The updated compact, which Ford Motor Co. unveiled Sunday at the 2014 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, has a more luxurious look in line with the Dearborn-based automaker’s new vehicle lineup along with new safety and in-vehicle technology features.
DEARBORN, MI- The 2015 Ford Focus will feature refined styling and a new EcoBoost engine, officials announced today.
The updated compact, which Ford Motor Co. unveiled the hatchback version of Sunday at the 2014 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, has a more luxurious look in line with the Dearborn-based automaker’s new vehicle lineup along with new safety and in-vehicle technology features.
“We think we’ve given the car a much more elegant and sophisticated look,” said Moray Callum, Ford design vice president. “And really giving the customer a premium experience at an obtainable price.”
The Focus, which is built at eight plants on four continents around the globe, is an extremely important vehicle for Ford. It is sold in 140 countries and the top nameplate in the world, according to R.L. Polk & Co. data.
Officials did not announce pricing, fuel economy or performance figures for the 2015 Focus models.
Ford added its award-winning 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine with a six-speed manual transmission to the vehicle’s growing engine lineup for the U.S. The direct injection, turbocharged engine first debuted domestically last year on the 2014 Ford Fiesta.
Raj Nair, Ford group vice president of global product development, said the 1.0-liter will be more expensive, but did not announce pricing. On the Fiesta, the small displacement engine is a $995 option.
2015 Ford FocusThe engine will add to the current lineup of the 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 160 horsepower and 146 lb.-ft. of torque and another 2.0-liter EcoBoost with 252 horsepower and 270 lb.-ft. of torque for the Focus ST.
“I think they’ll get into the car for fuel economy, and then they’ll be surprised at how fun to drive it is,” Nair said.
Ford considers the new Focus -- expected to go on sale in the fall -- a “major” refresh, but not the next-generation of the popular vehicle.
The exterior of the vehicle is noticeably different. Besides having the “Ford DNA,” the vehicle features the automaker’s oval slotted grille, a restyled hood, signature lighting for the headlamps and taillamps, new rear lamp clusters and a restyled trunk lid.
Nair said customers will be impressed with the vehicle’s exterior and surprised by its redesigned interior, which experienced changes “above and beyond what you would typically see in a refresh in the industry.”
Inside, is a modern look, with satin chrome detailing, new seat trims, switches and an available heated steering wheel. Storage is improved with a new center console incorporating adjustable cupholders, and a new, easier-to-access glove box.
Standard on Focus for the first time, the rearview camera will appear on either a 4.2-inch screen or the 8-inch screen that comes with MyFord Touch-equipped cars. The vehicle also features a new SYNC AppLink system, which Android and iOS smartphone owners can use with more than 60 AppLink-enabled apps from the Apple App Store and Android market.
2015 Ford Focus (Courtesy interior photo of European-specific model)New safety features include available Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) and lane-keeping system.
Four-door and five-door versions, which also feature suspension and chassis upgrades, will be available in the U.S. The four-door version will make its global debut at the 2014 New York International Auto Show in April, according to Ford.
Seema Bardwaj, Focus consumer marketing manager, said the 2015 model will live up to customers’ expectations for Ford.
“The focus nameplate is a key driver to Ford’s favorable opinion,” she said. “When people think of Focus, they think of Ford. They think positively.”
As of the 2014 model-year, Ford had sold more than 10 million Focus models worldwide since the nameplate launched in 1998.
The 2015 Focus is part of a record year for Ford, which is expected to launch 23 all-new or significantly refreshed vehicles around the world — more than double the 11 global vehicle launches in 2013. Sixteen of those cars and trucks are expected for the U.S. market.