2014 Ford Focus: OFFICIAL

The 2014 Ford Focus facelift has been officially revealed with cosmetic changes, upgraded interior and changes to suspension, steering and engines.

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The Ford Focus is already one of the best cars in its class, but the 2014 version of the Focus – revealed today officially after a leak over the weekend – looks set to make the new Focus even more appealing.

The most obvious visual change is the adoption of the Aston Martin grill that now adorns the nose of Ford’s latest models, and that is enhanced with a new front bumper, re-profiled bonnet, slimmer headlight and a tweak to the tailgate with new lights too.

Inside, the new Focus loses many of the buttons that are scattered around the current model to be replaced by controls run through the touchscreen, a new steering wheel, thicker carpets and thicker glass for better sound insulation, new sliding integrated arm rest, satin black trim and chrome detailing and the arrival of Ford’s connected SYNC 2.

But in many ways, the biggest changes are under the skin with a stiffer front end, revised suspension geometry, extra lateral stiffness in the steering related bushes, re-tuned shock absorbers, tweaked ESC and re-tuned electric steering, all designed to give the new Focus better handling and steering.

Engine options are improved too – with the disels up to 19 per cent more efficient and the petrols 17 per cent – with the Focus being the first European Ford to get the new 1,5 litre EcoBoost petrol offering 148bhp or 177bhp and the 1.5 litre TDCi with 94bhp or 118bhp.

The 1.0 litre EcoBoost engine will continue with either 99bhp or 123bhp, with Ford offering a version with 99g/km, the first non-hybrid family car to dip below 100g/km, as will the 2.0 litre TDCi with 148bhp and a 14 per cent improvement in economy. Therw ill also be an electric version of the new Focus.

Joe Bakaj, Product development VP for Ford Europe, said:

Diesel or petrol, the new Focus will offer engines that deliver a compelling combination of significantly improved fuel efficiency and surprising power – as well as the zero-emissions option offered by the Focus Electric, our electrified version.

The new 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol engine will directly benefit from technologies pioneered by the 1.0-litre EcoBoost – including an entirely new cylinder head design with improved cooling and integrated exhaust manifold for best possible performance and fuel efficiency, and reductions in weight and friction of both internal components and accessories to help deliver a more economical, smoother-running and freer-revving engine.

The 2014 Ford Focus debuts today at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona and will be revealed at the Geneva Motor Show next month before going on sale from the second half of 2014. Ford hasn’t revealed prices yet.