New Ford Focus priced

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The new third generation Ford Focus has been priced. It will cost from £15,995 when UK sales begin in March 2011. When you take into account the fact it’s priced at the upcoming 20 per cent VAT rate, it effectively works out cheaper than the outgoing Focus. Two body styles – a five-door hatchback and an estate – and seven engines – three petrol, four diesel – are available from launch. Your initial choice of Focus ranges from the 104bhp/136g/km 1.6-litre petrol five-door Edge (£15,995) to the 161bhp/139g/km 2.0-litre diesel automatic estate Titanium X (£25,095). The entry-level Edge trim gets lots of equipment, with a digital radio, Bluetooth connection, alarm, Isofix seats and Torque Vectoring Control (which balances torque distribution between the two front wheels to aid handling) the highlights. Zetec trim is predicted to be the best seller, though – it adds 16in alloy wheels, a heated front windscreen and sports seats to the Edge’s spec and costs from £16,995 to £21,845 depending on engine and body style. And while the most frugal diesels emit just 109g/km of CO2 (£20 annual tax), the most appealing engine is Ford’s petrol-powered 1.6-litre Ecoboost. With the help of direct injection and a turbo it produces 148bhp while emitting just 139g/km (a more powerful version is due, too), and it certainly impressed when we drove the Focus’s MPV sibling, the new Ford C-Max. That car’s dynamics came in for very high praise, too, so hopes are high for the new Focus continuing its status as class best for handling. Keep your eye on evo.co.uk for a first drive of the all-new Ford Focus in the New Year. Review of the new Ford C-Max MPV here See a video and gallery of the new Ford Focus ST See the Ford Focus RS take on its hot hatch rivals