23-01-2008

Met de nieuwste Ford Focus nog maar net in showroom verkondigd de Auto Express de komst van de Focus III, in 2010. De beelden die ze er bij laten zien lieten wij 13-02-2007 al zien. Toen zagen we deze foto's of photoshop beelden al rondzwerven op  het internet. Nu beweert de Auto Express dat dit waarschijnlijk serieuze beelden zijn van de Ford Focus anno 2010.

Ze schrijven er het volgende over:

Ford’s moving up with Focus MkIII
All-new best-seller sets its sights on Audi A3 and BMW 1-Series.

The Focus is aiming ever higher at Ford – and Auto Express has the pictures to prove it. This is an exclusive preview of how the next generation of Ford’s family favourite is shaping up.

Following in the footsteps of the hugely successful current car – which has only just received a makeover – the Focus MkIII will be better in every way, with sleeker looks, more space and a sharper driving experience.

That’s just as well, because when it reaches showrooms, the model will have a host of fresh competitors, including the new Vauxhall Astra and VW’s Golf MkVI. The next Focus also has premium brands in its sights. As the S-MAX and Mondeo have shown, Ford’s ethos of combining good looks with a fun driving experience has seen it tempt buyers away from prestige marques, including BMW.



That means the Focus will move upmarket, blurring the lines further between compact family cars and models such as Audi’s A3 Sportback, the BMW 1-Series and Saab’s forthcoming small hatchback, the 9-1.

Key to the MkIII’s appeal will be its head-turning styling. As you can see from our pictures, the Focus will be chunkier and sportier than ever.

With meaty wheelarches, a wide track and athletic profile, it really stands out. At the front, it’s clear the Fiesta previewing Verve concept has influenced the new face of the Focus, which has swept-back LED headlamps, a small upper grille and a larger lower air intake. At the rear, the rakish tailgate gets L-shaped lights as well as a neat roof spoiler. A further design highlight is the panoramic windscreen, which brings even more light into the cabin.

A longer wheelbase creates more space inside, while the interior will be trimmed in classier materials. Sat-nav is set to feature as standard on even the most basic models, along with Bluetooth phone connectivity and Internet access. All variants will have key­less entry and starting, too.

Under the skin, the new Focus will be packed with even more up-to-the-minute technology, such as composite materials, in an attempt to keep the weight down and reduce emissions.

The current car’s suspension set-up will be carried over for the next generation, albeit with tweaks aimed at increasing driver appeal. A primary goal for engineers will be to improve refinement – and in a bid to achieve this, they will use a stiffer chassis and better sound deadening.

Under the bonnet, it’s likely that the existing model’s large, thirsty, nor­mally aspirated petrol engines will be replaced by new small turbocharged units. The diesel range is to be uprated and carried over. All Focus variants will also feature a stop-start system, which switches the engine off when station­ary in traffic, to cut CO2 output.

Buyers will be offered Ford’s Power­shift twin-clutch gearbox, plus an even cleaner evolution of the low-emission ECOnetic model, as the Focus bids to become one of the greenest cars in its class when it arrives in 2010. But there will still be room for a hot ST, which will use a 260bhp version of the current 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo.

Bron: Autoexpress.co.uk

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