New standard features and sportier character make Focus more attractive.
05-17-08: It’s not an sooped up SVT , but Ford has been listening to it’s customers. What they heard from owners of the all new 2008 Focus was that the coupe needed a little more zip. Customer’s said it should have a sportier personality to set it apart from the four-door sedan. That is exactly what Ford has done just one year after the debut of the new Focus.
“We’ve spent a lot of time talking with small-car customers and Focus enthusiasts,” said Sam De La Garza, Focus marketing manager. “Their overwhelming feedback was that a sportier exterior design could attract even more Millennials, or those people born between 1980 and 1995 – 11,000 of whom reach driving age every day in the U.S.”
With that in mind, the Focus team sculpted the coupe’s new front and rear fascias to provide a sportier appearance. The lower front fascia incorporates a larger open area that bares a strong resemblance to the acclaimed design of the new global Ford Fiesta subcompact. The fog lamps – now standard – are better integrated into the overall design of the front fascia, and its signature two-bar chrome front grille and chrome accents around the headlamps have been darkened for added differentiation. That change alone gives the Focus a meaner and more down to business look.
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The top model Focus SES will gets a high-mounted spoiler incorporated into the design of the roof. The high-mounted design contributes to Focus’ overall muscular stance. The SES also gets a set of dark chrome 17-inch aluminum wheels to complete the coupe’s exterior makeover.
Buyers of the 2009 Focus SES coupe will also get more horsepower and a throatier sound, thanks to a new sport-tuned exhaust. The SES coupe with a four-speed automatic transmission gets a tighter 4.2 final drive ratio to deliver quicker off-the-line acceleration for a faster 0-60 mph time.
The 2.0-liter DOHC 4-cylinder engine pumps out 143 horsepower when mated to a five-speed manual transmission and 140 horsepower when paired the automatic. For those who want to be green, the base 130-horsepower Duratec 20E engine qualifies as a Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV). Ford says the 20E’s tailpipe emissions are cleaner than some hybrid gas-electric vehicles. Either engine delivers a combined 35 mph EPA rating.
Upping the ante on features, Ford has made SYNC standard equipment on the SES series. It remains an option on the SE. SYNC is a fully integrated in-vehicle, voice-activated communications and entertainment system for customers to use their Bluetooth cell phones and digital media players.
SYNC was first introduced on the 2008 Focus and was an immediate hit with customers, helping to increase Focus’ share in an extremely competitive small-car market. Nearly 50 percent of the 2008 model year Focus units sold during April included SYNC. SYNC-equipped vehicles sell nearly twice as fast as those without. So making it standard on the premium coupe makes a lot of business sense.
Lastly, Ford added electronic stability control (ESC) as an option for 2009, which uses sophisticated sensors and the anti-lock braking system to help correct skids that can lead to accidents. ESC is fast becoming a must have especially for those who live in icy or wet regions.
Overall, Ford has sweetened the deal for the 2009 Focus coupe. No, it’s no SVT pocket-rocket and there is nothing like that in sight. But if you need a small economical daily driver, this one just got a little more attractive.
