THE new Ford Focus four-door saloon on sale here next month is really all about boot size.

Chief designer Claudio Messale says this model "demonstrates that Ford can create an elegant car with fresh thinking".

New levels of interior refinement and craftsmanship have been introduced, but emphasis has been placed on stowage in the boot.

Equipped with a compact spare tyre, the Focus saloon offers a maximum cargo space of 526 litres.

The boot space is wide. The tailgate opening is 1020mm, and the load width between the inner wheelhouses is 1048mm.

The design imperative for the boot space was to incorporate a golf bag or two large suitcases.

The Focus saloon can accommodate loads up to 1058mm long within the boot itself, a 54mm increase over the previous model.

A 60/40 split rear seatback allows even longer items to be stowed, up to 1659mm, an improvement of 180mm.

The new model is also simple to load and unload, with a lift-over height of 656mm.

A grab handle on the inner side of the boot lid adds to the convenience, and helps keep hands clean.

With prices starting from £14,970 and insurance ratings from just 7E, the new Focus range is available in either Ghia or Titanium specifications, and with a choice of 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre petrol, or 1.6-litre, 1.8-litre or 2.0-litre diesel engines.

Built exclusively for Europe in Valencia, Spain, the saloon model shares its front-end design with its three-door, five-door, estate and Focus C-MAX siblings.

Updated: 10:20 Friday, April 15, 2005