles built from 2007 -- has been extended to cover brake pad replacements and rotor machining across the range except the sporty FPV, ST and XR5 variants and the light commercial Transit van. All eligible models will have front pads capped at $259 and rear ones at $219, except the rear-wheel drive Falcon and Territory rear pads, which will be capped at $259. Machining is capped at $88.Ford has also announced a year's free membership and roadside assistance with state motoring organisations -- NRMA, RACV, RACT, RACQ, AANT, RAA and RAC -- at participating dealers with the sale of any new car, except FPV and Transit.“The addition of the Auto Club Program is another customer-focused offering that Ford owners will enjoy,” Ford Australia general manager, customer service division, Stephen Kruk, says. “Customers expect this level of certainty from their dealers and we’re happy to say that since it was introduced in July 2011, the program has been very well received by our customers.”Owners can check the maximum price for a service, and all terms and conditions at www.ford.com.au/myfordcps.  MyFord Capped Price Servicing is available on the following vehicles.Ford Fiesta – WQ, WS, WTFord Focus – LS, LT, LV, LVIIFord Mondeo – MA, MB, MCFord Falcon – BF, BF FPV, BF MkII, BF MkII FPV, BF MkIII, FG, FG FPV, FG MkII, FG MkII FPVFord Escape – ZD, ZCFord Econovan - JHFord EcoSport - BKFord Kuga - TE, TFFord Territory – SY, SY F6X, SY MkII, SZFord Ranger – PJ, PK, PXFord Transit – VM, VNThis reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

Ford’s Fiesta ST is already arguably the king of the light hot hatch set, but a new report out of the UK suggests that an even hotter RS version is under development. AutoExpress suggests that a RS-badged Fiesta could be followed by the much-anticipated third-generation Focus RS, if a business case can be made for the models. Ford has been toying with the idea of a Fiesta RS since at least 2004, with a pumped-up concept based on the previous generation model shown at the Geneva motor show that year. Stranding in the way of the number crunchers though is the current economic woes of the Ford hatches’ European-market heartland, and the plans are reportedly far from being locked in. If a green light is given, tradition suggests we’ll see the new RS models towards the end of the Fiesta and Focus model life cycles, which could result in a Fiesta RS arriving at least 12 months ahead of as Focus RS – and as soon as 2015. The likely power source for a Fiesta RS would be an uprated version of the ST’s 134kW/240Nm 1.6-litre turbo, producing in the order of 172kW to trump the existing 160kW/320Nm Mountune-enhanced version available overseas.  A tricky diff is possible to help put such power to the ground, along with widened tracks, monster brakes, and pumped wheelarches and other agressive body enhancements to help link it with the RS-liveried Fiesta WRC racer. Development mules have already been sighted of a Focus with the same treatment, with the likely motive source a version of the 2015 Mustang’s circa-227kW 2.3 litre EcoBoost engine. This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn  

Longboards are fast downhill. So is the Ford Focus ST, so it's no surprise Ford lent a car for this promo video, having it chase a team of four longboarders down a mountain road. Sweep cars don't usually get to have much fun -- they're there to carry spare parts and pick up any people that run out of puff (or road). But with the Focus ST's agility, we're pretty sure the driver had as much fun as the longboarders, judging by the big grins on all at the end of the epic run -- shot by action video specialist Devin Graham. Watch the desktop version of the Ford Focus ST vs longboarders video here.  Also watch: Graham's incredible paintball battle video with the Nitro Circus stunt tea.