Ford adds Emergency Assistance to Focus range

FORD has given its Focus small-car range a minor specification update with the addition of a number of safety and comfort features to all variants, except the ST hot hatch, from July.

Despite the changes, the Blue Oval has held the pricing for the Focus, which kicks off from $20,290 for the base manual Ambiente hatch and tops out at $38,290 for the sizzling ST performance model.

All variants now come standard with the Sync Emergency Assistance system which sends a voice message to 000 to alert operators that the vehicle has been involved in a crash once the airbags have been deployed or the fuel cut-off switch activated, allowing hands-free communication.

The system pairs the driver's mobile phone via Bluetooth to the Sync connectivity system. Of course, the phone must be in mobile phone range for the Emergency Assistance to function.

This system is already found in the Ford EcoSport and Kuga SUVs and the Fiesta ST hot hatch, with other Ford models to get it over time.

The base Focus Ambiente also gets rear parking sensors, while the Trend now has dual-zone climate control and a convenience pack which includes automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, auto-dimming rear-view mirror and follow-me-home lights as standard.

The mid-spec Focus Sport adds keyless entry and a push-button start, while the range-topping Titanium now offers a power sunroof as standard.

The sunroof has been removed from the Sports Executive Pack, although it remains an option. The pack price has been reduced accordingly to $1200, down from $2300, and now includes adaptive cruise control, bi-Xenon HID headlights and Ford's Active City Stop emergency braking system.

Ford Australia vice president of marketing, sales and service Graeme Whickman said the new additions to the Focus should boost the appeal of its small-car range.

“We are always looking at ways to make sure our customers are getting features they want and desire,” he said.

“These added features will ensure Focus remains a key consideration among prospective buyers.

“With its efficient, yet powerful engines, Ford SYNC connectivity and five-star ANCAP crash rating, the Focus has exactly what our customers expect of a compact hatch and sedan.”The current Focus arrived in Australia in August 2011, and a facelifted model, revealed at this year's Geneva motor show, is set to roll into local showrooms in the first quarter of next year.

Ford has sold 7218 Focuses in the first five months of this year, which is a 14 per cent drop over the same period last year.

The Focus is neck-and-neck with arch-rival Holden's Cruze, which has shifted 7261 units so far this year, a 28.3 per cent slide compared with January to May sales last year.