| They're not usually backwards in coming | | | | Its certainly more responsive and economical |
| forward at Ford, but you certainly can't | | | | too. I managed to top 40mpg over a mixed few |
| accuse them on being first past the post with | | | | days that included a cross country run to |
| the first power operated coupe cabriolet | | | | Goodwood for the Festival of Speed (mark it |
| they've put on the European market... | | | | in your diary as an event not to be missed on |
| | | | any count next year) and a lot of motorway |
| In fact, they've sat back and watched their | | | | miles. |
| main rivals take the plunge before giving the | | | | |
| nod for this neat version of the Focus. | | | | Ah yes, the motorway. Make a mental note to |
| | | | scan the sky more carefully before lowering |
| So are they coming up on the rails after | | | | the hood and setting off. The first few drops |
| giving the rest a head start? Well, not | | | | of rain were soon followed by a torrential |
| exactly. Because while the Focus CC is | | | | downpour between suitable parking areas on |
| undoubtedly a smart looker that retains all | | | | the A3 and the 29 seconds it took to shut out |
| the good points of the Focus hatchback - | | | | the weather quite enough when I eventually |
| crisp handling, neat interior etc - in other | | | | stopped and ensured the interior of the Focus |
| areas it's a little disappointing. It's | | | | was well and truly wet. Me too. Don't you |
| fairly well documented elsewhere that there | | | | just love the English summer? On a smooth |
| have been the odd hiccough of two with the | | | | road the Focus is in its best environment - |
| mechanism of the Pininfarina designed and | | | | you just don't notice any rattles at all. But |
| developed hood. Problems that manifest | | | | unfortunately roads in Britain tend to be far |
| themselves in more rattles per square | | | | from smooth these days... You name it - |
| centimeter than you would reasonably expect | | | | manhole covers, potholes, discarded ring |
| from a car that outwardly shows such flair | | | | pulls from beer cans, they all have the |
| and brio and is so downright desirable if you | | | | ability to make you wince. It's not a secret |
| hanker after the merits of open top motoring | | | | either that there are 'issues' with leaks |
| if the sun ever shines and a snug interior | | | | developing on the early cars - we had a |
| come the cold dark days of winter. | | | | dribble of rainwater in ours - but it's not a |
| | | | problem Ford are unaware of and they've been |
| With the roof down (it takes 29 seconds) the | | | | working hard to sort it before letting cars |
| Focus comes into its own. Eveything feels | | | | go out to customers. Nice gearbox, no |
| nailed down and there's no scuttle shake | | | | sloppiness and it has a precise feel to it |
| (windscreen flexing) to worry about, and it's | | | | which helps you build up a good flow on a |
| down to you to enjoy the experience of this | | | | cross country run as the Focus has the |
| full four seat coupe cabriolet. It's not as | | | | ability to change direction quickly and |
| smooth an operation as some of its rivals, in | | | | efficiently. And of course it's a safe car |
| that the opening and closing of panels at the | | | | with roll hoops that 'fire' into position in |
| rear is accompanied by a resounding clunk in | | | | just a tenth of a second if the sensors |
| some instances that literally shakes the | | | | detect the car is going to roll. |
| whole car. With your finger on the button you | | | | |
| can feel it all happening behind you, and I | | | | Price wise, if you're in the market for a car |
| guess some people won't take to that | | | | like this you're going to have to spend in |
| experience | | | | the order of £20,000 for the privilege |
| | | | of a top end version. The Focus CC sampled |
| Our test car came with the 136PS 2.0 diesel | | | | here (CC3) costs £20,887 with its |
| engine, the same unit as in the C-MAX that | | | | Bluetooth hands free option, but prices start |
| passed through our hands the week before, but | | | | at £16,795.It has that dash of Italian |
| it came into its own in this guise, where the | | | | elegance, no doubt about that. The design is |
| lower kerbweight made it feel quicker still. | | | | distinctive but still a Focus for all that. |