Ford Focus 2019 News

Uber has announced that all new drivers from today will require a full five-star Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) vehicle, while existing drivers will have two years to move to the new standard.As for vehicles that have yet to be tested by

Ford Australia has quietly introduced a new base model Focus, called Ambiente and priced from $23,490, plus on-road costs. However, searching for the new grade of Focus has returned very little - the Ambiente is not on Ford’s Australian website, nor does the company actually acknowledge its existence, just yet. According to Ford Australia spokesperson Damion Smy, the Focus Ambiente “is not a core part of our retail line-up, so therefore there are no plans to publish any information on it.” Aimed at fleets then, the Focus Ambiente exists (as confirmed to CarsGuide by a number of Ford dealers). Priced from $23,490, plus on-road costs, the Ambiente replaces the upper models’ 134kW/240Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine with a 90kW/150Nm naturally aspirated version of the same unit.A six-speed automatic is the sole transmission available for now - a six-speed manual has been homologated for Australia if Ford sees the need - and unlike the regular Focus’ rotary dial, it uses a regular gear selector. Standard equipment on the Focus Ambiente is reasonable for the price, with six airbags, a reversing camera, auto emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, air-conditioning, electric windows and mirrors, 16-inch alloy wheels and the same 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. The more expensive Trend then adds the turbo engine with an eight-speed auto, semi-auto air-conditioning, satellite navigation, different 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights and wipers, and different trimmings. Just two options are available for the Ambiente: a $300 'Convenience Package' with automatic headlights and wipers, follow-me-home headlights and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, as well as $650 premium paint.The Ambiente marks the second addition to the initial Focus range, with the $29,990 Focus Active now part of the range as the faux-SUV member of the line-up. The ST hot hatch will be added early next year. 

Goodyear has taken its high-performance tyre technology to the next level with the introduction of the Eagle F1 Supersport tyre range, which will take on the likes of the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S and Pirelli P Zero Cup 2 in the Ultra Ultra High Performance (UUHP) tyre market.

Ford has confirmed that a manual transmission is not on the table for Australian Focus models, aside from the hot ST and possible future RS.In a disappointing move for enthusiast drivers, the new Focus will continue to be sold with an eight-speed automatic transmission as the only choice available to local buyers. The Focus has traditionally been the enthusiast’s pick in the segment because of its sporty driving dynamics. Local Ford spokesperson Damion Smy confirmed to CarsGuide that the company intends to offer only the ST as a manual locally. “For Australia, we offer the eight-speed automatic exclusively on the core Focus range – there are no plans for a manual in the main range,” Mr Smy said.“In early 2020, we will introduce both manual and automatic on the Focus ST, which will be the first time the ST has been offered in auto.” The newest variant to Australia, the Focus wagon, will also remain in mid-level ST-Line spec with its sports styling, sports seats and 17-inch alloy wheels. “The wagon will remain ST-Line in Australia, too,” Mr Smy added.Australian Ford Focus sales in March were up 38.9 per cent on March 2018 thanks to a new model. While the model is still new, it’s a promising start to this generation’s life in Australia considering the small car market is down 18.1 per cent over this time last year.  

Ford has revealed its fourth generation Focus ST, scheduled to go on sale in Australia in early 2020.

A new compact Ford ute could make its way to Australia to sit below for the Ranger in the Blue Oval's product line-up, with local executives to study the business case of the just-announced ute.

Ford's just-unveiled Focus Active is getting a more practical sibling, with the Active Wagon today unveiled in Europe.

The first ever Ford Focus Active will arrive in showrooms in 2019, giving the blue oval brand a competitor to the Subaru XV in the form of a compact higher-riding hatchback.

The all-new fourth-generation focus will start from $25,990 and feature a higher standard spec than the model it replaces.

Ford Australia has announced pricing and specification ahead of the car's arrival in Australia in November.