• Ford introduces EcoBoost Hybrid drive system for Focus; The 48-volt soft hybrid and cylinder deactivation system improve fuel economy and performance.
  • A customizable digital display on the 12.3-inch clock panel, as well as an early warning system for road hazards at the end of the year will increase comfort and reduce driver voltage while driving.
  • The new version of Focus Connected, complementing the range of various versions – the sport Focus ST-Line, the stylish Focus Titanium, inspired by the Focus SUV segment and the luxury Focus Vignale.

WARSAW, 24 June 2020 – Ford introduced the improved Focus to the European market with an economical, electrified EcoBoost Hybrid drive system.

The advanced 48-volt installation of the soft hybrid, working in conjunction with the 1.0-liter EcoBoost unit, provides 155 HP of maximum power at 93 g / km CO2 (NEDC).

This means a 17% improvement in fuel economy over a comparable power unit – the 150-horsepower 1.5-liter EcoBoost petrol engine with six-speed manual transmission (NEDC).1

The new electrified drive system is not all changes. The improved Focus also offers greater comfort, including a new digital display customizable on the 12.3-inch clock panel, as well as new connectivity features that will make the owners of the FordPass Connect standard a source of greater satisfaction for owners. These will include an early warning system for traffic hazards, available at the end of the year.2

The new version of Focus Connected equipment as standard provides equipment perfectly matching the needs of business and private drivers, including an induction charger for smartphones and navigation for the voice-activated SYNC 3 system with an 8-inch touch screen3.

Focus will continue to be offered as a five-door hatchback, station wagon, and on selected markets with a four-door body, in a wide range of varieties – including the stylish Focus Titanium version, as the Focus Active crossover inspired by the SUV segment style, as well as the sporty Focus ST-Line and exclusive Focus Vignale. EcoBoost hybrid powertrains are available in a wide range of versions and bodies.

“Our electrified powertrains have been designed not only to save money and reduce fuel consumption, but also to increase the satisfaction of driving our vehicles,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president of marketing, sales and services at Ford of Europe. – Focus EcoBoost Hybrid successfully combines electric and gas drive, ensuring economy and high performance that would have seemed a few years ago.

Focus joins the passenger Puma, Kuga and Fiesta, as well as Ford Transit and Transit Custom delivery vehicles, in which we’ve already used soft hybrid systems to reduce fuel consumption. Ford has committed to offering an electrified version of each passenger vehicle it introduces in Europe, so by the end of next year it will increase the European range of electrified vehicles to 18 models, each of which will receive one of the following powertrain versions: soft hybrid, full hybrid, hybrid with external charging or all-electric drive with battery operation.

EcoBoost Hybrid saving

The 1.0-liter EcoBoost Hybrid hybrid drive system with 155hp provides more than double the efficiency of the 2.0hp 145hp gasoline engine installed in Focus just 10 years ago, while fuel consumption has dropped by as much as 45 percent. (NEDC).

In the Focus EcoBoost Hybrid model, also available in the 125 HP version, the standard 1.0-liter EcoBoost alternator has been replaced with an integrated starter / generator (BISG), driven belt that stores energy recovered during deceleration, and then the system uses it to charge a set of air-cooled lithium-ion batteries with a rated voltage of 48 V.

Placing the 48-volt battery under the Focus front seats has allowed the soft hybrid drive system to be integrated without losing cargo or passenger space.

BISG also works as an electric motor, smoothly cooperating with a three-cylinder combustion unit with low internal friction losses, using stored energy to strengthen the torque during normal driving and acceleration, as well as to power the vehicle’s electrical equipment.

The intelligent, self-regulating soft hybrid system constantly monitors the way the vehicle is used to determine when and how to charge the battery intensively. This allows you to get tangible benefits and use the energy stored in the battery in accordance with one of two action plans:

  • Torque substitution using a BISG electric motor, whereby the system delivers up to 24 Nm of torque, reducing the load on a gasoline engine and contributing to CO2 emissions from 93 g / km in the NEDC cycle (115 g / km WLTP) and fuel consumption from 4, 1 l / 100 km in the NEDC cycle (from 5.1 l / 100 km WLTP),
  • Complementing the torque using the BISG electric motor to increase the total torque available in the system by 20 Nm above the level achieved by the gasoline engine alone at full load and providing 50 percent higher torque in the lower range of rotation. The result is an increase in dynamics.

BISG also enabled Ford engineers to reduce the compression ratio of the 1.0 – EcoBoost engine and use a larger turbocharger, which they decided to limit the effects of a slower response to the accelerator pedal. This was possible due to the use of additional torque, which also increased the engine and turbocharger speed.

The more powerful BISG engine in the Focus EcoBoost Hybrid allows the use of the Auto Start-Stop system in more frequent situations, which provides additional fuel savings. BISG is able to restart the engine in 350 milliseconds, the Stop-in-Gear function can also turn off the engine when coasting to a standstill, even when the vehicle is in gear with the clutch pedal depressed and allows the engine to be activated in accordance with one of three previously selected settings: 15 km / h, 20 km / h, or 25 km / h.

In addition, the FOCUS EcoBoost Hybrid drive systems use a cylinder deactivation system that continues to work with 1.0-liter and 1.5-liter EcoBoost gasoline engines.

The cost-effective cylinder deactivation system can automatically shut down one of the engine cylinders when full displacement is not needed, for example when coasting or driving with low power requirements. One of the cylinders can be deactivated or restarted in 14 milliseconds without compromising on performance or engine quality.

Customers can still choose between two diesel engines: a 1.5-liter EcoBlue engine and a 2.0-liter EcoBlue, working with an advanced eight-speed automatic transmission or a six-speed manual transmission.

In constant contact with the world

New systems, including a digital display customizable on the 12.3-inch clock panel, as well as the Early Warning System (LHI), which will appear later this year, make the refined Focus easier to drive than ever before.

The fully customizable 24-bit digital display on the clock panel displays detailed, more intuitive images and icons in the full spectrum of colors, making them brighter, less tiring to the eyes and easier to read. The set of indicators also allows the driver to prioritize the displayed information according to his own preferences.

The digital display customizable on the 12.3-inch clock panel, available in Focus EcoBoost Hybrid, is distinguished by a different, transparent graphics informing the driver about the state of electricity consumption. Drivers can analyze how much electricity was generated by installing a soft hybrid and track its transfer to the battery or use of the propulsion system to reduce fuel consumption or improve performance.

The top edges of the screen, made using free forming technology, originally developed for the production of optical lenses, were given a form that seamlessly incorporated the entire module into the dashboard. The panel contains circuits built into the display, which allowed designers to give it shapes that go beyond the traditional rectangular form.

The FordPass Connect modem will allow Focus drivers to use the available Early Warning System for the first time. The system can provide information about a danger on the road, even when the danger is behind a corner or in front of vehicles ahead and the driver is not yet able to see it.

Messages about local threats are sent regardless of the information from the satellite navigation system and are made available by local authorities and by vehicles connected to the cloud of data.

Thanks to this, the driver is informed about such difficulties as road works, emergency stopping of another vehicle, the presence of animals, pedestrians or other obstacles on the road, and even about dangerous driving conditions. Often, the driver receives these warning messages even before they are in his field of vision.

– What distinguishes the early warning system from road dangers is that the connected cars are elements of the ‘Internet of Things’. “The system is not dependent on third-party applications,” said Joerg Beyer, general director of design at Ford of Europe. – This is a significant step forward. The warnings are detailed, accurate and tailored to your situation, thus improving your trip.

FordPass Connect allows customers to remotely control selected vehicle functions from anywhere using a mobile device and the FordPass app. In addition to helping drivers plan faster, less stressful journeys thanks to real-time traffic updates for the navigation system, it offers remote: door locking and unlocking, remote start4 for Focus models with an eight-speed automatic transmission, you can also read the location and status of the vehicle, check the fuel level , alarm condition, tire pressure, oil change mileage and other parameters.

Customer preferences. Innovative systems

Varied in terms of character versions of Focus, still fit into the individual preferences of customers.

The new Focus Connected version is offered with an advanced set of standard driver assistance systems designed to give the car driver confidence behind the wheel and help him stay focused while driving. The list of additions also includes an induction charger for a smartphone, SYNC 3 with navigation, adaptive cruise control, 5 front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera.

Focus ST-Line and Focus Active are now offered with additional equipment as standard: dual-zone, automatic, electronic air conditioning, self-darkening rearview mirror, wipers with rain sensor and keyless access system. Stylistic additions include the standard larger roof spoiler in the Focus ST-Line version and the standard black headliner for Focus Active X.

Advanced driver assistance systems, available as optional options, include adaptive cruise control with Stop & Go function, speed limit sign recognition and center lane keeping system, 5 assist in smooth cornering and a parking assist system that provides fully automated maneuvers including Gear selection, acceleration and braking when parking, available at the touch of a button. 5 Active braking assistance is standard – helping drivers avoid accidents or alleviate collision with vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. 5

NOTE: LHD markets only