2011 Ford Focus auto parking test
We get behind the wheel of Ford's 2011 Focus and test out some of its tech toys.
Improvements to the cruise control system let the driver specify what distance to keep behind the next car. Lane departure warnings monitor unintentional drifting and vibrate the steering wheel to alert the driver that they are accidentally drifting between lanes on a motorway. Thanks to the new electric power steering, the system can also apply gentle torque to physically turn the wheel and guide the car back towards the centre of the lane if the driver ignores the warnings.
To help reduce the dangers of driver fatigue, the car monitors your driving style for erratic turns, lane drifting and harsh braking. When the six-stage meter increases from green to amber, a chime sounds and a message appears on the dashboard suggesting you take a break. If you continue driving, the bar changes to red and the chime becomes continuous until you improve your technique, or take a break.
There are plenty of clever small touches too; LED lights hidden in the side mirrors illuminate to indicate that another vehicle is in your blind spot, the brake lights flash repeatedly when you brake hard in an emergency, to warn other drivers. At the front, auto high-beam control maximises the use of the high beam to improve visibility when the sensors detect that the lights won’t dazzle other road users.
Ford claims the new Focus is the most technically advanced family car the company has ever launched. We’re inclined to agree, as long as you choose the Titanium model, and specify the Driver Assist pack. The basic car certainly has a lot of useful entertainment options, but it looks like it’s worth spending the extra on the assists given that it makes driving that much safer.