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Ford Focus Gallery
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| PERFORMANCE RATING: |
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Four petrol and two diesel engines are offered in the Focus. Pick of the petrol bunch is the 1.6-litre Ti-VCT which has variable camshaft timing to give 113bhp and 110 lb ft of torque at 4,150rpm. On the road, this engine feels livelier than the figures suggest. Other engines include a wheezy 78bhp 1.4-litre, a 98bhp version of the 1.6-litre and a 143bhp 2.0-litre. This last unit really gives the chassis a chance to shine.
Of the two diesels, the 2.0-litre 134bhp TDCi unit is recommended for its ample 236lb ft slug of torque available from a low 2,000rpm. It's fairly quiet, particularly when cruising, and the gearbox's ratios are well spaced. We wouldn't recommend the 1.6-litre TDCi when mated to Ford's CVT continuously variable automatic gearbox. Its step-off from standstill is painfully lethargic, particularly when cold. The CVT's fully automatic mode shifts up and down laboriously, which makes for frustrating speed changes. There are seven pre-set ratios, which are easier to use, but if you're using them, you may as well have a normal auto 'box or perhaps even a manual.
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