Focus CO2 edition has winning eco credentials.
04-Aug-2009
It would appear that the motoring column has gone all environmental this week as the second car we featured is the new special edition ultra low CO2 edition of the focus.
Much like the Passat featured above, this is a car which we are terribly familiar with, not least because it has been consistently one of the country’s best sellers over the last ten years, but also because it has been multi award winning both here and across Europe.
There is no need to get too much into the basic Focus package other than to say it boasts class-leading driving characteristics and driving pleasure, is hugely practical and is already imbued with decently low running costs.
It is also a very good looking machine and one which has decent specification levels as well as being very driver and passenger friendly, but it now has a new attraction.
Although this is not a full-blown Econetic model, ford engineers have nevertheless worked their magic to bring this 1.6 litre 90 bhp turbo diesel down to the lowest tax band because it generates only 118 g/km and therefore only costs €104 in road tax annually.
On top of that this engine will return a consumption figure of 4.5 litres per 100km, while also being able to do 0-100km dash in12.6 seconds and achieving a top speed of 180kph.
The focus represents very decent value for money in the segment and I have no doubt it will greatly assist the car’s bid to remain at the top of the sales charts in what Ford boss Eddie Murphy describes elsewhere in this column as the industry’s “annus horibilis”.
It will be interesting to see if others follow suit.
Colley's Lowdown
The Cost: €20,715
The Engine: a recently tweaked version of the 1.6 litre turbo diesel now fits into the lowest tax band.
The Comfort Zone: decent-with air con., electric front windows, central locking, front fog lamps and more.
The competition: Chevrolet Lacetti, Citroen C4, Fiat Bravo, Honda Civic, Hyundai i30, Kia Cee’d, Mazda 3, Mercedes a-Class, Mitsubishi Lancer, Nissan Qashqai, Opel Astra, Peugeot 308, Renault Megane, Seat Leon, Skoda Octavia, Subaru Impreza, Toyota Auris, VW Golf, Volvo C30.
Article reproduced from Irish Examiner 29 July 2009.