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The Ford Focus is an Automobile 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. MK 1 (1998) Although the dark memories of the Mk 4 Ford Escort were banished following the launch of the critically acclaimed Mk 1 Mondeo in 1993, critics still had very high expectations for the Escort's replacement, as nearly every European Ford launched after the original Mondeo was now considered by journalists to be nothing short of excellent ( Ford Cougar being the exception). With such high expectations and anticipation, Ford could not repeat the disastrous chapter of the Escort, especially as expectations for that car were equally high in 1990. 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 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 for the 2000 model year, initially as a 3dr hatchback, 4dr saloon and 5dr estate (a 5-dr hatchback soon followed) they featured subtle styling differences. The main difference between the North American and European Focus' were the (larger) front and rear bumpers, the grille (of which the North American versions incorporated the indicators/running lights), front wings without indicator repeater lights and the rear lights (although the units themselves were the same shape). Otherwise, the car was identical to the European versions - unlike the Mondeo and Contour . Marketing Although the Focus was available worldwide, the car could be described as being available in two distinct versions - North American and European. The former was only available in the US and Canada while the European version was available elsewhere around the world, including Mexico . Both versions featured subtle styling differences. Furthermore, an all-new Mk 2 Focus was introduced in 2004 but is not available in North America. Instead, Ford is continuing with the Mk 1 version in the US and Canada (see 2004 Mk 1 below) while the ( 2001 ) 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, headlights and 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. The 2001 Mk 1 Focus is still available in some contries 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 2001 Mk 1 Focus, the Mk 1 was heavily facelifted for the US and Canadian markets in late 2004 for the 2005 model year. The car featured an all new front end ahead of the windscreen, although the new grille and headlights made the car look outwardly similar to the Focus Mk 2. 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 of the 2004 Focus 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. Critical opinion Although the motoring press were now akin to Ford's reputation for producing cars with excellent chassis, the dynamic ability of the Focus still stunned the motoring press and it was universally accepted that that the Focus had the best chassis in its class, easily eclipsing the Mk 2 Opel Astra /Mk 4 Vauxhall Astra which was considered to have the best handling and riding at the time. The Mk 4 Volkswagen Golf was nowhere near. The Focus' handling and ride ability was down to the Focus' independent rear suspension and Ford's engineers. Only the steering wasn't perfect lacking the final ultimate feel of the Peugeot 306 's helm, but it was still considered excellent and offering far less kickback than the Peugeot . Even the engines and overall refinement of the Focus were class leading, as were performance and accommodation. Styling wise, the Focus was equally well received and was considered a breath of fresh air in a class where some cars were considered dull or unimaginative - a hangover of late 1980s/early 1990s car design. Nonetheless, although highly praised many decreed that the brash styling lacked that final degree of design maturity of the ultimately more conservative Mk 4 Volkswagen Golf and Audi A3 . The interior design polarised opinion through it's curves and sweeping lines, which were influenced by the Ford Ka, although the interior was more American in its design language than German. Interior quality was the one area where the Focus did not come top, losing out severely to the standard setting Volkswagen Golf - a car, like the Volkswagen Passat a year earlier, which shook up the class by introducing new found levels of quality to the class in 1997 , even beating its cousin, the Audi A3. Famously, the interior of the Focus was too far developed for a shocked Ford to do anything major, so the Focus was launched with an interior that was not the standard setter Ford hoped it to be. It was still considered to be the best of the rest by the press. Apart from its interior, critics claimed the Focus was so far ahead of its rivals in virtually every other area it easily claimed the honour of the 'best car in its class' without much of a fight. The car held on to that title until 2003 and the advent of the Mk 5 Volkswagen Golf. Rarely has a car dominated a class with such ease, and for so long, as the Mk 1 Focus did. The Focus is arguably the biggest indication of the change in Ford's design and engineering philosophy. After the Escort Mk IV was criticised by the motoring press as being designed by the "bean counters" and for its mediocre ride, handling and quality, Ford decided to take more risks in its replacement. As a result, the Focus had bold styling, increased quality and critically-acclaimed handling and refinement. Manufacturing The Focus is produced by factories in: Saarlouis , Germany ; Valencia , Spain ; 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 . Engines 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)
Transmissions
Trim levels 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
Bodystyles
In the US and Canada, the second generation Focus are coded with a 'ZXx' designation. ie ZX3, ZX4, ZX5, ZXW Performance versions 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). Competition
MK 2 (2004) 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. Marketing Unlike the Mk 1 Focus the Mk 2 is not available in North America so there are no longer 2 distinct North American and European versions. Instead, Ford is continuing with the Mk 1 version in the US and Canada (see 2004 Mk 1 above) while the 2001 Mk 1 is still available in some other markets worldwide. Design and engineering The Mk 2, codenamed C307, uses a new platform called C1 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 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 Mondeo's Germanic feel and are made 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. Engines The engine line up for the Mk II is a mixture of old and new. Revised versions of the 1.4 litre and 1.6 litre all aluminium Zetec-SE engines from the previous generation Focus were carried over, although the units were now renamed Duratec (see next paragraph). The 1.8 litre and 2.0 litre '' Zetec '' petrol engines of the original were dropped, with the 1.8 litre unit being replaced by an all-new 1.6 litre Duratec Ti-VCT engine with variable valve timing, while the 2.0 litre engine was replaced by the Mk 2 Mondeo's 2.0 litre '' Duratec '' engine. 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''
Overview Dynamically, the Focus is again held in high regard by the motoring press. Although they claim the latest generation Opel/Vauxhall Astra and Volkswagen Golf have much improved handling (over their respective predecessors), they still were short of the all-round ability offered by the Mk 1 Focus. The Mk 2 Focus moves the game on, offering even better handling and ride and, as with its predecessor; it is regarded by critics as having the best chassis in its class. Although many journalists claim the BMW 1-Series offers marginally better handling, and the Volkswagen Golf a slightly better ride, they proclaim the Focus still offers the best handling/ride compromise, and is superior even over its Mazda and Volvo cousins who share the same platform and suspension. 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 . 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 European Ford Focus is in the middle of a line of saloon/hatchback cars (smallest to largest) by Ford:
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. Coupé-Cabriolet The Focus Coupé-Cabriolet was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in February 2006 . Originally named the Vignale by designer Pininfarina , it was previewed at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show . It has a two-piece Metal Folding Roof , and final assembly will be handled by Pininfarina, making it an exotic in a mainstream marque. Ford plans to sell about 20,000 annually in Europe, and initial reaction has been extremely positive. Focus ST In 2005 Ford unveiled a performance version of the Mk 2 Focus. Called Focus ST, and available in either 3 or 5 door hatchback variant, the car uses the same powerplant from the Volvo S40 / V50 T5, a Turbocharged 2.5 L 5-cylinder engine capable of achieving 225 hp DIN (166 kW). The Ford Focus Mk 2 ST is also known as the XR5 Turbo in the Australian market - available only in 5 door hatchback variant. World Rally Championship In . Subsequent variants followed, piloted by such men as Colin McRae , Carlos Sainz , Markko Martin and Francois Duval . The next version of the Focus WRC hit the special stages on the 2005 Rally Australia with Toni Gardemeister and Roman Kresta , notching victory on its 'full' championship debut on the 2006 Monte Carlo Rally in the hands of Marcus Gronholm . Competition
OVERALL SALES AND HISTORY In Europe , the Hatchback is the biggest selling body style. Ford attempted to market the sedan 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 sedan. 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. {Link without Title} 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. RELIABILITY In the US spec models, despite a series of major recalls early in the car's life reliability has steadily been improving. In fact, there have been no Focus recalls in the United States since 2002 [http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/recallsearch.cfm . The Focus now at Ford dealerships has Best Buy Rating, [http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/11-01-2004/0002349025&EDATE=] an award that takes numerous factors into consideration, including reliability and recall history. 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 {Link without Title} . 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). The Focus was on '' Car And Driver '' magazine's Ten Best List for five consecutive years (2000 through 2004). 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. The North American version has been a favorite of 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" {Link without Title} . SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
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