In more ways than one, the new Focus represents a huge step in Ford’s commitment to the Asia-Pacific region.  Once a Europe/North American market, the Mk. I Focus has garnered for itself numerous awards and has become a favorite among buyers, including England’s Prince William.  But while his Royal Highness has been enjoying the Focus’ class-leading dynamics, our market had to make do with a perennial underdog: the Lynx.  Not anymore.  This year, Ford has introduced the Mk. II Focus to the world’s fastest-growing automobile market, and from the looks of things, has nailed everything at the right places.

Last week, a group of media folks got to try the Focus’ abilities on the Batangas Racing Circuit, no less.  And while it’s good to talk about the fun activities that day, it wasn’t the point of the event.  In reality, it was to de-mystify Ford’s new C-segment fighter and what makes it such a class above the competition.

Of course, when talking about the Focus only one thing comes to mind: unparalleled dynamics.  But before getting on that subject, there are a lot of things that show the sheer sophistication of this vehicle.  In fact, Ford has summarized it into three key points: European Styling, German Engineering and Driving Dynamics.  These pillars create one cohesive product that simply revolutionizes the segment.

At a passing glance, the Focus’ styling doesn’t call attention to itself.  Like a precision engineered Swiss watch, only careful scrutiny will highlight the level of design detail.  Chris Bird, Ford’s European design chief wanted the Mk. II Focus to move away from the brash, in-your-face look of the Mk. I.  He thought that the world was ready for a more subdued, more grown-up feel without sacrificing the original DNA.

The resulting look is soft, simplistic and elegant.  The Focus makes use of soft, clean lines to create strong looking sections and improvement in aerodynamics.  The silhouette alone conveys an image of solidity while the strong “energy lines” create an illusion of movement.  The bulbous wheel arches give a muscular stance, while 205/55 R 16 tires fill the wheel well.

Designers penned the Focus from the inside out, as evidenced by the long wheelbase, cabin-forward stance and wide track.  As a result, it has best-in-class headroom and generous space for all occupants. 

Inside, the Focus is equally precise with advanced level of ergonomics.  Besides an excellent driving position, it offers wonderful ergonomics—all resulting in increased comfort, ease of use and safety.

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