The long and the short of the new Ford Focus

We’re a ragtag bunch at TotallyMotor, especially when it comes to height - from the so-tall-he-is-the-first-to-know-it’s raining through to so-short-that-reaching the pedals-in-certain-cars-can-feel-like-doing-yoga, we cover it all. Because of this, we were all very cheered to learn that the new Ford Focus has been designed to cater for all global populations.

Ford has used 3D body data to ensure that a 97.5 percentile of the world’s population will be comfortable driving the new Focus and be able to operate it safely.

Three years ago when 12,000 Germans were scanned as part of a public/private research project and this information was added to comparable databases from China, Japan, North America and South America. The dimensions added to this database included height, waist circumference, hip width and leg length with people being scanned by laser to create computerised 3D models.

Ford boffins used this information to make virtual studies of the interior design and the exterior of the new Focus with space, comfort and safety as the main considerations. In some regions, for example, average height and arm length is noticeably lower than elsewhere and the models for these regions have a lower maximum opening height for the rear tailgate so everyone can open and close it comfortably.

Other regional preferences were taken into account for the different models - such as storage for 1.5-litre water bottles in European models and safe storage for tea containers for the Chinese market.

And as the resident cloud-scraper here at TotallyMotor, I can indeed confirm that the new Ford Focus is one of the most comfortable cars I have ever driven, with plenty of adjustment for driver’s seat and steering wheel, and very supportive seating. Ford Focus test drives here. Dan.

www.ford.co.uk


By Georgia Lewis

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