Ford Focus Car of the Week

...four years after its global launch in Europe. The small family car replaced the Ford Laser here, New Zealand and Japan; and the Ford Escort in Europe, South and North America and South Africa.

The Focus has become increasingly popular worldwide and is now the 39th most purchased nameplate globally.

Since 1999, the Focus has been heavily involved in motorsport, debuting at the Monte Carlo Rally.

Ford Focus Mk 1

The Focus Mk 1 was produced between 1998 and 2004 and included three and five-door hatchbacks, a four-door sedan and a five-door wagon.

Codenamed CW170, the Focus introduced critically-acclaimed fully independent multi-link rear suspension, derived from the Mondeo wagon, to give class leading ride and handling. Ford managed to do this very cost-effectively.

The interior was panned however, compared with the Holden Astra and Volkswagen Golf.

The Mk 1 Focus remains in production in Argentina where it known as the Focus One. It is also still marketed in Brazil.

In 2001 the Focus received a facelift that included revised headlamps and bumpers, a six disc sound system, modifications to the interior and a new TDCi engine.

Mk 1 petrol engines were the 1.8 and 2.0 litre Zetec-E and the 1.4 and 1.6 litre Zetec-SE. The Endura TDDi was replaced by the Duratorq TDCi in 2001. Performance engines were modified versions of the 2.0 litre Zetec-E.

Variants included the CL, LX, Zetec, Ghia and the performance ST170 and RS(2002-2004).

Ford Focus Mk 2

Produced since 2004, the Ford Focus Mk 2 was launched at the Paris Motor Show on September 23 of that year. It launched with a three and five door hatch, a four door sedan, a five door wagon and a two door coupe cabriolet.

Under Ford’s “Global Shared Technologies” program, the Focus uses the same platform as the Volvo S40, V50, C70, the Mazda3.

The Mk2 is quite a deal larger than the Mk 1 but has kept almost the same suspension set-up. It shares the design language of the Mondeo and Fiesta and follows the same interior and dash design as the Mondeo.

The Focus sold in Australia is exported from factories in South Africa. Initially New Zealand received the same cars but now imports from Germany.

Safety improved for the Mk 2. It achieved a perfect five EuroNCAP stars, beating regular class leaders like the Renault Megane and Volkswagen Golf. It also received five ANCAP stars here in Australia.

The 1.4 and 1.6 litre Zetec-SE engines were carried over from Mk 1 and renamed Duratec, but that was where the consistency ended. The new petrol engines included a 1.8 litre Duratec Ti-VCT, a 1.8 and 2.0 litre Duratec-HE, a 2.5 litre Duratec turbo 15. The diesels were the 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 litre Duratorq.

Variants included the Studio, Style, Zetec, Ghia and Titanium. Optional X-Packs were also available.

A facelift revealed at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show included a reworked design language, softer interior plastics, a new transmission and the Duratorq TDCi engine. ECOnetic and ST were the new trims.

In 2008 the Zetec S was introduced that added a sporty body kit.

Ford Focus Mk 3

The Mk 3 Focus – in production in Europe - will have the same model spread as today, but is expected to have better performance with improved fuel consumption and emissions. It will also have an ECOnetic hero car with benchmark economy and emissions.

We should see the new car in 2011, out of Victoria’s Broadmeadows factory.

There is also likely to be the global launch of an electric Focus called the RV in the same year.

Focus RS

Ford predicted that the Focus RS would do well to invigorate the Ford RS brand but they didn’t expect how popular it would actually get.

Ford have nailed the styling in the latest version and its performance at 5.9 seconds to 100km/h and affordability means that it is sure to continue selling well.