Ford Unveils 2015 Focus, 1-Liter 3-Pot Manual-Only For U.S.
Ahead of its world debut at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain prior to making the rounds at the Geneva and New York auto shows next month, Ford has unveiled its redesigned 2015 Focus.
The Detroit Free Press reports the updated Focus, set to enter showrooms in Europe and the United States this fall with assembly in South America and Asia following soon after, takes its looks from its Fusion stablemate with a new grill, while a higher hood line, lower stance, new lighting elements and a restyled trunk lid for the sedan complete the package.
Underneath the hood, the 1.0L EcoBoost three-cylinder from the Fiesta will find a home in the Focus. Like the Fiesta, the engine will only be paired with a six-speed manual for the U.S. market; other markets will receive an automatic option, as well as the station wagon above. Though Ford hasn’t released mileage figures, the pairing is expected to deliver above the 40 mpg highway rating held by the current model.
Inside, the driver will have greater access to their car’s electronic communications with the Blue Oval’s SYNC AppLink system, allowing iOS and Android users to download and use more than 60 related apps to access everything from real-time vehicle data to hands-free notifications when a phone is connected. In addition, lane-keeping and blind-spot warning systems will be standard.
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This 3 cyl sucks. No other way to describe it. Sounds like garbage, vibrates like crazy, and awful turbo lag. I can say it does get excellent mileage, and has a bit of oomph if you can keep the turbos spinning. I would NEVER buy this motor. Not worth whatever fuel savings it might offer. Not looking forward to 3 cylinder engines in our future.
The 3 cyl "liter class" car is actually a big seller for much of the planet. I recently rented a Suzuki car in this class, the Celerio, while on an island. My first impression was that there was a loose spark plug wire. Once I opened the hood I realized a cylinder was missing, and why odd numbers of cylinders are rare. The car drove OK, in a world where 65 mph was a top speed, and there was nowhere to go faster. The car did very well on poor pavement, but was small enough that my children, 6 foot and taller than I, complained that their heads hit the roof when the car went over a speed bump. There was a driver's airbag but nothing else, and I am sure I'd rather take my chances on a motorcycle. In most of the places this car sells, that is the other choice, and I found a bit about how ownership of a liter class car for much of the planet IS a sign of middle class. We are very privileged here. I don't see a 3 cyl as working in the US. We have taken to fours, small ones, with and without turbos, sixes and have mostly given up the birthright V8. The Focus will pass crash tests, of course, but I don't see wanting a 3 cyl....and I already do bizarre engines with my diesel. The Celerio got 60 mpg, so there was that.