PETALING JAYA: Fresh from the oven, the newly launched Ford Focus is among a host of cars that can be seen, sampled and bought at The Star Motor Carnival in Bukit Jalil Stadium.
It’s packed with smart technologies and features that Ford said is unmatched in its segment.
Leading the way is the Ford SYNC system, powered by Microsoft, which enables drivers to make calls or play their favourite music using voice commands.
 |
 |
| The new Ford Focus. |
Giving widespread access to this hands-free voice-activated in-car connectivity technology.
Whether you are conservative-minded or sports-oriented, the Ford has that covered as the Focus is available in 5-door hatchback and 4-door sedan in four states of trim.
SYNC comes standard in all the four variants.
For first-time users, the Active Park Assist feature will come as a wow factor of the car.
This feature, the first in the segment for Malaysia, actually helps the driver to parallel park hands free.
It is quite disconcerting at first to see the steering wheel turn by itself, as if by ghostly hands, to maneouvre the car into the bay.
Two safety enhancements, both first in this segment, are also included the new Focus.
Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) simply put alerts the driver when a car enters its blind spot and a light blinks in the relevant wing mirror to relay the information.
Active City Stop is another cool technology that helps distracted drivers especially in a city crawl.
At speeds of up to 30kph, the brakes are pre-charged and may help the driver to entirely avoid a collision with the obstacle in front.
Other smart features include Smart Keyless Entry and Ford Power Start, which are available across all variants.
With a striking front end, sleek profile, dramatic rising beltline and athletic stance, both the all-new Focus 4-door sedan and 5-door hatchback models share a sporty character, reflecting Ford’s kinetic design form language.
 |
| The Beetle and Almera (below). |
 |
The 2.0-litre GDi engine delivers 170 PS of power and 202Nm of torque; the engine is mated with the latest six-speed Ford PowerShift automatic transmission.
The latest model from Ford is priced from RMM115,888 to RM128,888.
To sweeten the deal, Ford is now offering a five-year warranty or a 200,000km warranty for the Focus. This five-year warranty also applies to the Fiesta, Mondeo and S-Max models.
Another freshly minted car that is making its rounds at the carnival is the VW Beetle.
While maintaining the classic “bug” silhouette and allure of the original model which dates back to 1938, the all-new car comes with the latest engineering, safety and convenience features from the Volkswagen group.
The two-door vehicle is also bigger and wider than the previous model and has a roomier interior to seat four adults in comfort.
Priced from RM139,888, it gets a 1.2-litre turbocharged engine and seven-speed dual clutch transmission combination that promises brisk performance and fuel economy.
The Nissan booth also saw carnival visitors flocking to it on the first day was the Nissan Almera.
The new B-Segment model that is being previewed to the public is notable for a best-in-class cabin space, with a generous rear legroom of 636mm.
In addition, the Almera would also be equipped with features commonly found in more expensive models such as intelligent key entry system, push start button, automatic climate control and fine vision meter with multi-information display.
Other features include electric power steering, airbag system, anti-lock braking system, electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assist and a boot space of 490 litres.
The locally assembled Almera is powered by a 1.5-litre twin cam engine featuring 102bhp and 139Nm of torque, will be sold with either a four-speed automatic or a five-speed manual transmission.
Set to be launched later this year, it has an attractive indicative pricing from RM70,000 to RM85,000.