Prepare to fire up the... Ford Focus

IF you or I got reached the grand old age of 100, chances are we'd probably celebrate with a bottle of bubbly and a telegram from the Queen.

But Ford of Britain's chosen to mark the centenary of launching a massively successful motor car for the people - the Model T - by launching another massively successful motor car for the people. If the third generation of the Focus isn't on every high street in the land by the end of this year, I will do a Champion report on me eating my words.

You only have to look at the sales figures to know why I can confidently predict how fast the new Focus will sell; in 2010, the blue oval sold no less than 77,804 of the old, outgoing model, meaning in terms of new car sales it was only beaten by the Fiesta and Astra, both of which are much newer models.

First launched in 1998, the Focus proved a sales hit after proving you don't have to be a car bore to appreciate a hatchback that's a hoot to drive, as the crisply-engineered first generation definitely was. The second generation might not have had the edgy styling of the original but it moved the game on again in 2004, meaning the all-new Focus has a tough act to follow.

Starting at £15,995 for the 1.6 petrol Edge model, the new Focus is promising to use smart technology in its battle to win back the hatchback sales crown from the Vauxhall Astra, including digital radio (DAB), Bluetooth and USB connectivity, voice control of key convenience features, Thatcham Category 1 alarm, Ford Easy Fuel (to prevent misfuelling), front, side and curtain airbags, ESP, ABS and Isofix child seat attachments.

It'll also include the company's new Torque Vectoring Control, which it says will make the Focus follow in its forebear's fun-to-drive footstesps, and an ST hot hatch version is expected in showrooms soon after the more basic models.

So many happy returns, Ford of Britain, and I look forward to seeing the Focus just about everywhere over the next few months.