Camouflaged Ford Focus prototypes have been spotted in various guises while undergoing both hot- and cold-weather testing, confirming development of the small car’s mid-life upgrade is well under way.
Set to feature a new trapezoidal front grille – similar to that already seen on the Focus Electric and Focus ST, as well as the new Fiesta and Mondeo –the mid-life Ford Focus refresh will also include revised front and rear bumpers and new headlights and tail-lights.
Changes to the bonnet and front guards may also be seen, based on the test cars’ heavy cladding.
Interior tweaks will also comprise a bigger infotainment and sat-nav screen, new centre console buttons and simplified climate controls – taking cues from the Focus Electric.
Though Ford is yet to confirm engine changes, a turbocharged 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol is tipped to join the local line-up, rather than the US car maker’s award-winning 1.0-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost unit.
Ford Australia may also look to replace the current small car’s decade-old 2.0-litre four-cylinder Duratec petrol engine with the significantly more modern 1.6-litre four-cylinder EcoBoost available in some markets overseas. A six-speed manual transmission available in select European Focus variants could be considered to replace the current car’s five-speed unit.
The new-look Ford Focus is expected to launch in 2015, potentially joined by a long-rumoured high-performance RS version packing as much as 257kW.
The current third-generation Focus has been on sale globally since 2011.
