Spring weather is here at last, so we can expect hot sunny days and intermittent snowstorms. What better time to take a look at the latest coup?©-cabriolet, the folding hard-top version of Ford's fabulous Focus?

Coup?©-cabrios have been around for a while but this is Ford's first power-operated hardtop. They've gone for a two-piece retractable roof, rather than the three-piece version of its key rival the Astra Twin-Top. There are pros and cons to both. A roof folded into three pieces fits into a smaller space, meaning fewer compromises on styling: note that, despite its Pininfarina design, the Focus cc's two-piece top demands a rather cumbersome, slab-like boot. On the other hand, a three-piece introduces weight and complexity - and no doubt adds considerably to build costs. Vauxhall and Ford both offer coup?©-cabrios at an attractive price, aimed at tempting retail customers but the Focus cc manages to come in a few hundred pounds cheaper than the entry-level Twin-Top while offering an excellent level of standard equipment.

We drove the 2.0-litre petrol model, which starts at ??17,795. There's also a 1.6 that's ??1,000 cheaper and a 2.0 diesel priced at ??19,270. Even the entry-level spec comes with alloy wheels, active roll-over protection, electrically-operated and heated door mirrors, Thatcham Category 1 alarm, CD and air-con. Meanwhile our 2.0-litre CC-3 test car had heated front seats, auto-lighting, auto-dimming rear-view mirror and a leather-trimmed steering wheel - plus an optional 18-inch alloy wheel upgrade that I'd sooner have done without.

Source: [url=http://www.newcarnet.co.uk/Ford_Focus%20CC_shedrives.html?id=1024]New Car Net[/url]