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Marton Pettendy31 May 2019
NEWS

Ford Focus Active wagon could join hatch

New Ford Focus joined by $30K crossover hatch; ST hot hatch and maybe Active wagon to come

Ford Australia has released an all-new crossover version of the new Ford Focus hatchback and it could be joined by a wagon version here if it proves popular.

The first Ford Focus Active hatch is available for $29,990 plus on-road costs – midway between the sporty Focus ST-Line hatch ($28,990) and wagon ($30,990), and $4000 more than the entry-level Ford Focus Trend hatch ($25,990) on which it’s based. The luxury-oriented Titanium hatch continues to top the Focus range at $34,490.

The third Focus body style comes with the same 134kW/240Nm 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and eight-speed automatic transmission as fitted standard to all Focus models in Australia.

It also carries over the strong standard safety suite in Ford’s latest small car, which arrived here in December, including autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keeping aid and lane departure warning, post-collision braking and speed-sign recognition.

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Other standard carryover technologies include keyless entry/start and Ford's SYNC 3 infotainment system with 8.0-inch touch-screen and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility.

But to this the Active adds chassis changes including independent multi-link rear suspension from the only Focus wagon sold here (the ST-Line), a raised ride height (30mm front, 34mm at rear) and specific spring, damper and anti-roll bar tuning.

Also unique to the German-made, front-wheel drive Ford Focus Active is a body kit comprising new-look front and rear bumpers with lower ‘skid plate’ inserts and matt-black lower edge, which is shared with the side skirts and wheel-arches, 17-inch alloy wheels with higher-profile Hankook tyres, and roof-rails.

The crossover look continues inside with Nordic Blue interior accents on the fabric seat trim, steering wheel, doors and dashboard, and Active side-sill scuff plates.

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New technologies for the Active include Trail and Slippery drive modes, which allow more and less tyre slip respectively, and a 180-degree split-view reversing camera.

And there are features not found in the base Focus Trend hatch, like wireless phone charging and dual-zone climate control.

Two option packs will be offered starting with a $1250 Driver Assistance Package including adaptive cruise control with stop/go, lane centring, evasive steer assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and rear AEB.

There’s also an $1800 Design Package comprising 18-inch alloys, adaptive LED headlights with cornering function and rear privacy glass, while other options include a panoramic sunroof ($2000), prestige paint including unique Orange Glow hue ($650).

A capped-price service offer limits each service to $299 for the first four years and like all new Fords, the Focus Active comes with a five-year/unlimited-km warranty.

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The Active shares its 365-litre boot capacity with the fourth-generation Focus hatch, the first model to be based on Ford’s new C2 platform, and is designed to capitalise the global shift away from small cars to compact SUVs.

Like the upcoming new Focus ST hot hatch, the Focus Active will be unavailable here in wagon form, but that could change if there’s demand for a small Ford crossover wagon in Australia.

Ford Australia spokesman Damion Smy told carsales.com.au the new Focus range was limited locally to just one wagon model – the sporty ST-Line -- just as the Active will be hatch-only – for now.

“We’re starting [Active] with hatch,” he said. “Hatch makes the most sense because it’s a popular, well recognised body style.

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“The sports appeal of ST-Line is what we think will attract people to a small wagon. Active wagon is a bit of a niche within a niche, be wouldn’t rule it out in future if there’s demand.”

The new Focus line-up will be further expanded by the new Focus ST hatch in March or April next year, following the December or January release of the long-awaited new Fiesta ST, which was delayed until it can be fitted with AEB as standard.

Before then, in the second half of this year, Ford Australia will release upgraded versions of the Ranger, Everest and Mondeo, all with AEB as standard across the range.

An all-new Ford Escape – with plug-in hybrid power for the first time in a Ford Australia model – will arrive here later in 2020, followed by the next-generation Ford Ranger  in 2021.

How much does the 2019 Ford Focus cost?
Trend hatch – $25,990
ST-Line hatch – $28,990
Active hatch – $29,990
ST-Line wagon – $30,990
Titanium hatch – $34,490
* Prices exclude on-road costs

Ford Focus Active options:
Prestige Paint – $650
Driver Assistance Package –$1250
Design Pack – $1800
Panoramic glass sunroof – $2000

What’s coming from Ford:
Focus Active – June
Ranger update – June
Everest update – H2 2019
Mondeo facelift – H2 2019
Fiesta ST hatch – Dec/Jan 2020
Focus ST hatch – March/April 2020
Escape/PHEV – 2020

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