Autocar - First for car news and reviews

What is it?

Ford has improved the car’s aerodynamics, adding side skirts and a rear spoiler and modifying the grille and front bumper. Lower suspension, narrower low-resistance tyres and almost-solid wheel trims complete the package. The engine is unchanged, but the transmission uses a low-viscosity oil.

What’s it like?

The car is very driveable B-road, A-road and motorways speeds, with five well-spaced ratios and plenty of mid-range torque. Things are less impress...Read the full article

Autocar:

Ford has improved the car’s aerodynamics, adding side skirts and a rear spoiler and modifying the grille and front bumper. Lower suspension, narrower low-resistance tyres and almost-solid wheel trims complete the package. The engine is unchanged, but the transmission uses a low-viscosity oil.

I can't help wondering why most of this package isn't extended to the whole Focus range. Surely it would make sense to make the whole range more "efficient" even if not all as good as this particular model. It seems to me that a premium of £250 is just a bit of cynical money making by Ford; surely it would be better to encourage people to buy one of these by making them the same price as or even cheaper than the mainstream models.

I can't really see the point in the ECOnetic Focus when the standard 1.6TDCI gets 62.8mpg and rides and handles better. Plus the ECOnetic doesn't look good (ok the Focus isn't the best looking car in the world, but the body kit on this one looks cheap, and the wheels are nasty). For company car tax drivers there is no benefit of the ECOnetic as the standard 1.6 falls into the 13% tax category. I would happily sacrifice a few mpg for better ride, handling and looks. Also avoid the 90bhp engine, when the 110bhp is much faster and just as economical.

Do they only make the 90bhp so they can charge more for the 110bhp, I know this is n't just a Ford thing, but it is boring.

Nice car though, shame about the bodykit.