Ford Focus 2019 specifications confirmed

Ford Australia has announced pricing and specification ahead of the car's arrival in Australia in November. 

Initially at least, the Focus will come in three trim levels - Trend, ST-Line and Titanium. While we don't yet have the pricing, it's unlikely price rises will be steep.

The Focus turns 20 this year (although it didn't arrive in Australia until a few years after its Euro launch) and this car is all-new from the ground up, according to Ford. The new exterior also has a local link, with Melbourne native Jordan Demkiw winning the internal design competition.

At this stage all cars coming here will feature the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol three-cylinder matched to Ford's new eight-speed automatic. That will, Ford hopes, banish the memory of the twin-clutch PowerShift. Developing 134kW/240Nm, it's hardly a sports machine - that will have to wait for the rumoured and not-denied ST.

The Focus range also features a standard safety list that includes AEB, 180-degree reversing camera, lane departure warning and lane keep assist. 

The cabin has had quite the redesign. With a longer wheelbase, there's more legroom in the back and further changes to the package mean the dash is now 100mm further away from the driver for that airy Audi-style feel. The button count has been slashed so the polka-dot effect of the old dash is now consigned to history.

The Active is a jacked-up Focus in the same vein as the Subaru XV.

The new 8.0-inch screen has Ford's 'SYNC3' system with sat nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The top-of-the-line Titanium has the new Bang & Olufsen system for the audiophiles.

The range starts, as it has for some time, with the Trend. Rolling on 16-inch alloys, it comes standard with the eight-speed automatic, climate control, auto wipers and headlights and cloth trim. The Trend will be available in the five-door hatch.

The ST-Line replaces the Sport with its own bumpers, black honeycomb grille and aero bits as well as 10mm lower suspension with firmer springs and dampers. Building on the Trend's spec, the ST-Line will also come in the wagon bodystyle. The ST-Line comes with 17-inch alloys, flat-bottom steering wheel, standard cloth trim, wireless phone charging and dual-zone climate control.

The Titanium picks up some classy chrome trim, dynamic 'light bending' LED headlights and driving lights, reverse cross traffic alert with reverse AEB. The Titanium also scores the 10-speaker 675-watt B&O sound system and leather trim.

The Trend and Titanium land with the torsion beam suspension taken from the new Fiesta ST while the ST-Line has the more sophisticated multi-link rear end.

The new 8.0-inch screen has Ford's 'SYNC3' system with sat nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Absent from the range is the Vignale with its dynamic damping and, for the moment, we won't be seeing the Active.

The Active is a jacked-up Focus in the same vein as the Subaru XV. Riding 30mm higher on bigger tyres and higher suspension, it also has the de rigueur unpainted plastic cladding. Ford Australia isn't committing to the Active but isn't hiding its desire to have it join the range.

The new Focus will arrive in November and pricing will be released closer to its local release.

Is the new Focus on your small car shopping list? Tell us what you think in the comments below.