Ford Focus 2014: release date, price and specs

The new Ford Focus will cost from £13,995 – retaining the old model’s bargain price tag – when it arrives in showrooms later this year.

First customers will be able to drive away in their new Focus from November, with the same choice of specifications ranging from entry-level Studio to the range-topping Titanium X.

There will be a range of new technologies and more economical engines, but the updated car should be just as fun to drive as it was before. The Focus has proved extremely popular with buyers, and is currently the UK's second best-selling car, so the updated model is an eagarly anticipated contender in the family car class.

Keep reading for everything you need to know about the new Ford Focus.

New Ford Focus release date and price

The new Ford Focus will arrive in showrooms from November. Prices will start from £13,995 for the Ford Focus Studio 1.6-litre petrol, rising to £21,795 for the range-topping Titanium X diesel model. As before, customers will also get the option of Style (£16,795), Zetec (£18,295), Zetec S (£20,045) and Titanium (£19,795) trims. In fact, while prices for the entry-level models remain unchanged, the top-spec Titanium and Titanium X cars are actually £100 cheaper.

New Ford Focus driving and engines

While the Volkswagen Golf has developed a reputation for top-notch build quality, the Ford Focus has always been considered the most fun-to-drive car in the family car class, and this is set to continue in the new model, which gets revised suspension and steering – as well as a selection of new and updated engines.

Arguably the most interesting engine is the 118bhp 1.5-litre TDCi diesel, which Ford says offers a 10 per cent improvement in fuel economy – with CO2 emissions down from 109g/km to 98g/km. That means new models with this engine will be exempt from road tax.

Joining the range for the first time is the 180bhp 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol engine, which will replace the ageing 1.6-litre turbo. Ford is boasting a seven per cent improvement in CO2 emissions, with the new engine emitting 127g/km instead of 137g/km.

As before, Ford will offer a range of other economical petrol and diesel engines, including the brilliant 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol. A new version will produce emissions of less than 99g/km (for free road tax), although its power rating has yet to be revealed.

A new high-performance Ford Fiesta ST will eventually join the range and is likely to look much more sporty than the current model. We expect some fairly drastic changes to the bodywork and some technical elements of the car, but the 247bhp 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine is likely to stay.

The Focus will also be available as an all-electric model, which will compete with the new Volkswagen e-Golf and offer zero CO2 emissions.

New Ford Focus equipment and safety features

The new Ford Focus will be the first car in Europe to get Ford's SYNC 2 in-car connectivity system. It features a high-resolution eight-inch touchscreen, which controls things like the car's stereo, sat-nav, climate control and Bluetooth connection for the driver's mobile phone. The SYNC 2 system also offers 3D maps for the sat-nav and voice control, which means saying "I’m hungry", for example, will bring up a list of nearby eateries.

The new Focus also gets a raft of new features such as Perpendicular Parking, for parking alongside other vehicles in cark parks, Cross Traffic Alert that warns of approaching vehicles when reversing, and Park-Out Assist that helps the driver to exit a parallel parking space.

Safety systems have also been looked at and the new Focus gets an improved Active City Stop (ACS) collision avoidance system, which should reduce the impact of collisions and now works at speeds of up to 31mph (the old system operated up to 19mph). Also new is the Focus’ Pre-Collision Assist system, it works at higher speeds than ACS, and can also apply the brakes if it senses an imminent collision. Distance Alert, meanwhile, warns the driver when they encroach on a preset distance from the car in front.

The new Ford Focus also gets the company's MyKey technology, which was pioneered in the Ford Fiesta. It allows the owner to customise a key – to restrict the car's top speed, impose volume limits on the stereo, and lock the car's safety features (such as Electronic Stability Control) permanently on.The new model also boasts an improved Adaptive Lighting System, which increases the range of its headlights at high speeds and provides more focussed light in town, as well as working to better illuminate cyclers and pedestrians on the road.

New Ford Focus styling and interior

The new car is instantly recognisable by its prominent new chrome grille, which is far more distinctive than the one on the outgoing model and follows the more upmarket design path laid down by the current Volkswagen Golf. The new car also gets smaller headlights and taillights, while the whole car is wider and lower giving it a sportier stance.

When looking at the new interior, you get the impression that the Volkswagen Golf's user-friendly dashboard was used as a benchmark by Ford designers because the new Ford Focus feels much less cluttered inside, with fewer controls and buttons for a cleaner look. Top-spec models get an eight-inch touchscreen, with all cars boasting higher quality interior plastics.

As with the current model, the new Ford Focus will have large door bins, but the new model also gets new cupholders big enough for a large one-litre bottle.

Ford has also worked to make the car's interior quieter, with thicker glass used for the side windows and deeper, sound absorbent carpets. The new Ford Focus also gets a Door Edge Protector that extends when the door's opened to protect it from scratching against high kerbs.

For more information on the current Ford range, visit the Carbuyer Ford reviews page.