The Focus gets SYNC 3 and the Technology Pack while the Fiesta ST receives some extra standard kit and tech of its own.
An updated version of the latest Ford Focus and Fiesta ST are due to arrive starting from July and September, respectively, to Australia, a market that Ford has invested $2 billion into local R&D over the past 6 years.
Starting with the Focus, which was introduced here late last year in its latest guise in late 2015, Ford has now upgraded the car’s infotainment and navigation system to run Ford’s latest SYNC 3 system, as opposed to the SYNC 2 system that it had previously.
It will be the first time that any Ford in Australia is sold with the SYNC 3 system, and it will be available on new Focus units arriving from July 2016 across the full range of trim levels: Trend, Sport, and Titanium.
SYNC 3 offers the user faster performance, conversational voice recognition, and a more intuitive interface that allows the user to navigate the various functions with ease, essential for spending as little time on the screen and more time on the road.
The new SYNC3 is displayed through an 8-inch touchscreen with improved capacitive touch technology and adjusts for night time or day time driving accordingly or selectable driver preference.
The Focus also receives a list of new options, under the Technology Pack, for the all trim levels:
TREND/SPORT – Lane keeping aid, lane departure warning, driver impairment monitor, adaptive cruise control, active city stop.
TITANIUM – Lane keeping aid, lane departure warning, driver impairment monitor, adaptive cruise control, auto high beam control, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, auto high beam control.
For buyers considering the Fiesta ST, the hot hatch is about to become an even better value proposition with its expanded list of standard features come September, which include: Satellite navigation, reverse camera, 5-inch TFT display, illuminated ‘ST’ scuff plates, red brake calipers, and a set of 17-inch grey metallic alloy wheels.
Ford say the upgraded Fiesta ST 1.6 GTDi manual will come with a manufacturer list price of $27,490 which is inclusive of GST but excluding statutory charges.
