New Ford Focus TDCi with 6-speed twin clutch Powershift launched in Thailand

New Ford Focus facelift

This is probably arguably the most advanced C-segment car in Thailand, priced at just over the 1,000,000 Thai baht mark – the facelifted new Ford Focus TDCi with a 6-speed Powershift twin clutch transmission.

For a special launch price of 1,099,000 Thai bahts (approximately RM113,500), Thai customers will be able to enjoy a torquey and efficient 2.0 litre TDCi turbodiesel engine that produces 134 horsepower and 320Nm of torque at only 1,800rpm, with the ability to overboost to 340Nm briefly whenever the engine management decides its needed.

Ford FocusThe 6-speed Powershift transmission out-cogs all of its competitiors, with the Civic having a 5-speed slush-box and the Altis having only a 4-speed auto.

It’s also more advanced, being a twin wet clutch transmission co-developed together with transmission company Getrag. It also has a slow creep function that helps with really slow traffic, parking maneuvers and those who just expect an auto to creep along slowly without you having to touch the accelerator pedal. Alot of twin clutch transmissions do not do this.

What else? It comes with 16 inch alloy wheels, a 6-way power adjustable driver’s seat, dual zone automatic air conditioning, and those who have driven the pre-facelift Focus will also know that its quite a fun drive, thanks to its sharp chassis and Control Blade multi-link rear suspension. Safety features include ABS, ESP stability control, and airbags.

Ford FocusWhile its just fairly rapid at 9.6 seconds to 100km/h (the Civic 2.0 does it in 9.2 seconds), Ford claims a potential fuel economy of just 5.8 litres of diesel (B5 biodiesel capable) every 100km, which could definitely be achievable thanks to a large amount of torque kicking in so early and the 6-speed twin clutch shifting quick and having plenty of ratios to keep the engine in its most economical operating range.

Both the 4-door sedan and 5-door hatch have the same introductory pricing but the hatch has a few extra equipment over the sedan such as wider alloys (16×7 instead of 16×6.5), a sports suspension and blackened headlamp surrounds.

Them Thai folks are lucky to be getting this car. The Powershift transmission might make its way onto our local shores but It’s unlikely that Sime Darby Auto Connexxion will launch the diesel version here thanks to our low Malaysian diesel quality.

Watch a video promo of the facelifted new Ford Focus after the jump.

VIDEO: New Ford Focus Facelift

PHOTO GALLERY: 2008 Ford Focus Facelift
Click thumbnails to view high resolution photo

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Paul Tan

After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history.

 

Comments

  • mitlanevo (Member) on Nov 17, 2008 at 5:47 pm

    bring it here, please !!!!!

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  • eantautjk (Member) on Nov 17, 2008 at 7:13 pm

    bring it here for under 110k and i ll take two :)

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  • mystvearn (Member) on Nov 17, 2008 at 7:39 pm

    hmm, interesting indeed. No need to buy german cars if you want 6 speed gear box

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  • ragnahse (Member) on Nov 17, 2008 at 8:10 pm

    thailand has better fuel quality than us?..wow…speechless…nt with what they have…b8 with wat v lack…

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  • l3ryan (Member) on Nov 17, 2008 at 10:06 pm

    wow good value for a nice car, with all those kit.

    always wanted to get myself a 2nd hand 1st generation focus, costs around 40-50k now on the market. i’m attracted to it because of its well known classleading handling, and of course of the manual transmission that’s available (weirdly that’s the only transmission available for the 1st gen focus, which is odd in our no-auto-cannot-drive-bolehland).

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  • szw (Member) on Nov 17, 2008 at 10:45 pm

    i wan dat diesel wif dat transmission…
    such a nice partner

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  • csv (Member) on Nov 18, 2008 at 12:44 am

    wah nice sia.

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  • wiwatchang (Member) on Nov 18, 2008 at 5:57 pm

    Read the review this Friday in Bangkok Post Motoring ;-)

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  • ALPINA Burkard Bovensiepen GMBH + Co. KG (Member) on Nov 19, 2008 at 10:11 am

    i wonder why nobody see this as an alternative to the civic, all they know is lancer,altis and sylphy. dudes, this car in europe is a serious competitior to the golf and astra.

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  • AM2 (Member) on Nov 23, 2008 at 9:41 pm

    I’ve seen it, the new Focus is nice.
    Aside from the Kinetic Design facelift, it has improved interior materials and softer seats.

    2009 ASEAN Ford Focus
    http://i367.photobucket.com/albums/oo118/AM2_album/TDCiSportPowershift.jpg

    New Focus (Ford Group Philippines): http://www.ford.com.ph/servlet/ContentServer?cid=1178857242342&pagename=FPH%2FDFYPage%2FFullwidth1024&c=DFYPage

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  • AM2 (Member) on Nov 23, 2008 at 9:53 pm

    I’ve seen the new Focus, impressive car.
    Aside from the Kinetic Design facelift and new 6-speed Powershift transmission on the TDCi mdoel, the interior materials have been improved, the seats are also softer.

    2009 ASEAN Ford Focus
    http://i367.photobucket.com/albums/oo118/AM2_album/TDCiSportPowershift.jpg

    New Focus (Ford Group Philippines): http://www.ford.com.ph/servlet/ContentServer?cid=1178857242342&pagename=FPH%2FDFYPage%2FFullwidth1024&c=DFYPage

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  • AM2 (Member) on Nov 24, 2008 at 4:56 am

    I’ve seen the new ASEAN Focus, impressive car.
    Aside from the Kinetic Design facelift and new 6-speed Powershift transmission on the TDCi model, the interior materials have been improved and the seats are also softer.

    The local Ford Philippines site has already been updated with the 2009 Focus.

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  • ALPINA Burkard Bovensiepen GMBH + Co. KG (Member) on Nov 26, 2008 at 6:55 pm

    i think the focus we get is made there

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