NZ Gets Focus Wagon

[The Stylist]

Currently New Zealand only gets the Hatch, but Ford is now going to offer a Focus wagon, however still no XR5.


From Car.co.nz

Ford New Zealand today announced it is expanding its popular Focus range to include a 1.8 litre turbo diesel wagon and a 2.0 litre petrol wagon.

"We are delighted to confirm that these two new exciting vehicles will be on sale from January 1, 2007 for $35,290," said Richard Matheson, Managing Director of Ford New Zealand.

"Focus has always been recognised as a vehicle offering superb build quality and class leading driving dynamics – it is a quality product that is fun to drive, incredibly comfortable, impeccably safe and unstintingly reliable," he said.

"Like our other European-designed Focus products, the wagon is manufactured at the Saarlouis, plant in Germany.

"Focus sales have increased 21% year-to-date from August 1 2005 which places it fourth in the increasingly competitive compact car segment. We're confident the arrival of Focus wagon will continue this success.

"The Focus wagon is a vehicle that our customers have told us they want – high-mileage fleet operators are excited about the option of the diesel engine.

"Private customers who are looking for a family car will appreciate the small-car handling with the large car capabilities and luggage capacity,"

Powerful yet economical

Power is transferred smoothly from the 1.8 litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engine by the 5 speed manual transmission while the 2.0 litre Duratec petrol wagon is mated to a 4 speed automatic.

The diesel engine produces 85 kW of power at 3700 rpm and 300 Newton metres (Nm) of torque at 1900 rpm while the petrol delivers 107kW at 6000rpm and 185 Nm at 4500rpm.

In line with other 2.0L automatic Focus bodystyles, the fuel economy of the Focus petrol wagon is 8.0 l/100km while the turbo diesel wagon is 5.7l/100km.

"The excellent fuel economy of the diesel wagon and comparatively lower price of diesel at the pump will allow high-mileage fleet operators to quickly recoup the cost of the diesel road user charge.

Exterior design

"In designing the wagon, we wanted to get the graphics as sporting as we could and give it a little Italian flair," said Claudio Messale, then-Chief Designer of Focus.

"Just as with the 5-door model we were able to achieve this because the centreline of the wagon is relatively upright, which not only forms the basis for the exterior sculpture but also allows for a large luggage compartment within the styling of the car, meaning that there was no compromise in what is a functional yet very stylish vehicle," said Messale.

Increased luggage capacity

The Focus wagon will provide customers increased luggage capacity and more flexibility – the loadspace length to the back of the rear seats is 1.04 metres and, when the rear seats are reclined, this increased to 1.67 m.

Safety

The Intelligent Safety System is a key component of every Focus - it includes driver and front passenger airbags, ABS brakes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, Beltminder system, crash severity sensor and pyrotechnic seatbelt pretensioners.

"All Focus vehicles in our range feature driver & front passenger, side and side curtain airbags as standard, adding to the already excellent safety levels of the vehicle*."

The Focus range

"As with all of our base-level Focus range, cruise control, front seat side airbags and power exterior mirrors are standard in addition to air-conditioning, ABS and a CD player," said Matheson

Other models in the Focus range are the sporty Zetec hatch which features stylish 17-inch alloy wheels, front fog lamps, a unique sports suspension, stylish body kit, a six-disc in-dash CD player and alarm.

Zetec drivers can choose from a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission and will also benefit from Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and a 4-spoke steering wheel with cruise control.

The range-topping Ghia comes complete with four-speed automatic transmission with Sequential Sports Shift, six-disc in-dash CD player, six-way power adjustable driver's seat, dual zone climate control air-conditioning, unique 16-inch alloy wheels and alarm.

MODEL PRICE
Ford Focus 2.0L Petrol Manual Hatch $30,990
Ford Focus 2.0L Petrol Automatic Hatch $32,690
Ford Focus 1.8L Diesel Manual Wagon $35,290
Ford Focus 2.0L Petrol Automatic Wagon $35,290
Ford Focus Zetec 2.0L Manual $36,590
Ford Focus Zetec 2.0L Automatic $38,290
Ford Focus Ghia 2.0L Automatic $36,990
* Side curtain airbags can be deleted which reduces the price of the vehicle by $1000