The Ford Focus is a compact car / small family car made by the Ford Motor Company and sold in most Ford markets worldwide. It was launched in 1998 in Europe, and in 2000 in North America. Since then, it has become the most popular car in the United Kingdom, following in the success of the Escort, its predecessor. A new version of the Focus was launched in Europe in January 2005, while the United States received an updated version of the old model. In 2001 and 2002, Focus was the world’s best selling car.
Following the launch of the critically acclaimed Mk 1 Mondeo in 1993 the dark memories of the Mk 4 Escort were consigned to history, but because of the Mondeo's excellence expectations for the Escort's replacement was high, and more so because nearly every European Ford launched after the Mk 1 Mondeo was now considered by motoring critics to be nothing short of excellent (the Ford Cougar being the exception). With Ford now setting such high standards Ford could not repeat the disastrous chapter of the Escort, especially as expectations for that car were equally high in 1990.
Codenamed CW170 during its development, and briefly known to some Ford contractors as the Ford Fusion, the original Focus took its eventual name from a Ghia concept car which was shown at the Geneva Motor Show in 1991. Certain elements of the design had been seen even earlier in prototypes used by Ford to demonstrate forthcoming safety features such as the eye-level rear lighting clusters. Initial spy photographs of the car seen in 1995 took the world by storm at the design's apparent boldness - further developing Ford's "New Edge" styling philosophy first seen in the Ka in 1996 and Cougar in 1998. The daring styling made it largely unchanged when it entered production three years later.
The interior of the car was also radically styled, featuring many curves and sweeping lines. Although the design was clearly influenced by the more radical Ford Ka the interior design language was more akin to those of American cars, in the same way the Mk 1 Mondeo was.
As well as having radical styling, the Focus also introduced high specification components. Built on an all-new platform the car featured a highly sophisticated fully independent multi-link rear suspension (dubbed "Control Blade") which was derived from the Short-Long Arm system used on the Mk 1 Mondeo station wagon (estate) and was intended to give the car class-leading handling and ride. Although fully independent multi-link rear suspension is extremely costly, and is the main reason why such a set-up was very rare, if not non-existent, in the class Ford managed to design and produce the suspension in an ingenious but cheap way by using pressed metal techniques. Until then other cars in the class, including the Focus' predecessor, featured torsion beam rear suspension.
When the North American versions were launched in 1999, initially as a 3dr hatchback, 4dr saloon and 5dr estate (a 5-dr hatchback soon followed) the cars featured subtle, but notable, styling differences as follows:
Even though both versions were identical in other respects (unlike the Mondeo and Contour) these detailed differences meant that the Focus was categorised as being available in two distinct versions - North American and European.
The North American version was only available in the US and Canada while the European version was available elsewhere around the world, including Mexico.
Furthermore, an all-new Mk 2 Focus was introduced in 2004 but is not available in North America. Instead, Ford is continuing with a heavily revised version of the Mk 1 Focus in the US and Canada (see 2004 Mk 1 below) while the European version of Mk 1 Focus is still manufactured and available in some other markets worldwide.
Unlike previous Fords in the North American market, the Pinto and the Escort, no luxury Mercury version is available.
In Australia, New Zealand, Japan and other countries in the region, it replaced the Laser, based on the Mazda 323 (called the Mazda Protege in some markets).
The American Ford Focus fits smallest into a line of sedans (smallest to largest) by Ford:
2001 Mk 1
In 2001 the European version of the Mk 1 Focus was subtly facelifted, receiving a new grille design, revised headlights (although still the same shape) and new front and rear bumpers. The interior was mildly revised, though the dashboard and switchgear remained the same. New features, such as xenon headlights, were also introduced on some versions. A new flexifuel engine, based on the European Zetec 1,6 version, which could use both petrol and bioethanol, was also introduced, but only on the Swedish market.
This version is still available in some countries despite the advent of an all-new Mk 2 Focus.
2004 Mk 1
While some countries either received the all new Mk 2 Focus or kept with the European version of the Mk 1 Focus, the North American Mk 1 was heavily facelifted in late 2004 for the 2005 model year. The car featured an all new front end forward of the windscreen, although the new grille and headlights made the car look outwardly similar to the Mk 2 Focus. The rear lights and boot lid of the saloon version was also heavily revised, while the rear bumpers were new on all body style variants. The interior was also heavily revised, featuring an all-new dashboard.
Ford apparently decided that a completely new car would not be profitable in this heavily price and incentive-driven market, while sales of the original Mk 1 began to slide in the US and Canada.
The motoring press heavily praised the handling and ride of the Ford Focus, which was considered very much superior to its rivals (namely, the Mk2 Opel Astra/Mk 4 Vauxhall Astra and the Mk 4 Volkswagen Golf. The reviews also hailed the Focus' independent rear suspension, performance and accommodation. The interior design polarised opinion largely due to the curves and sweeping lines. The quality of the interior materials was criticised relative to the Mk 4 Volkswagen Golf.
The Focus is produced by factories in: Saarlouis, Germany; Valencia, Spain; Santa Rosa, Laguna, Philippines; Pacheco, Argentina; and Wayne, Michigan in which the United States Knocked down kits are supplied for assembly to Vsevolzhsk near Saint Petersburg, Russia. Some North American Focuses were built in Hermosillo, Mexico, before all post-2005 North American Focuses were built in Wayne, Michigan. The Hermosillo plant was then retooled to build the Ford Fusion.
The engines available were the well-proven 1.8 litre and 2.0 litre Zetec units from the Mondeo/Contour family and 1.4 litre and 1.6 litre versions of the Zetec-SE units found in the Fiesta and Puma, with the Endura diesel (a development of the old Deutz-designed motor which Ford had been using since the 1980s), although the Duratorq unit replaced this in 2002. The SVT and ST170 used a 168 bhp (170 Ps) variable valve timing version of the 2.0 litre Zetec engine while the RS used a 212 bhp turbo version of the same engine, but without variable valve timing.
Engines (North American)
Engines (European and other markets)
Trim levels (North American)
The North American Focus received trim levels in LX, SE, ZTS, ZTW, SVT, and ZX3/ZX5 Premium editions.
Trim levels (European)
Standard
Special Editions
In the US and Canada, the second generation Focus are coded with a 'ZXx' designation. ie ZX3, ZX4, ZX5, ZXW
SVT In 2001 the first performance version of the Mk 1 Focus was unveiled. Badged SVT, the car was only available in North America. The car featured a unique front bumper and 17" alloy wheels, though the rest of the car was outwardly identical to the standard North American Focus. Mechanically, the car featured quicker steering, stiffened suspension and a 6-speed manual gearbox while under the bonnet the SVT featured the 2.0 litre Zetec unit found in the standard Focus. However, the SVT's engine benefited from variable valve timing allowing it to produce 168 bhp (170Ps).
ST170 After the SVT's launch in 2001, a performance version of the European Focus was launched later that year. Badged ST170, the car was only available in some markets outside the US and Canada. The car featured a revised version of the standard 2001 Focus' bumper and 17" alloy wheels, though the rest of the car was outwardly identical to the standard European Focus. Mechanically the car was identical to the SVT, using the same steering, suspension and 168 bhp (170Ps) engine.
RS In 2002 the more bespoke engineered and performance orientated RS badge made a return to a Ford product following the demise of the Escort RS 2000. Simply badged RS the Focus was one of the most eagerly anticipated performance cars ever, and expectation was high due to the excellence of the standard Focus, but also due to the surprising disappointment of the SVT and ST170.
Using a turbocharged version of the 2.0 litre Zetec engine, but without variable valve timing, the RS produced 212 bhp. Mechanically, the car was more removed from the standard Focus range than the SVT/ST170. Styling wise, the car featured a unique front bumper assembly (mainly necessitated by the need to channel air to the intercooler) and wider wheel arches and rear bumper to encompass the wider tracks. Mechanically, the car was uprated in all areas and far more bespoke than the SVT/ST170 and most notably incorporated a Quaife differential to make the car more direct, responsive and to control the power more ably as the RS was still front wheel drive. The steering was quicker while the brakes featured larger discs (which filled specially developed 18" alloy wheels).
The all-new Mk 2 Ford Focus was launched in 2004 and was a task few manufacturers would have relished; to replace a car which was universally praised and set unprecedented new standards to a class. The Mk 1 was a rare car which dominated its class with such consummate ease and set new standards for rivals to follow. Indeed, it took the Mk 5 Volkswagen Golf to claim class best honours - 5 years after the Ford was launched.
The Focus was launched at the Paris Motor Show on September 23, 2004 as a three and five-door hatchback and a station wagon, although the Focus was truly previewed, in 4-door saloon form, as the 'Focus Concept' developed by Ford Australia at the Beijing Motor Show in mid-2004.
The basic suspension design, which contributed much to the Mk 1's dominance, has been carried over largely unchanged from its predecssor which, along with a 10% stiffer bodyshell, offers even better handling and ride according to Ford.
The same body styles as the Mk 1 Focus were offered, though the saloon did not appear until mid-2005.
The Focus Mk 2 is much larger than its predecessor with a 25 mm (1 in) increase in wheelbase, 168 mm (6.6 in) longer, 8 mm (0.3 in) taller and 138 mm (5.4 in) wider. As a result the interior and boot space has increased. New technologies include a KeyFree system, a solar-reflect windshield, adaptive front lighting, Bluetooth hands-free phones and voice control for audio, telephone and climate control systems.
It also features either a Durashift 6-speed manual, Durashift 4-speed automatic transmission or the all-new Durashift advanced manual transmission or just the standard manual.
Stylistically, the Mk 2's styling features the same design language found in the Mondeo and Fiesta. Although still recogniseable as a Focus the new car uses styling features from the abandoned B-Proposal for the original Focus which were never signed off for production.
The interior and dashboard follows on from the Mk 2 Mondeo's Germanic feel and is constructed from far higher quality plastics than before, and the overall feeling of solidity of the car has been increased markedly in a deliberate attempt to emulate the standards set by the Volkswagen Golf.
It should be noted that Ford's 1.8 litre and 2.0 litre Duratec engines are heavily revised versions of the old 1.8 litre and 2.0 litre Zetec engines from the previous Focus and Mk I Mondeo and bear no relation to the 1.4 litre and 1.6 litre Duratec engines, the latter being revised versions of the Yamaha developed Zetec-SE engines.
The PSA-developed Duratorq diesel engine in 1.6 L 100 hp and 110 hp editions, Ford's own 'Lynx' Duratorq 1.8L 115 hp diesel carried over from the previous model and the PSA DW10 diesel in 2.0 L form rounds off the range in standard Focus guise (this is a different unit to the 'Puma' diesel in the Mondeo).
The new Focus ST, however, has a 2.5 litre 220 bhp 5 cylinder straight engine, derived from Volvo as used in the S40 T5. The Focus ST's engine uses a turbo and offers a healthy 236 lb ft torque peaking as low as 1,600 rpm.
Petrol
Diesel
Styling wise, like the Mk 2 Mondeo and Mk 3 Fiesta the Focus has been criticised by the motoring press for what some perceive as a lack of flair, originality and boldness compared to its predecessor's New Edge design although many critics do say the new model looks more classy and mature.
The interior design has not faced such harsh criticism with many journalists believing it represents a significant improvement through more sober 'German' styling and, more importantly, better quality plastics than the first generation design, although the general consensus from journalists is that the Focus' interior is still a notch down from the Mk 5 Volkswagen Golf (itself considered to be slightly down on the Mk 4 Golf).
Nonetheless, along with its more spacious interior, better refinement, more powerful but frugal and refined engines, and improved quality in many eyes the Mk 2 reclaimed the Focus' crown as best car in its class. However, unlike the daylight its predecessor enjoyed over its rivals at launch the gap between the Mk 2 Focus and the next best car in the class, considered to be the Mk 5 Volkswagen Golf, is small.
The new car has gained the best ever Euro NCAP ratings for its class, beating such contenders as the Renault Mégane and Volkswagen Golf.
The Focus Mk II is also built in South Africa for export to Australia and New Zealand but is not available in North America, Ford preferring to continue with a heavily revised version of the Mk I Focus.
Ford of Europe is currently develpoing an even more radical version of the Focus. The Mk 2 Focus RS will feature a turbocharged version of the ST's engine, with a maximum output estimated on 300+ bhp. Some spyshots show that the RS will probably have all wheel drive, which will help to control the power unlike the front wheel drive hot hatch Opel Astra OPC.
Despite its radical styling (the hatchback version in particular), and some controversial safety recalls in North America, the car has been a runaway success across the globe, even in the United States, where Ford has traditionally failed to successfully sell its European models.
This was the best-selling car in the world in 2000 and 2001. It was elected Car of the Year in 1999. The Focus won the North American Car of the Year award for 2000. In Europe, the original had a very subtle facelift in 2001.
The Focus, unlike the Escort, was never offered in a panel van body style in the U.S. However a commercial focus is available in Europe.*
Ford was therefore left without a light-duty commercial vehicle when the Escort finally went out of production in 2000. The purpose-designed Transit Connect, introduced in 2002, largely served as its replacement. A convertible version was another notable omission, although there is talk of producing a drop-top version of the Mk II for Europe.
The European Focus would also suffer from some recall issues, but in 2002, according to German reports and surveys, the Focus was claimed to be the most reliable car between 1 to 3 years old on the German car market *. This was a remarkable feat as the Focus was competing against German prestige manufacturers as well as Japanese manufacturers, all of which have strong reputations for quality and reliability.
Auto Express in 2005 hailed the European Focus Mk II "Supreme Champion" in its New Car of the Year awards. The Focus also won the subcategory of Best Compact Family Car in the same awards.
The North American version has been a favorite of Car and Driver magazine, which has elected it to its Ten Best list every year since its introduction in 2000 Motor Trend magazine has also given the Focus favorable reviews, writing comments like "As entry-level sedans go, few can touch Ford's Focus on the fun-to-drive front" [http://motortrend.com/roadtests/sedan/112_0408_first_focus/.
Ford vehicles | Compact cars | Flexible-fuel vehicles | Ford C1 platform | Front wheel drive vehicles | Hatchbacks | Sedans | Station wagons | Goods manufactured in Germany
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