Ford Focus to be launched in India by 2015!

Ford unveiled the Focus sedan at the Bankok Auto Show in Thailand and it will be launched in the ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) region by 2015.

The Focus sedan will compete with cars like the Skoda Laura and the Chevrolet Cruze. The Focus is expected to be part of the eight global models that Ford plans to launch in India.

“The all-new Focus represents the strengths and benefits of our global One Ford strategy in serving our customers across the region,” Joe Hinrichs, president, Ford Asia Pacific and Africa, was quoted as saying in the official press release. He added that Ford has gone further in every aspect of this next-generation vehicle to give its customers quality, fuel efficiency, safety and smart technology beyond their expectations.

Looks, space and comfort

The Focus has a sporty design theme with a unique split grille integrated to the front bumper. The daytime running LED lamps on the headlights give the Focus, a premium look. The sleek, oval-shaped fog lamps are wide set to offer good visibility range.

The side profile reveals an inclined shoulder line and pronounced wheel arches. The car’s rear has side swept tail lamp cluster that reminds that of the Renault Fluence. The stop lamp usually found integrated to the windscreen is unconventionally positioned on the middle of the boot door.

The slightly raised rear bumper with integrated reflectors, give the Focus, a sporty road stance. The interiors of the Focus are expected to come with an attractive central console layout and a spacious cabin.

Performance

For the ASEAN region, Ford plans to offer two petrol engine variants (a 2-litre and a 1.6-litre). The Duratec 2.0-litre Ti-VCT GDi petrol engine delivers 168 bhp of power and 200Nm of torque while the Duratec 1.6-litre Ti-VCT engine puts out 123 bhp of power and 159Nm of torque. The engines are expected to be mated to a five-speed manual transmission or a six-speed PowerShift automatic transmission.

It is yet to be known whether Ford will launch the 2-litre engine variant or the 1.6-litre engine variant for the Indian market. Besides, there are no details about the diesel engine at the moment.

Expected Features

The Focus is expected to come with features such as Active Park Assist which uses sensors and steers on its own to park in a spot. It will also likely have an Active City Stop feature which detects obstacles on the road ahead and brakes automatically, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) which warns the driver using an orange light on the corresponding outside mirror when a vehicle enters the car’s blind spot. The Focus may also get keyless entry and a Ford power (engine) start button.

Like the new Fiesta, the Focus will have light body shell with 55% high tensile steel which lessens the body weight without compromising on safety. With regard to driving aids, the Focus is expected to get Hill Launch Assist, Emergency Brake Assist and ABS with EBD.

Expected Price

The Focus is expected to be priced in the range of Rs. 12 lakh – Rs. 15 lakh depending on the engine and model variant. The Focus will have to compete with the Chevrolet Cruze, Skoda Laura, Honda Civic, Volkswagen Jetta and the Toyota Corolla.