Ford Focus (international)

This is the article about the international Ford Focus. For the 2000-10 Focus sold in North America, see Ford Focus (North America).

Ford Focus
Overview
Manufacturer	Ford Motor Company
Production	1998–present
Assembly	Chongqing, China General Pacheco, Argentina Hermosillo, Mexico Pretoria, South Africa Saarlouis, Germany Santa Rosa, Philippines Setúbal, Portugal Taoyuan, Taiwan Valencia, Spain Wayne, Michigan, United States Vsevolozhsk, Russia Hai Duong, Vietnam Valencia, Venezuela
Designer	John Doughty Claude Lobo
Body and chassis
Class	Compact / Small family car
Body style	3- and 5-door hatchback 4-door saloon 5-door estate 2-door cabriolet
Layout	FF layout
Related	Ford Focus (North America)
Chronology
Predecessor	Ford Escort (Europe) Ford Laser (Asia and Oceania)

The Ford Focus is a small family car manufactured by Ford first in Europe starting July 1998, then worldwide starting February 2000 (with its own model for North America in production until late 2010). A second generation launched in Europe in January 2005, received styling and engineering updates in January 2008, and is marketed globally outside North and South America. The third generation model will be sold globally upon its launch, first in Europe (late 2010) then in the Americas (early 2011).

In Europe, South America, North America and South Africa, the Focus replaced the Ford Escort. In Oceania and Asia, it replaced the Ford Laser.

Altogether, over 9.2 million Ford Focus vehicles in two generations have been sold worldwide since its 1998 launch in Europe. The Ford Focus was the best selling car in the United Kingdom for January 2011.

Mk 1 (1998–2005)

First generation
Overview
Production	1998–2004
Body and chassis
Body style	3-door hatchback 5-door hatchback 4-door saloon 5-door estate
Layout	FF layout
Platform	Ford C170 platform
Related	Ford Focus (North America)
Powertrain
Engine	1.4 L I4 Zetec-SE 1.6 L I4 Zetec-SE 1.8 L I4 Zetec-E 1.8 L I4 Diesel TDDI 1.8 L I4 Diesel TDCI 2.0 L I4 Zetec-E
Transmission	4-speed automatic 5-speed manual 6-speed manual (SVT)
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,615 mm (103 in)
Length	Hatchback: 4,175 mm (164 in) Saloon: 4,380 mm (172 in) Estate: 4,455 mm (175 in)
Width	1,700 mm (67 in)
Height	Hatchback and saloon: 1,440 mm (57 in) Estate: 1,460 mm (57 in)
Curb weight	1,150 kg (2,535 lb)-1,364 kg (3,007 lb)

Design and engineering

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. As a continuation of Ford's New Edge styling philosophy, first seen in the Ford Ka in 1996, and Ford Cougar in 1998, the Focus' styling had been often described as polarising. The styling had been overseen by Jack Telnack and executed by Claude Lobo and Australian designer, John Doughty.

The decision to name the new car the Ford Focus was made in early 1998, as Ford's overheads had been planning to keep the Escort nameplate for its new generation of small family cars. A last minute problem arose in July 1998 when a Cologne court, responding to a case brought by the publishers Burda, ordered Ford to avoid the name "Focus" for the German market cars since the name was already taken by the publisher's Focus magazine. This eleventh hour dispute was overcome, however, and the car was launched without a different "German market" name.

Rear suspension

Engineers for the Focus, including Richard Parry-Jones, developed a class-leading, space-saving independent multi-link rear suspension, marketed as Control Blade suspension, combining the packaging of a trailing arm, with the geometry of a double wishbone suspension — at considerably lower cost.

File:Ford Focus mkI chassis.jpg

Ford Focus chassis

File:Ford Control Blade suspension.png

Ford Focus Control blade

Where many competitors in the compact class, or small family car (European) class, used the less expensive half-independent torsion beam suspension, Control Blade offered enhanced elasto-kinematic performance, i.e., strong body control, sharp and accurate steering regardless of the car's attitude, and an absorbent and quiet ride over bumps.

Unlike conventional multi-link suspension, Control Blade features a wide, simple, uniform thickness, pressed steel trailing arm with hub carrier — taking the place of two longitudinal locating rods, eliminating an expensive cast knuckle, and offering the same level of body control — with a lower center of gravity, reduced road noise, and at lower production cost. The long rear lateral arm controls toe, a pair of shorter front lateral arms, vertically above each other, control the camber, and the Control Blade reacts to brake and traction loads.

In testing the suspension in 2000, Motor Trend writer Jack Keebler noted "The Focus' average speed of 62.6 mph through our slalom makes it faster around the cones than a $62,000 Jaguar XJ8L and a $300,000 Bentley Continental. The impression is of having plenty of wheel travel for gobbling the larger stuff and big-car, full-frame isolation when encountering expansion joints and smaller road imperfections."

Following the 1998 introduction of Control Blade suspension and popularization by the Focus, other manufacturers (e.g., Volkswagen with the Golf V) began offering multi-link design rear suspensions in the compact class, or small family car (European) class.

Manufacturing

The Mark 1 was also previously produced in factories in Saarlouis, Germany; General Pacheco, Argentina; Valencia, Spain; Santa Rosa, Philippines; Chungli, Taiwan and Vsevolozhsk, Russia.

South America

The Mark 1 Focus remained in production until 2008 in General Pacheco, Argentina for the South American Market. The last of the Mark 1 Focus produced in Argentina (2008 Version) featured either a 1.6 L Zetec Rocam Flex Fuel Engine or 2.0 L Duratec HE Engine or the 1.8 L Duratorq Diesel Engine. Assembly of Mark 2 Focus started in 2008 for the 2009 model.

However, in Brazil, Ford do Brasil offered this until 2009, in 1.6 (Flex Fuel - 105cv petrol/112cv ethanol) GL or GLX, 2.0 GLX or GHIA (147cv petrol) hatchback or saloon versions.

Critical opinion

The motoring press praised the handling and ride of the Ford Focus for its rare mix of passenger comfort and lively driver responsiveness. Reviews hailed the Focus' independent rear suspension, performance and accommodation. The interior design polarised opinion. The quality of the interior materials was criticised relative to the Opel Astra and even more so relative to the Mk 4 Volkswagen Golf, although the Mk4 Golf was considerably more expensive than the Focus from new.

Safety

The Mk 1 Ford Focus received 4 out of 5 stars for occupant safety, and 2 out of 4 stars for pedestrian safety in its EuroNCAP tests (69% frontal, 83% side, 28% pedestrian). In Australia, the 2002–2005 Ford Focus was assessed in the Used Car Safety Ratings 2006 as providing "average" protection for its occupants in the event of a crash.

A 2001 Ford Focus Estate.

..

2001 facelift [MK1.5]

A 2003 Ford Focus saloon of the Irish Garda Síochána.

The 2001 Mk 1 Focus facelift included:

• Revised headlamps with integrated indicators and separate main and dipped bulbs
• Revised bumpers without indicators, but with the addition of removable bump strips
• Revised upper and lower grille and fog lights
• Optional Xenon headlights
• Optional 6-disc CD changer
• Optional Navigation System
• Optional Digital Climate Control
• Features of certain trim levels changed
• Modified centre console with rubber cup holders
• Different centre dash colours
• New seat trims
• Different instrument cluster finishes
• Damped and lit glovebox
• New colours
• Rear power point
• TDCi Engine introduced to the range
• Versatility Pack Option added

Bluetooth camera facility

A new flexfuel engine was introduced, based on the European Zetec 1.6 L version. This could use both petrol and bioethanol, but only on the Swedish market. This version is still available in some countries despite the advent of an all-new Mk 2 Focus.

Engines

European introduction

Petrol engines available were the well-proven 1.8 L and 2.0 L Zetec-E units from the Ford Mondeo and 1.4 L and 1.6 L versions of the Zetec-SE units found in the Ford Fiesta and Ford Puma. The ST170 and RS performance models used modified versions of the 2.0 L Zetec-E. Originally, the only diesel engine available was the Endura TDDI (a development of the old Deutz-designed motor which Ford had been using since the 1980s). This was replaced in 2002 by the Duratorq TDCI.

International summary

Size (L)	Name	Fuel	Market	Power (kW/bhp/PS)	Torque	MPG	Top Speed	0-60 mph (S)
1.4	Zetec-SE	Petrol	Europe	55/74/75	123 N⋅m (91 lb⋅ft)	42.2	106 mph (171 km/h)	14.1
1.6	Zetec-SE Yamaha tweaked	Petrol	Europe	74/130/101	145 N⋅m (107 lb⋅ft)	37.4	135 mph (217 km/h)	10.9
1.6	Zetec-Rocam	Petrol/ethanol (Flex)	Brazil	81.5/109/111 (ethanol)
1.8	Zetec-E	Petrol	Europe, Brazil	84/113/114	160 N⋅m (118 lb⋅ft)	33.8	123 mph (198 km/h)	10.3
1.8	TDDi	Diesel	Europe	66/89/90	200 N⋅m (148 lb⋅ft)	51.2	115 mph (185 km/h)
1.8	TDCi	Diesel	Europe	85/114/116	250 N⋅m (184 lb⋅ft)	51.4	122 mph (196 km/h)	10.7
2.0	Zetec-E	Petrol	Europe, Brazil	96/128/130	174 N⋅m (128 lb⋅ft)	31.6	125 mph (201 km/h)	9.2
2.0	Duratec HE	Petrol	Brazil	109/146/148	172 N⋅m (127 lb⋅ft)	31.6	128 mph (206 km/h)	9.8
2.0	Duratec-ST	Petrol	Europe	127/171/173	196 N⋅m (145 lb⋅ft)		145 mph (233 km/h)	8.2
2.0 T	Duratec-RS	Petrol	Europe	158/212/215 (Minimum)	310 N⋅m (229 lb⋅ft)	27.9	144 mph (232 km/h)	6.4 (Torque Limited)

• 1.4 L 75 hp Sigma
  1.4 L 75 hp Sigma
• 1.6 L 100 hp Sigma
  1.6 L 100 hp Sigma
• 1.8 L 115 hp Zeta
  1.8 L 115 hp Zeta
• 2.0 L 130 hp Zeta
  2.0 L 130 hp Zeta
• 2.0 L 170 hp Duratec ST
  2.0 L 170 hp Duratec ST
• 1.8 L 90 hp Duratorq
  1.8 L 90 hp Duratorq

Transmissions

• 5-speed MTX-75 Manual (2.0, RS & 1.8 TDCi, 1.8 TDDi, 1.6 TDCi)
• 5-speed IB5+ Manual (2.0)
• 5-speed IB5 Manual (1.4, 1.6, 1.8)
• 6-speed Getrag 285 Manual (ST170)
• 4-speed 4F27E Automatic (1.6, 2.0)

Trim levels

Trim levels (European)

• CL (1.4 petrol, 1.6 petrol, 1.8 turbodiesel), 3/5-door hatchback, 5-door estate (1.6 only available in UK in 5-door estate)
• LX (1.4 petrol, 1.6 petrol, 1.8 petrol, 1.8 turbodiesel), 3-door hatchback, 5-door hatchback, 4-door saloon, 5-door estate
• Zetec (1.4 petrol, 1.6 petrol, 1.8 petrol, 2.0 petrol, 1.8 turbodiesel), 3/5-door hatchback, 5-door estate
• Ghia (1.6 petrol, 1.8 petrol, 2.0 petrol, 1.8 turbodiesel), 5-door hatchback, 4-door saloon, 5-door estate.
• ST170 (2.0 petrol), 3/5-door hatchback, 5-door estate
• RS (2.0 turbo petrol), 3-door hatchback (In production from 2002–2004)

Trim levels (Brazilian)

• GL (2000–2003) (1.8 petrol 118cv), 5-door hatchback, 4-door saloon.
• GL (2004–2007) (1.6 petrol 106cv), 5-door hatchback, 4-door saloon.
• GL (2007–2008) (1.6 flexfuel 112cv), 5-door hatchback, 4-door saloon.
• GLX (2000–2004) (1.8 petrol 118cv, 2.0 petrol 130cv), 5-door hatchback, 4-door saloon.
• GLX (2005–2008) (1.6 flexfuel 112cv, 2.0 petrol 147cv), 5-door hatchback, 4-door saloon.
• XR (2003) (2.0 petrol 126cv), 5-door hatchback.
• GHIA (2000–2004) (2.0 petrol 130cv), 5-door hatchback, 4-door saloon.
• GHIA (2005–2008) (2.0 petrol 145cv), 5-door hatchback, 4-door saloon.

Body styles

• 5-door hatchback
• 4-door saloon (Europe)
• 3-door hatchback(Not available in Japan, New Zealand and Italy)
• 5-door estate (Only available in North America, Europe and Japan)

Performance versions

Ford Focus ST170

ST170

The ST170, which was launched in 2002, was the first Focus sport model to be developed for international markets only. Adapted from the Facelift Mk 1 Focus, the ST170 had the following cosmetic revisions: 17" Multi-Spoke Alloy Wheels; Alarm; Side Airbags; Optional Recaro leather seats; Optional 9006 Stereo system with Subwoofer; brushed aluminium door releases; honeycomb front grills, round projector style fog lights, colour coded bumper and side beadings & door handles; and Locally developed bodykit (Australia only). The engine was developed by Cosworth and tuning bumped the horsepower from 130 to 170. Upgrades included: High-flow aluminium cylinder head; Variable valve timing; Dual state intake manifold; Stainless steel exhaust system and exhaust manifold by Cosworth; Sports catalytic converter; Larger brake discs (300 mm front, 280 mm rear); Getrag 6 speed manual gearbox; Revised power steering pump and close ratio steering rack.

Ford Focus RS

RS

Main article: Ford Focus RS

In 2002 the more bespoke engineered and performance oriented RS badge made a return to a Ford product following the demise of the Escort RS 2000 in 1996. Using a turbocharged version of the 2.0 litre Ford Duratec engine, the Focus RS produced a minimum of 212 horsepower (158 kW) with some examples producing as much as 230 horsepower (170 kW). A total of 4501 were produced at Ford's Saarlouis plant.

Ford famously over engineered the RS to such an extent that they lost around £4000 on every vehicle sold. This was due to 70% of the original car's parts being replaced - the engine for example isn't far off WRC spec in materials and parts.

It would generate a steady 0.98G in lateral acceleration due to racing parts such as Sachs dampers, lightweight O.Z Alloy Wheels and a Quaife ATB Differential. It would also allow 1.0G of braking force due to the standard Brembo braking system 326mm (Front) 280mm (Rear).

Mk 2 (2004-2010)

Second generation
Overview
Production	2004–2010
Body and chassis
Body style	3-door hatchback 5-door hatchback 4-door saloon 5-door estate 2-door coupé cabriolet
Layout	FF layout
Platform	Ford C1 platform
Related	Ford C-MAX Ford Kuga Mazda3 Mazda5 Volvo C30 Volvo S40 Volvo V50
Powertrain
Engine	1.4 L I4 Zetec-SE 1.6 L I4 Zetec-SE 1.6 L I4 Zetec-SE Ti-VCT 1.6 L I4 Diesel TDCI 1.6 L I4 Diesel TDCI DPF 1.8 L I4 Duratec HE 1.8 L I4 Diesel TDCI 1.8 L I4 Duratec HE FFV (Flexifuel vehicle) 2.0 L I4 Duratec HE 2.0 L I4 Diesel TDCI 2.5 L I5 Turbocharged T5
Transmission	4-speed automatic 5-speed manual 6-speed manual 6 speed PowerShift (2008 facelift)
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,640 mm (104 in)
Length	2008-2010 Hatchback: 4,337 mm (170.7 in) 2005-07 Hatchback: 4,340 mm (171 in) 2005-07 Saloon: 4,480 mm (176 in) 2008-2010 Saloon: 4,481 mm (176 in) 2005-07 Estate: 4,470 mm (176 in) 2008-2010 Estate; 4,468 mm (176 in) 2005-07 ST: 4,360 mm (172 in) 2008-2010 ST: 4,360 mm (172 in) 2007 Coupé cabriolet: 4,510 mm (178 in) 2008-2010 Coupé cabriolet: 4,509 mm (178 in)
Width	2008-2010 Coupé cabriolet: 1,834 mm (72 in) 2007 Coupé cabriolet: 1,835 mm (72 in) 2005-07 saloon, hatchback and estate: 1,840 mm (72 in) 2008-2010 Saloon, Hatchback & Estate: 1,839 mm (72 in)
Height	Coupé cabriolet: 1,448 mm (57 in) 2005-07 Hatchback & Wagon: 1,500 mm (59 in) 2008-2010 Hatchback & Saloon: 1,497 mm (59 in) 2005-07 Saloon: 1,495 mm (59 in) 2008-2010 Estate: 1,503 mm (59 in) & 1,537 mm (61 in) Coupé cabriolet: 1,455 mm (57 in) ST: 1,537 mm (61 in)
Curb weight	1,229 kg (2,709 lb)-1,630 kg (3,594 lb)

The all-new Mk 2 Ford Focus was launched at the Paris Motor Show on September 23, 2004 as a three and five-door hatchback and an estate, although the new car was previewed, in 4-door saloon form, as the 'Focus Concept' developed by Ford Europe at the Beijing Motor Show in mid-2004.

Design and engineering

The Mk 2, codenamed C307, uses the Ford C1 platform which is shared with the Volvo S40, V50 and C70, Mazda3 and Focus C-MAX. Ford calls this platform sharing programme "Global Shared Technologies".

The basic suspension design, which contributed much to the Mk 1's success, has been carried over largely unchanged from its predecessor which, along with a 10% stiffer bodyshell, offers a better ride according to Ford but lacked on the precise and poised handling of the Mk1. 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 and considerably heavier 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 22 mm (0.8 in) wider. As a result the interior and boot space have 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, 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 recognisable as a Focus the new car uses styling features from the abandoned B-Proposal for the original Focus which never reached production.

The interior and dashboard follows on from the Mk 2 Mondeo and is constructed from higher quality plastics than before.

Availability

The Focus Mk 2 is also built in South Africa for export to Australia and New Zealand. However shortly after launch, Ford New Zealand surrendered its supply to satisfy Australia's high demand, and now receives vehicles from the German factory in Saarlouis. In 2006 the Mk 2 made its debut in the Americas with its launch on the Mexican market as the 4-door saloon or the sporty 3-door in ST trim. The Mk 2 Focus is now available alongside base versions of the Mk I model in some other markets worldwide such as Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Venezuela. In Argentina, the Mk 1 Focus is built alongside the Mk 2 in the Pacheco Factory.

In the U.S. and Canada, the Mk 1 Focus is offered in a much revised North American version, currently only as a saloon or coupe, the hatchbacks and wagon having been dropped after the 2008 redesign. Sales of the coupe model have been only a small fraction of the previous 3-door hatchback, despite rising sales of the Focus saloon and compact cars in general.

Safety

The new car has gained the best ever EuroNCAP ratings for its class (5 stars for adult protection, 4 of 5 for child protection and 2 of 5 for pedestrian protection), beating such contenders as the Vauxhall/Opel Astra and Volkswagen Golf, including full (16/16) marks for the front impact test.

Engines

1.4 Duratec 80 hp 1.6 Duratec 100 hp 1.8 Duratec 125 hp 2.0 Duratec 145 hp 2.5 Duratec ST 225 hp

The engine line up for the Mk 2 is a mixture of old and new. The 1.4 L and 1.6 L all aluminium Zetec-SE (codenamed Sigma) engines from the previous generation Focus were heavily upgraded and renamed Duratec, with the addition of 1.6 L Duratec Ti-VCT engine with variable valve timing. For the South African market, the 1.6L BZ inline-four engine was used in their Mk2. For the 2009 facelift it was replaced by the 1.8 Duratec.

The 1.8 L and 2.0 L Zetec petrol engines of the original were replaced with the Duratec HE.

1.6 Duratorq 90 hp 1.8 Duratorq 115 hp 2.0 Duratorq 136 hp

The Duratorq Diesel engine in 'Tiger' Duratorq 1.6 L 90 hp (67 kW) and 110 hp (82 kW) editions, 'Lynx' Duratorq 1.8L 115 hp (86 kW) diesel carried over from the previous model and the 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).

Petrol

• 1.4 L Duratec
• 1.6 L Duratec
• 1.6 L Duratec Ti-VCT
• 1.8 L Duratec
• 2.0 L Duratec
• 2.5 L Duratec ST turbo I5
• 2.5 L Duratec RS turbo I5

Diesel

• 1.6L (90 bhp and 110 bhp) Duratorq TDCi
• 1.8 L Duratorq TDCi
• 2.0 L Duratorq TDCi

Trim levels

The main trim levels of the pre-facelift Focus Mk 2 in the United Kingdom are listed below. For other countries, the range is either a cut down version of this list (e.g., for New Zealand) or it is almost completely different altogether (e.g., for South Africa, or Australia, which continues to use the old CL/LX/Zetec/Ghia trim levels)

• Studio (Base model)
• LX (as Studio, adds air-conditioning)
• Style (as LX, adds alloy-style wheel trims, front fog lights and a sports steering wheel)
• Sport (as Style, adds alloy wheels)
• Zetec (as Sport, adds Sport Suspension, sport seats and various interior/exterior styling enhancements)
• Zetec Climate (as Zetec, adds Quikclear heated front windscreen)
• Ghia (adds auto-dimming rear-view mirror, Quikclear heated front windscreen, front fog lights, a number of interior styling enhancements and only model to have Cruise Control as standard)
• Titanium (adds Sony CD/MP3 player as standard, privacy glass and sports seats)

From September 2006, Ford revised the standard trim specifications slightly, to allow for the introduction of further options called X-Packs.

Ford Focus Turnier

Trim levels (Brazilian)

• GL (2009–2010) (Sigma 1.6 flexfuel 116cv), 5-door hatchback, 4-door saloon.
• GLX (2009–2010) (Sigma 1.6 flexfuel 116cv, Duratec HE 2.0 flexfuel 148cv), 5-door hatchback, 4-door saloon.
• GHIA (2009–2010) (Duratec HE 2.0 flexfuel 148cv), 5-door hatchback, 4-door saloon.

2008 facelift [MK2.5]

2008 Ford Focus

2008-09 Ford Focus saloon (Mexico)

Ford unveiled a facelifted Mk2 Ford Focus at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2007, to go on sale in early 2008 in the hatchback, estate and saloon bodystyles, with the Coupé-Cabriolet and ST to follow in Spring 2008. Went on sale in the UK on 2nd Feb 2008. Changes include:

• Cosmetically, the facelift brings the Focus in line with the Kinetic Design language seen on the 2007 Ford Mondeo, and 2006 Ford S-MAX and Ford Galaxy, whilst keeping with the general shape of the pre-facelift model. Every exterior panel (except the roof) underwent a reworking with the following key detail changes: trapezoidal grilles, swept back headlamps, bold wheel arches, newly shaped rear glass, a contoured tailgate and new tail lamps
• Greater use of soft-touch plastics in the interior
• Revised instrument binnacle and interior controls, now with red lighting
• New design centre console primarily for the top line Titanium trim and optional Zetec
• Ford PowerShift transmission (similar to Volkswagen's DSG) added to range
• Introduction of a Ford Power Button
• Introduction of a 110PS version of the 2.0 Duratorq TDCi engine.
• Revised trim range consisting of Studio, Style, ECOnetic, Zetec, Titanium, ST - 1, ST - 2 and ST - 3 trims.

Late 2008 saw the introduction of the 'Zetec S' trim, adding a body kit of front and rear spoilers, side skirts and the large roof spoiler from the ST. It includes aluminium pedals, a silver hand brake cover, and an optional WRC pack which adds flag decals and WRC scuff plates.

Prices are set to be similar (if not identical) to that of the pre-facelift Focus (Prices being at least £250 pounds more, the price of stability control as an option on the previous model, now included as standard), as its lead at the top of the British car sales charts has quickly been cut by the Vauxhall Astra in the last couple of years.

Ford collaborated with dance floor superstar Alesha Dixon in January 2008 to create an exclusive special edition remix and video to celebrate the launch of the new Ford Focus.

In June 2009, the Focus Saloon was discontinued in the UK model line-up (although still available in right hand drive in Ireland and Australia). However, it continues in Continental Europe, Eastern Europe, Russia, China and Taiwan but it is left-hand-drive.

Focus Mk2 in China

In the People's Republic of China, the Focus is built by Chang'an Ford. It is available as a five-door hatchback or four-door saloon. Engines are 1.8 and 2.0 petrol.

Additional variants

Focus ST

Ford Focus "facelift" ST 2008 (Europe) and XR5 2008 (Australia and New Zealand)

In 2005 Ford unveiled a hot hatch version of the Mk 2 Focus. Called Focus ST, and available in either three or five door hatchback variant, the car uses the Ford Duratec ST, a turbocharged 2.5 L 5-cylinder engine producing 225 hp (168 kW; 228 PS). The Ford Focus Mk 2 ST is also known as the XR5 Turbo in the Australian and New Zealand market, but is sold as a five door hatchback only. In 2008 Ford, in conjunction with Mountune Racing, unveiled a power upgrade kit which raises the power output to 260 bhp (190 kW). the kit consists of: a K&N panel filter, larger intercooler and a re-map. No saloon version of the Focus ST has been released.

Coupé-Cabriolet

Ford Focus Coupé-Cabriolet

Ford Focus Coupé-Cabriolet

The Focus Coupé-Cabriolet, a two-piece retractable hardtop, was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in February 2006 and went on sale in October 2006. Originally named the Vignale by designer Pininfarina, it was previewed at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show. Pininfarina performs final assembly. Ford plans to sell about 20,000 annually in Europe.

In February 2008, Ford revealed a new Focus Coupé-Cabriolet sporting the new 'Kinetic Design' front end of the generic Ford Focus. Notably however, unlike the generic Focus models, the side and rear body panels were not changed, and neither were the door mirrors upgraded to the new-style units, as on the rest of the new Focus models. Nor were bodyside mouldings removed, as with the rest of the Focus range. Some press outlets had expected such changes in line with the rest of the range.

Focus ECOnetic

Shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2007 as part of the facelifted range, the Focus ECOnetic is an emissions-friendly model, similar to Volkswagen's BlueMotion range, using a 109 PS 1.6 Duratorq TDCi engine with a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF). Aerodynamic features including low-resistance tyres contribute to 65 mpg_‑imp (4.3 L/100 km; 54 mpg_‑US) fuel consumption figure with average CO₂ emissions of 115g/km.

Focus RS Mk 2

Main article: Ford Focus RS

Ford Focus RS Mk II

On December 17, 2007 Ford of Europe confirmed that a Mk 2 Focus RS would be launched in 2009. The press release also notes that a concept version of the RS is due in mid-2008. Contrary to numerous rumours and speculation the RS was announced by Ford to have a conventional FWD layout with an upgraded Duratec ST engine with 305PS Duratec RS, gearbox, suspension, and LSD. As announced, the Focus RS MK2 hit the road on 5 January 2009.

Focus RS500

The Focus RS500 was launched in April 2010. A limited production run of 500 units (101 of them for Britain) will be produced. It will have a turbocharged 2.5 L5 petrol engine which produces 345 bhp (257 kW; 350 PS) and can do 0-62 mph in 5.4 seconds, with a top speed of 165 mph (266 km/h) making it the fastest Focus yet.

Figures

• 0-100 kilometres per hour (62 mph): (5.4 s with Mountune MP350 upgrade)
• 31-62 miles per hour (100 km/h): 5.3 s (in 4th gear) (4.3 s with MP350 upgrade)
• Top speed: 266 kilometres per hour (165 mph)

Ford UK claim: "It's as close as you’ll come to driving a full-spec rally car."

Mk 3 (2011-)

Third generation
Overview
Production	Wayne, Michigan Saarlouis, Germany
Body and chassis
Class	Compact
Body style	5-door hatchback (liftback or hatchback sedan) 3-door hatchback coupe 5-door Estate
Layout	FF layout
Platform	Ford global C-car platform
Related	Ford C-MAX Ford Kuga
Powertrain
Engine	1.6 L Duratec Ti-VCT I4 1.6 L EcoBoost I4 2.0 L Duratec Ti-VCT I4 (North America only) 2.0 L EcoBoost I4 (ST, 2012) 1.6 L Duratorq TDCi 2.0 L Duratorq TDCi
Transmission	6-speed PowerShift 6-speed manual B6 5-speed manual (1.6 Ti-VCT iB5, 2.0 Ti-VCT MTX-75)
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2648 mm / 104.2 in
Length	5 door-4358mm / 171.5 in sedan-4534mm / 178.5 in wagon-4556mm / 179.3 in
Width	1823 mm / 71.7 in
Height	1484 mm / 58.4 in 1505mm / 59.2 in for wagon
Curb weight	1270-1471 kg / 2977-3242 lbs

3rd generation five-door hatchback Focus at the Geneva Motor Show 2010.

Ford unveiled the 2011 global Ford Focus at the 2010 North American International Auto Show. The car shown was a 5-door hatchback model, also debuting a new 2.0L direct injection I4 engine. A 5-door estate and a 3-door coupe will also be available at launch. The new generation will launch simultaneously in North America and Europe in early 2011, with production starting in late 2010. Production in Asia, Africa, and South America will follow later. Ford debuted the all-electric Ford Focus EV at the Consumer Electronics Show in 2011 to compete with the Nissan Leaf and the Chevrolet Volt.

Focus ECOnetic second generation

The second generation Focus ECOnetic for 2011 includes new technologies as Auto-Start-Stop system, Smart Regenerative Charging, Eco mode and Low Tension FEAD (Front End Accessory Drive) targeting 99g/km average CO₂ emissions and 74.2mpg. Second generation Focus ECOnetic will have improved Ford's 109 PS (80 kW) 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi engine with standard coated Diesel Particulate Filter (cDPF).

All-electric Focus RV

Main article: Ford Focus BEV

A prototype Focus battery electric vehicle was demonstrated in August 2008. The variant, sometimes known as the "Focus RV", is planned for commercial launch in 2011. Ford plans to have 10,000 of these cars on the road beginning in 2011 in partnership with Magna International. The Focus RV will be a global vehicle that will be sold in the three key markets of North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. The car is expected to travel about 160 km (99 mi) on a single charge. A prototype of this car was featured on some episodes of The Jay Leno Show in the Green Car Challenge segment. Celebrities drove Top Gear-style around a mini race track and the times are recorded again in a Top Gear fashion on a strip of magnet and displayed for all to see.

Focus ST

Ford Focus ST

In 2012, Ford will offer a new performance-oriented Focus ST. It was introduced at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. The ST features a new, more aggressive exterior design, including a redesigned front bumper with larger air intakes and grille, larger rear wing, wider side sills, center exit exhaust, and alloy wheels. Inside, the car receives a trio of additional gauges mounted in the dashboard, faux-carbon fiber trim, and sport seats with body colored inserts and stitching. The ST will use a 247 hp (184 kW) version of the 2.0L EcoBoost engine, a gain of 25 hp above the current Focus ST with a 2.5L 5-cylinder engine. The Focus ST will also be available in North America in 2012 as a sedan instead.

Motorsport

Main article: Ford Focus WRC

The Marcus Grönholm Ford Focus RS WRC 06 at the 2006 British International Motor Show.

Jari-Matti Latvala with his Ford Focus RS WRC 09 at the 2010 Rally Finland.

The first Focus World Rally Car made its debut in rallying and the World Rally Championship on the 1999 Monte Carlo Rally with Colin McRae and Simon Jean-Joseph at the wheels of the two cars, replacing, for the first time in a generation, the venerable Escort. It was immediately on the pace, setting many fastest stage times, but a vehicle weight issue meant that the two cars were excluded from that event. McRae went on to give the Focus WRC its maiden victory on the Safari Rally in February of the same year and took victory again in the following rally, the Rally Portugal.

The MkI Focus WRC went on scoop further victories over the years for McRae, Carlos Sainz and Markko Märtin from then until it was phased out in favour of the MkII offering in late 2005. This car, a winner in both Marcus Grönholm's and Mikko Hirvonen's hands in the two-car factory BP-Ford World Rally Team that contested the 2006 World Rally Championship season, duly racked up the manufacturers' title, spelling the end of a formidable twenty-seven year wait for such an honour in this series for the Blue Oval. The team successfully defended the manufacturers' title in the 2007 season.

All the rally cars are built, prepared and run for Ford by M-Sport, the motorsport team based in Cockermouth, Cumbria in Northern England. The team is managed by Malcolm Wilson, a well known former British rally driver.

Besides rallies, the Focus has also been used in the SCCA Speed World Challenge Touring Car Series, the TC 2000, resulting champion in 2003 and 2005.

The Ford Focus ST made its debut in the 2009 British Touring Car Championship, with Arena Motorsport. During its second season, the car ran on LPG, taking the first BTCC win for a car powered by this fuel at Brands Hatch.

Overall sales and history

In Europe, the hatchback is the biggest selling body style. Ford attempted to market the saloon in Europe as a mini-executive car by only offering it in the Ghia trim level, something that it had tried before with the Orion of the 1980s. It has since given up on this strategy, and has started selling lower specified versions of the saloon.

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. In Europe, where the Focus was positioned at the heart of the largest market segment by volume, Ford's overall market share had declined by 25% between 1995 and 2000 as the aging Ford Escort failed to match up in technological terms to the Vauxhall/Opel Astra and Volkswagen Golf without being able to achieve compensating sales volumes in the low price sector where Korean manufacturers, in particular, were becoming increasingly competitive. The Focus stopped the rot for Ford in Europe, selling particularly strongly in the UK. This was the best-selling car in the world in 1999 through 2004. It was elected Car of the Year in 1999, ahead of GM's new Astra model. The Focus won the North American Car of the Year award for 2000.

Both versions of the Focus have been the 1999 and 2005 Semperit Irish Car of the Year In Ireland.

The Focus, unlike the Escort, was never offered in a dedicated panel van body style; however, a commercial Focus based on the 3-door hatch is available in Europe - most commonly in Ireland.

Ford therefore continued the Escort Van until the purpose-designed Transit Connect was introduced in 2002 as its replacement. A convertible version was another notable omission that was rectified with the Mk2 Coupe-Cabriolet.

Reliability

The European Focus, in 2002, according to German reports and surveys, was claimed to be the most reliable car between one and three years old in 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.

Ford, like other car manufacturers including the Volkswagen Automotive Group, is currently having a problem with a faulty hydraulic pressure sensor across its range of vehicles fitted with ESC built between 2004-2008. The repair necessitates complete replacement of the ATE Teves MK60 ABS pump module. The cost of repair at a main dealer has been known to reach £1500.

Awards

Since its launch in 1998 the Focus Mk I has won over 60 awards including 13 Car of the Year awards in both Europe and North America, and more recently, the best family car ever (Autocar UK 2003). In 2005, in a poll by the Men & Motors TV channel in the UK, it was placed 19th in the nation's favourite 100 cars of all time.

Top Gear awarded it 1999 "Car of the Year". Fifth Gear awarded the Mark II Focus "Best Family Car" for 2004.

Auto Express in 2005 hailed the European Focus Mk 2 "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.

Recall

In May 2010, Ford in China recalled MK 2 manufactured by Chongqing Chang'An for the problem of stalling. This recall affected a total number of 236,643 MK 2, all of them were made in China from 18 th Aug. 2008 to 28th May 2010.

Focus in the UK

The first British buyers of the Focus took delivery of their cars during the autumn of 1998. Its predecessor, the Escort, continued in limited production alongside the Focus for two years, as the Focus was a distinctive design that Ford feared might take time for buyers to get used to.

But the Focus quickly became popular. It has been Britain's best-selling new car every year since 1999, and the second generation model (on sale since the end of 2004) has just strengthened its position.

The majority of motoring surveys have given the Focus a good rating for reliability, build quality, driver appeal and overall satisfaction, and helped it compete with reputable Japanese and German brands in terms of quality.

In November 2007, the BBC reported Sheffield University survey data as showing that 40% of UK families owned two cars, and one was 'likely to be a Focus'.

In 2008, the Focus matched the Cortina's 27-year-old record as Britain's best selling new car for 10 successive years, but its dominance was ended in 2009 when it was edged into second place by the smaller Fiesta.

In 2010, the Fiesta was Britain's best selling car for the second year running. However, the Focus was down to third place with fewer than 78,000 sales - and it was outsold by its key competitor the Vauxhall Astra. This was the first time since the 1970s that Ford's offering in this sector had been outsold by any of its competitors.

See also

• Ford Fusion (Europe)
• Ford Focus (North America)
• Magna International
• Ford Fiesta

External links

• Official Ford website