2019 Ford Focus Earns 5 Stars In European Test

A new Ford crash sled facility in Cologne, Germany, is being credited with helping the all-new 2019 Ford Focus receive the maximum 5-star safety rating by Euro NCAP under new, more stringent testing protocols. Unfortunately, this Focus won’t be gracing the U.S. market: a victim of Ford cutting most passenger cars from its lineup.

The all-new 2019 Ford Focus was one of the first vehicles to be awarded the highest rating under new, more stringent testing protocols.  The Focus was developed using Ford’s new $17.6 million sled test crash testing facility in Cologne to enhance safety further.

Euro NCAP earlier this year found the 2019 Ford Focus technologies delivered a good balance between supporting the driver and enabling the driver to feel in full control of the vehicle; presented little risk of the driver becoming over-reliant on the technologies; and are simple and intuitive to engage, at its first ever automated driving assessment event in Germany.

The 2019 Ford Focus features a brand-new chassis, with a new suspension and a 20-percent improvement in torsional rigidity. The Focus will get the same 8-speed automatic transmission that’s been announced for the refreshed, 2019 Ford Edge crossover and Ford Transit Connect, while no mention has been made yet of a manual transmission option. In Europe, that transmission will be offered with the familiar 1.0-liter EcoBoost three-cylinder, a 1.5-liter EcoBoost three-cylinder, or a 2.0-liter EcoBlue diesel. And for the first time, the all-new Ford Focus will come with standard “Drive Mode Technology,” with selectable Normal, Sport, and Eco models on all models.

Among the features designed to help drivers avoid or mitigate the effects of accidents include:

• Ford’s Pre-Collision Assist with pedestrian and cyclist detection, which can detect people and cyclists in or near the road ahead, or who may cross the vehicle’s path, and automatically apply the brakes if it detects a potential collision and the driver does not respond to warnings
• Evasive Steering Assist, which uses radar and camera to detect slower-moving and stationary vehicles ahead and provides steering support to enable drivers to maneuver around a car or truck if a collision is imminent
• Wrong Way Alert, first available for customers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, which uses the windscreen mounted camera and information from the car’s navigation system to provide drivers with audible and visual warnings when driving through two “No Entry” signs on a motorway ramp

Stay tuned to Ford Authority as we bring you the latest Ford news and Focus news.