Remember 1998? You know, the year England were knocked out of the World Cup on penalties. Again. 

More specifically, it was the year we first laid eyes on the Ford Focus, a car so far ahead of the field, it swept all before it. 

Well, 20 years on and we could be witnessing another game-changing Focus.

If this is the case, it will be all the more impressive, given the standard of opposition it faces these days. Thankfully, the essential dynamic DNA that made the original and all subsequent Focus models so engaging to drive hasn't just been preserved; it has been substantially improved upon. 

So much so that even the lower-powered models that are fitted with rather basic suspension components deliver sweet steering and pin-sharp handling. 

As impressive as the all-new Focus's handling is, it's the comfort and overall refinement that really wow. 

While the combination of relatively high-walled tyres and beautifully judged springs and dampers ensures the ride quality remains dreamlike on all but the most battered surfaces, road and wind-noise decibels are notable by their near absence.

Ford's latest 1.5-litre four-cylinder diesel engine also communicates in impressively hushed tones.

Although it's not entirely perfect, as it suffers from a wee bit of lag when moving off the mark and lacks a smidgen of mid-range overtaking grunt, in terms of refinement, it's pretty much unrivalled. 

Because it produces so little vibration and such trifling amounts of top-end combustion rattle, we can imagine a scenario where the first time you pull into a fuel station, you'll need to double-check the fuel-cap sticker, just to ensure you've not been sent a petrol car by mistake.

Clearly, Ford's new engine is infinitely superior to the 1.6-litre diesel found in many Volkswagen Group products, and it's also considerably lighter on fuel and CO₂, with a combined economy figure of 78.5mpg and emissions of 94g/km.

Ford is also introducing a new 1.5 three-cylinder petrol engine to the Focus, which is effectively a detuned version of the engine that powers the hot-shot Fiesta ST.

Although it's quite a bit smoother and quieter than the entry model 1.0-litre engines and delivers a fair bit more clout, it is a wee bit disappointing, as it never feels quite as potent as its claimed 182hp output would suggest. 

While the standard six-speed manual ghosts through the ratios with typical Ford precision, those more inclined to two pedal motors can specify an all-new eight-speed auto. 

This gearbox is controlled by a Jaguar-like rotary selector, but the best bit is, it offers infinitely smoother shifts and is much easier to modulate at parking speeds than previous Focus autos.