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Ford Focus (international)
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- This is the article about the European and worldwide Ford Focus. For the Focus sold in North America, see Ford Focus (North America).
The Ford Focus is a small family car made by Ford and sold in most Ford markets worldwide. It was launched in 1998 in Europe and 2002 in Australia. Since then, it has become the United Kingdom's best selling car, following in the success of its predecessor, the Escort. In 2001 and 2002, the Focus was the world’s best selling car.
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Encyclopedia
- This is the article about the European and worldwide Ford Focus. For the Focus sold in North America, see Ford Focus (North America).
The Ford Focus is a small family car made by Ford and sold in most Ford markets worldwide. It was launched in 1998 in Europe and 2002 in Australia. Since then, it has become the United Kingdom's best selling car, following in the success of its predecessor, the Escort. In 2001 and 2002, the Focus was the world’s best selling car. A new version of the Focus (Mk 2) was launched in Europe in January 2005 and a face lifted version in January 2008.
In Europe, South America, North America and South Africa, the Focus replaced the Ford Escort. In Australia, New Zealand and Japan, it replaced the Ford Laser.
Ford Focus Mark 1 (1998–2004)
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. Initial spy photographs of the car seen in 1995 showed a continuation of Ford's New Edge styling philosophy, first seen in the Ford Ka in 1996, and Ford Cougar in 1998.
The decision to call 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.
The interior of the car was also radically styled featuring many curves and sweeping lines. Although the design was clearly influenced by the Ka the interior design was more akin to those of American cars, in the same way the original Ford Mondeo was.
The Focus also introduced high specification components. The car featured a highly sophisticated fully independent multi-link rear suspension (dubbed "Control Blade") which was derived from the system used on the Ford Mondeo estate and was intended to give the car class-leading handling and ride. Although fully independent multi-link rear suspension is costly, Ford managed to design and produce the suspension in an ingenious and cost effective way by using pressed metal techniques. Until then a high proportion of other cars in the class had used Twist-beam rear suspensions, or other beam type suspensions.
Manufacturing
The Mark 1 Focus was produced in factories in: Saarlouis, Germany; Valencia, Spain; Santa Rosa, Philippines; Pacheco, Argentina; Chungli, Taiwan; Chongqing, China and Vsevolozhsk, Russia.
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 which was considered far superior to its rivals at the time (such as the Opel Astra and especially 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 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.
2001 facelift
In 2001 the Mk 1 Focus was subtly facelifted. Changes 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
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
Transmissions
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)
Body styles
- 3-door hatchback
- 5-door hatchback
- 4-door saloon (Europe)
- 4-door sedan (Not available in Japan, New Zealand and Italy)
- 5-door estate (Only available in Europe and Japan)
Performance versions
ST170
The ST170, which was launched in 2002, is the International version of the American Focus SVT. The car was only available in some markets outside of America.
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.
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 in 1996. Using a turbocharged version of the 2.0 litre Zetec-E, the Focus RS produced roughly . A total of 4501 were produced at Ford's Saarlouis plant.
Mk 2 (2004-present)
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 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 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 on the Americas, with its launch on the Mexican market as the 4-door sedan 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 and Chile. In Argentina, the Mk 1 Focus is build alongside the Mk 2 in the Pacheco Factory. In the U.S., the Mk 1 Focus is offered in a much revised form.
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 Renault Mégane and Volkswagen Golf, including full (16/16) marks for the front impact test.
Engines
The engine line up for the Mk 2 is a mixture of old and new. Revised versions of the 1.4 L and 1.6 L all aluminium Zetec-SE engines from the previous generation Focus were carried over, although the units were now 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 engine and electronics from the Mazda3 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. This engine is based on a Mazda MZR engine as in the American Focus, and is very different to the smaller 1.25L, 1.4 L and 1.6 L Duratec engines (which are versions of the Yamaha-developed Sigma/Zetec-SE engines first used in the 95 facelift Fiesta).
The PSA-developed Duratorq Diesel engine in 1.6 L and editions, Ford's own 'Lynx' Duratorq 1.8L 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).
Petrol
Diesel
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)
- Style (adds alloy-style wheel trims, air-conditioning and a sports steering wheel)
- Zetec Climate (adds Sport Suspension and various interior/exterior styling enhancements, heated windscreen and air conditioning)
- Ghia (adds a great deal including alarm, auto-dimming rear-view mirror 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.
2008 facelift
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 and ST trims.
Prices are set to be similar (if not identical) to that of the pre-facelift Focus, 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.
Additional variants
Focus ST
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 same T5 engine from the Volvo S40/V50 T5 models, a turbocharged 2.5 L 5-cylinder engine producing . 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 conjuction with Mountune Performance, unveiled a power upgrade kit which raises the power output to . the kit consists of: a K&N panel filter, larger intercooler and a re-map.
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 109PS 1.6 Duratorq TDCi engine with a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF). Aerodynamic features including low-resistance tyres contribute to 65mpg fuel consumption figure with average CO2 emissions of 115g/km.
On December 17 2007 Ford of Europe confirmed that a Mk 2 Focus RS will 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 Volvo T5 engine with 305PS, gearbox, suspension, and LSD. As announced, the Focus RS MK2 hit the road on 5th of January 2009.
Figures
- 0-: 5.9 s
- 31-: 5.3 s (in 4th gear)
- Top speed:
Ford UK claim: "It’s as close as you’ll come to driving a full-spec rally car."
Mk III (electric future generations)
Reports have repeatedly surfaced that the third generation will debut in 2010. New global Ford Focus small car in 2010 will be benefit from global integrate coordination (of the Ford company’s “One Ford” vision) like as global Ford Fiesta MK7. This generation is to re-unite the International Ford Focus with the North American Ford Focus and Asia.
The new Ford Focus global small car – which will be introduced in North America, Europe and Asia nearly simultaneously in 2010 – will be the first vehicle to benefit from global coordination. The new Focus' introduction will build on lessons learned from the current launch of the new Fiesta, the company's first global product under its One Ford vision.
On July 23, 2007, Australian Industry Minister Ian MacFarlane announced that the next generation Ford Focus would be built at Ford Australia's Broadmeadows manufacturing plant from 2011.
The North American Focus has been modified to take batteries. The varient, known as the Focus RV, is planned to be launched in 2011. Ford plans to have 10,000 of these battery-powered cars on the road beginning in 2011 in partnership with Magna International and it will be a global vehicle that will be sold in the three key markets of North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. The Focus compact can travel about 160 kilometres before it needs to be charged .
Motorsport
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, as well as in the TC 2000, resulting champion in 2003 and 2005.
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. This was the best-selling car in the world in 1999 through 2004. It was elected Car of the Year in 1999. The Focus won the North American Car of the Year award for 2000.
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 - most commonly in Ireland.
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 that was rectified with the Mk2 Coupe-Cabriolet.
Reliability
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 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.
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.
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.
What green car in 2008 named the "green" version of the Focus, The Ford Focus ECOnetic as its Green Car of the year 2008. It won for its class-leading low emissions and high fuel economy.
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 thanks to its competitive asking price, sharp handling, generous equipment, spacious interior and comfortable seats. 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'.
The Focus was Britain's best selling car once again for 2007 - the ninth successive year that it has achieved this success. It is now just one year away from achieving the Ford Cortina's record of ten successive years as Britain's best selling car.
See also
External links
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