Ford cleans out old in City of Gold

Ford’s stand at the Johannesburg Motor Show has its new fiesta up front and centre as its main attraction. Other vehicles on show include the 2009 Ford Ikon, the upgraded Ford Focus, the recently introduced Focus ST, the freshened Ford Bantam and the Ford Ranger automatic.

By Kelly Lodewyks

The exterior of the new Ford Fiesta features dramatic swept-back headlamp clusters, a prominent trapezoidal lower grille and a neatly curved profile that give a nod to the company’s Verve concept. The interior is similarly striking, with a bold combination of contours and a futuristic facia layout. Colour-coded bumpers, adjustable multi-function steering wheel, front power windows, an MP3 player input jack, air-conditioning, 4-way adjustable driver’s seat and central locking are all standard on the entry-level Ambiente, plus ABS with EBD and dual front and side airbags.

The Fiesta’s engine line-up includes an updated 71 kW 1,4-litre petrol unit, a new 88 kW Duratec Twin Independent Variable Cam Timing (Ti-VCT) 1,6 litre and a similarly-sized common-rail Duratorq TDCi powerplant, which produces 200 N.m of torque.

Read Mike Fourie’s write-up on the new Fiesta to see how this new hatch will impact your budget.

The 2009 Ikon boasts a new audio system consisting of four speakers and a single radio / CD player. An MP3 compatible audio jack will come later in 2009. FMCSA says that the current engine line-up is upgraded in the 2009 model with a 74 kW 1,6-litre powerplant replacing the 1,4-litre petrol unit. The line-up is complete with the 1,6-litre and 1,4-litre TDCi diesel powerplants in Ambiente Guise. The 1,4-litre diesel unit produces a claimed power output of 50kW at 4000 r/min and 160N.m torque at 2000r/min.The Ambiente model features driver and passenger airbags, body colour bumpers and door handles and 15-inch steel wheels, while the 1.6-litre Trend model offers additional features that includes a sport suspension, 15-inch alloys, body colour bumpers with fog lamps, headlight with chrome bezel integral indicators and body colour door mirrors. Comfort and convenience features include keyless remote central locking, remote tailgate boot release, rake adjustable steering column and power windows front and rear.

The exterior of the fresher Focus on display at JIMS is a result of Ford’s new “Kinetic design” styling cues, while the interior gets an upgrade with new features and technology. New exterior features include a body-colour one-piece bumper design for both front and rear bumpers, a new bonnet design and fog lamps and bezels that have also been added to the front face of the Focus. Si derivatives receive further cosmetic treatment with Sport Body Colour rear bumpers with a self-coloured diffuser area. The interior gets new door and seat trim material.

A new 1,8-litre petrol unit joins the range and kicks out the current 1,6-litre unit. The upgraded Ford Focus is expected to arrive in SA in the first quarter of 2009.

The Focus ST on display was unveiled earlier this year in both three- and five-door configurations. Cosmetic enhancements include a new front bumper with integrated new fog light housing, a larger air intake and a new honeycomb grille. The rear tailgate plays host to a new diffuser-style bumper.

A new feature is the Ford Power start button that allows easy, keyless vehicle activation. Other interior features remain unchanged with full leather trim standard on the Focus ST 5-door and optional on the Focus ST 3-door. Sculpted rear seats are also standard on both models, while leather and brushed-aluminium finishes further characterise the interior environment.

The Focus ST is powered by the 2,5-litre 5-cylinder turbocharged unit that produces 166kW at 6000 r/min and 320Nm at 6000 r/min. Mated with a six-speed transmission the Focus ST sprints from zero to 100 km/h in 6,8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 240 km/h.

The new Bantam range on show at JIMS features a new 1,4-litre TDCi unit and a 55 kW 1,3- and a 70 kW 1,6-litre petrol unit. The new diesel unit has an output of 50 kW at 4 000 r/min and 160 N.m at 2 000 r/min. Noise reduction technology on the new diesel unit incorporates a system called “Accelerometer Pilot Control” (APC) that Ford claims makes adjustments every 0,3 milliseconds to the pilot main injectors, to ensure an incredibly quiet drive.

Other changes include various exterior tweaks to the headlamp clusters and grille. The range comprises the XL (as the base model), XLT, and the XLE models.

The Ford Ranger line-up makes an extra space to include an automatic transmission in the 3,0-litre TDCi Double Cab XLE model. This model is available in both 4x2 and 4x4 guises.

All Ford passenger and light commercial vehicles come standard with a 4-year/120000km fully comprehensive "true bumper to bumper" manufacturer warranty.

Source: cartoday.com