March 2002

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• Latest deal price: from £11,559 to £20,146

As James Bond said in his last thriller: 'The World is Not Enough'. Not content to rest on its laurels as manufacturer of the planet's best-selling car, Ford has now upped the ante even further with its all-conquering Focus range.

In addition to a subtle new look and revised interior styling, the 2002 edition of the blue oval's compact family car gets the engine that every cost-conscious driver has been waiting for - the 1.8-litre common-rail turbodiesel, dubbed Duratorq TDCi.

In this exclusive first drive we put the facelifted model, complete with its new TDCi unit, through its paces to see if it's got what it takes to stay at the top of the sales charts. Ford has clearly adopted an 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' approach to the styling of the Focus. The revised bumpers, complete with plastic rubbing strips and foglamps at the front, are easy enough to spot. But you will need a really keen eye to notice the xenon lights, or the indicators, which have been repositioned from the bumper to inside the front headlamp lens.

In the cabin, there's the new Focus Interior Versatility Package. This allows the back of the front passenger seat to fold down and double as a worktop, and the rear centre seat to become a makeshift table. A revised parcel shelf, featuring a cargo net that can be divided into sections, and a reversible load bay floor further boost practicality.

The Dagenham-built four-cylinder is essentially the existing TDdi's Endura engine, but fitted with an advanced common-rail fuel injection system. The result is an increase from 90bhp to 115bhp, and an impressive 250Nm of torque at 1,850rpm.

On the road, the Duratorq unit feels lively to drive, revving cleanly up to its 4,700rpm limit with a sensitivity to throttle inputs that shames many of its petrol-burning rivals. The Focus also has an added advantage in the form of Transient Overboost, which increases available torque to 280Nm during hard acceleration.

For the record, the TDCi will dash from 0-60mph in 10.6 seconds - a second slower than the Golf TDI PD130. But the Ford suffers from significantly less turbo lag than the Volkswagen and distributes its power over a wider range, making it the more usable of the two cars in real world conditions. Fuel economy and exhaust emissions are also exemplary, with the newcomer returning 51.4mpg on the combined cycle and producing 145g of C02 per kilometre.

What really impresses you about the new unit, though, is how smooth it feels. The dreaded diesel 'knock' has been eliminated, and it's nearly impossible to detect the engine is not a petrol unit from inside the cabin. There isn't a trace of vibration through the steering wheel or pedals either, putting it on a par with BMW's acclaimed 330d in terms of overall refinement.

Whether cruising quietly in fifth gear at 70mph or whisking along a narrow B-road, the Ford's composure never displays any signs of cracking. The steering is a delight, while the suspension brings a welcome dose of fun when you're in the mood to play. Add strong, progressive brakes and an ability to filter out road surface imperfections that's bettered only by Peugeot's 307 and the Focus can add real driver appeal to its arsenal.

Some additional new gadgets that even Q would be proud of will be available on the 2002 model, including climate control and a Blaupunkt navigation system. However, specification and prices appear likely to remain unchanged, with TDCi-engined cars - available in the hatchback and saloon with Zetec, LX or Ghia trims only - weighing in at around

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