The Ford Focus (first generation) is a
compact car
Compact car is a vehicle size class — predominantly used in North America — that sits between subcompact cars and mid-size cars. "Small family car" is a British term and a part of the C-segment in the European car classification. However, ...
that was manufactured by
Ford
Ford commonly refers to:
* Ford Motor Company, an automobile manufacturer founded by Henry Ford
* Ford (crossing), a shallow crossing on a river
Ford may also refer to:
Ford Motor Company
* Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company
* Ford F ...
in Europe from 1998 to 2004 and by Ford in North America from 1999 to 2007. Ford began sales of the Focus to Europe in July 1998 and in North America during 1999 for the 2000
model year
The model year (sometimes abbreviated "MY") is a method of describing the version of a product which has been produced over multiple years. The model year may or may not be the same as the calendar year in which the product was manufactured.
...
. Manufacturing in Argentina continued until 2008, and it was still on sale in Brazil until 2009.
In Europe and South Africa, the Focus replaced the various
Ford Escort models sold in those markets. In Asia and Australia, it replaced the
Ford Laser
The Ford Laser is a compact car, originally a subcompact car in the first three generations, which was sold by Ford in Asia, Oceania, and parts of South America and Africa. It has generally been available as a sedan or hatchback, although con ...
.
Design and engineering
![FordFocus 1serie interno2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/FordFocus_1serie_interno2.jpg)
Codenamed C170 during its development, the original Focus took its eventual name from a
Ghia
Carrozzeria Ghia SpA (established 1916 in Turin) is an Italian automobile design and coachbuilder, coachbuilding firm, established by Giacinto Ghia and Gariglio as "Carrozzeria Ghia & Gariglio". The headquarters are located at Corso Guglielmo Mar ...
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
New Edge was a design language used by Ford Motor Company for many of its passenger vehicles in the late 1990s and early 2000s and initially authored by Jack Telnack, who served as Vice President of Design for Ford from 1980 to 1997. Under Telnac ...
styling philosophy, first seen in the
Ford Ka
The Ford Ka is a small car manufactured by Ford Motor Company from 1996 to 2016 as a city car and from 2016 to 2021 as a subcompact car. It entered its second generation in 2008, produced by Fiat in Tychy, Poland. A third generation was introduce ...
in 1996, and
Ford Cougar
The Ford Cougar is a coupé that was produced and sold in the European market between 1998 and 2002, and sold in Canada and the United States from 1999 until 2002 as the Mercury Cougar.
The car was originally intended to be the third generati ...
in 1998, the Focus's styling was often described as polarising.
The styling had been overseen by
Jack Telnack
Jack Telnack (born John J. Telnack in 1937) is the former global Vice President of Design of the Ford Motor Company from 1980 to 1997. He is best known for his work with cars like the 1979 Ford Mustang (third generation), the 1983 Ford Thunderbird ...
and executed by
Claude Lobo
Claude Lobo (20 August 1943 – 3 June 2011) was an automotive designer who served in various design positions at Ford Motor Company over 32 years, playing a prominent role in designing Ford automobiles including the Ford Capri (Mk I), Merc ...
and Australian designer, John Doughty, concluding in January 1996 upon program approval.
The decision to name the new car the Ford Focus was made in early 1998, as Ford 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
Focus, or its plural form foci may refer to:
Arts
* Focus or Focus Festival, former name of the Adelaide Fringe arts festival in South Australia Film
*''Focus'', a 1962 TV film starring James Whitmore
* ''Focus'' (2001 film), a 2001 film based ...
'' magazine.
This eleventh hour dispute was overcome, however, and the car was launched without a different "German market" name. The Focus once again represented an attempt by Ford to introduce a truly "world car" that could be sold in disparate markets with little modification. Previous attempts to achieve this had met with limited success - the concept for the original 1981 Escort had infamously mutated into two entirely different cars for Europe and North America with only superficial similarities between the two. Ford had tried again with the 1993
Mondeo and
Contour/Mystique but the two variants still had too many differences to be called a true single car for both American and European consumption. The speedometer uses the "
Arial
Arial (also called Arial MT) is a sans-serif typeface and set of computer fonts in the neo-grotesque style. Fonts from the Arial family are included with all versions of Microsoft Windows from Windows 3.1 on, some other Microsoft software ap ...
" font type.
The Ford Focus was officially revealed at the
Geneva Motor Show in March 1998.
Design
Focus models had been designed under the directorship of
Richard Parry-Jones
Richard Parry-Jones (September 1951 – 16 April 2021) was a British engineer. He was the Group Vice-President of Global Product Development, Chief Technical Officer, and Head of Global R&D Operations at Ford Motor Company. He retired in Decem ...
and were noted at introduction for their styling, class-leading
rear suspension and tall interior packaging – as well as a stiff and light body structure, low-friction steering and suspension, and extensive safety and convenience features including driver and passenger airbags, available head-and-chest side air bags, rear
ISOFIX child-safety seat attachments, safety belt system with pre-tensioners and load-limiting retractors, battery saver to automatically switch off lights after 10 minutes, interior light dimming feature, and flip-up/flat-folding rear seat cushions.
Styling
![2007 Ford Focus (US-spec)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/34/2007_Ford_Focus_%28US-spec%29.jpg)
The Focus' styling, often noted as polarizing,
was marketed by Ford as ''
New Edge
New Edge was a design language used by Ford Motor Company for many of its passenger vehicles in the late 1990s and early 2000s and initially authored by Jack Telnack, who served as Vice President of Design for Ford from 1980 to 1997. Under Telnac ...
'' design. The design language had been overseen by
Jack Telnack
Jack Telnack (born John J. Telnack in 1937) is the former global Vice President of Design of the Ford Motor Company from 1980 to 1997. He is best known for his work with cars like the 1979 Ford Mustang (third generation), the 1983 Ford Thunderbird ...
and
Claude Lobo
Claude Lobo (20 August 1943 – 3 June 2011) was an automotive designer who served in various design positions at Ford Motor Company over 32 years, playing a prominent role in designing Ford automobiles including the Ford Capri (Mk I), Merc ...
and executed by Australian designer, John Doughty.
In 2000, Karl Brauer, writing for Edmunds.com described the styling: "While ergonomically sound, the Focus' interior, like its exterior, displays much of Ford's ''New Edge'' philosophy that had editors split on loving or hating it."
Sherri Koucky, writing for MachineDesign.com said the styling "mixes round shapes with funky geometric ones and adds sharp angles, somehow making them all work together."
James R. Healey, writing for
USA Today
''USA Today'' (stylized in all uppercase) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth on September 15, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headquarters in Tysons, Virgi ...
, called the styling a "collision of curves and lines."
After the
international Ford Focus, which shared styling with North American models, had won the prestigious
European Car of the Year (1999), William Diem of the New York Times wrote, "To some extent, the prize vindicates Ford's risky design for the Focus, especially the ''New Edge'' styling -- a combination of straight lines, curves and planes."
Rear suspension
Engineers for the Focus, including
Richard Parry-Jones
Richard Parry-Jones (September 1951 – 16 April 2021) was a British engineer. He was the Group Vice-President of Global Product Development, Chief Technical Officer, and Head of Global R&D Operations at Ford Motor Company. He retired in Decem ...
, developed a class-leading,
space-saving independent
multi-link rear suspension, marketed as ''Control Blade'' suspension, combining the packaging of a
trailing arm
A (semi) trailing-arm suspension, sometimes referred to as (semi) trailing-link is a vehicle axle or wheel suspension design in which one or more horizontal arms (or "links"), perpendicular to and forward of the axle, are connecting the axle or ...
, with the geometry of a
double wishbone suspension
A double wishbone suspension is an independent suspension design for automobiles using two (occasionally parallel) wishbone-shaped arms to locate the wheel. Each wishbone or arm has two mounting points to the chassis and one joint at the knuckl ...
. The system was developed from that used in the ''CDW27''
Ford Mondeo
The Ford Mondeo is a large family car manufactured by Ford since 1993. The first Ford model declared as a " world car", the Mondeo was intended to consolidate several Ford model lines worldwide (the European Sierra, the Telstar in Asia and Aus ...
estate, but with various modifications to make it simpler and cheaper to build and therefore economically viable on a mass-market vehicle.
Where many competitors in the compact class, or small family car (European) class, used the less expensive semi-independent
twist-beam rear suspension
The twist-beam rear suspension (also torsion-beam axle, deformable torsion beam or compound crank) is a type of automobile suspension based on a large H or C-shaped member. The front of the H attaches to the body via rubber bushings, and the ...
, ''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
''MotorTrend'' is an American automobile magazine. It first appeared in September 1949, and designated the first Car of the Year, also in 1949.
Petersen Publishing Company in Los Angeles published ''MotorTrend'' until 1998, when it was sold to ...
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."
Engineers also worked to improve the front suspension, removing sticking and friction (aka ''stiction'') from each component.
Following the 1998 introduction of the ''Control Blade'' suspension and its 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.
Tall packaging
Focus engineers developed a new interior packaging for the car's class, with a computer-modeled interior, long wheelbase, tall doors, raised roofline, increased passenger and cargo volume, raised rear seating and raised
H-point
The H-point (or hip-point) is the theoretical, relative location of an occupant's hip: specifically the pivot point between the torso and upper leg portions of the body — as used in vehicle design, automotive design and vehicle regulation ...
front seating providing higher sight lines and increased rear footroom.
James R. Healey, writing for USA Today, said "Focus is bigger inside than cars much larger outside."
Ford later marketed the high H-point seating as ''Command Seating,''
noting that "the higher the H-Point, the higher you ride in the car, and in some cases, the more comfortable you feel behind the wheel".
Markets
Europe (1998–2005)
Manufacturing
Historically, the
Saarlouis,
Valencia
Valencia ( va, València) is the capital of the autonomous community of Valencia and the third-most populated municipality in Spain, with 791,413 inhabitants. It is also the capital of the province of the same name. The wider urban area al ...
, and
Halewood
Halewood is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley in Merseyside, England. It lies near the city of Liverpool's southeastern boundary, bordered by the suburbs of Netherley, Hunt's Cross and Woolton.
Historically a part of Lancashire, ...
plants had produced the Escort, however the Focus was only produced at Saarlouis and Valencia since Halewood was to be switched over to production of the
Jaguar X-Type
The Jaguar X-Type is a front-engine, all-wheel/front-wheel drive compact executive car manufactured and marketed by Jaguar Cars from 2001 to 2009 under the internal designation ''X400'', for a single generation, in sedan/saloon and wagon/estat ...
. However the sixth and final generation of the Escort remained in production in Halewood until 2000 as a budget alternative to the Focus, and the van versions continued until 2002 until its replacement by the Focus-based
Ford Transit Connect
The Ford Transit Connect is a compact panel van sold by Ford since 2002. Developed by Ford of Europe, the model line replaced sedan-based vans ( Ford Escort and Ford Courier vans) with a dedicated commercial vehicle platform. The model lin ...
.
Focus production also took place in
Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa is the Italian, Portuguese and Spanish name for Saint Rose.
Santa Rosa may also refer to:
Places Argentina
*Santa Rosa, Mendoza, a city
* Santa Rosa, Tinogasta, Catamarca
* Santa Rosa, Valle Viejo, Catamarca
* Santa Rosa, La Pampa
* S ...
,
Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
(Though it was only for export and never sold in the Philippines);
General Pacheco
General Pacheco is a city in the Tigre Partido
Tigre Partido is a '' partido'' of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, situated in the northern part of Greater Buenos Aires. The department covers a large section of the Paraná Delta and its low-l ...
,
Argentina
Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...
;
Chungli City,
Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...
and
Vsevolozhsk
Vsevolozhsk ( rus, Все́воложск, p=ˈfsʲevələʂsk; fi, Seuloskoi) is a town and the administrative center of Vsevolozhsky District in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, located on the Karelian Isthmus east of St. Petersburg. Populatio ...
, Russia.
2001 facelift (Mk1.5)
![2002 Ford Focus Ghia Saloon 1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ef/2002_Ford_Focus_Ghia_Saloon_1.8_Rear.jpg)
The Mk 1 Focus facelift in late 2001 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
Ford Motor Company used the Zetec name on a variety of inline 4-cylinder automobile engines. It was coined to replace "Zeta" on a range of 1.6 L to 2.0 L multi-valve engines introduced in 1991 because Ford was threatened with legal acti ...
1.6 L version. This could use both gasoline and
bioethanol
Ethanol (abbr. EtOH; also called ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, drinking alcohol, or simply alcohol) is an organic compound. It is an alcohol with the chemical formula . Its formula can be also written as or (an ethyl group linked to a hyd ...
, but was only available on the
Swedish
Swedish or ' may refer to:
Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically:
* Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland
** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...
market. This version is still available in some countries despite the advent of an all-new Mk 2 Focus.
North America (2000–2007)
![2007 Ford Focus SE (ZX3) in red, front left at Hershey 2019](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/66/2007_Ford_Focus_SE_%28ZX3%29_in_red%2C_front_left_at_Hershey_2019.jpg)
Ford began marketing the Focus in October 1999 for model year 2000 initially as 3-door
hatchback, 4-door sedan and 5-door
wagon
A wagon or waggon is a heavy four-wheeled vehicle pulled by draught animals or on occasion by humans, used for transporting goods, commodities, agricultural materials, supplies and sometimes people.
Wagons are immediately distinguished from ...
– with a 5-door hatchback debuting for model year 2002 model at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto.
The Focus became one of the ten best-selling cars in America shortly after its introduction.
Model year changes
* 2000 MY – Introduction of the
Sony Limited Edition, Street Edition, Kona Editions.
* 2001 MY – available
electronic stability control, marketed as "AdvanceTrac," standard fog lamps on ZTS Series, new 6-spoke 16-inch aluminum wheels now standard on ZTS Sedan, front armrest now standard on SE Sedan and Wagon, comfort Group now includes only tilt/telescoping wheel, speed control, and front map lights on SE Sedan and Wagon (no longer includes front center armrest), power windows standard on SE Sedan and SE Wagon, SE Sport Group upgraded to include leather-wrapped steering wheel, single CD now standard on SE Sedan and Wagon, new manual moon roof available on ZX3, front and rear floor mats and smoker's package now standard on all models, new premium group (incl. air conditioning, 16-inch aluminum wheels and tires, tilt/telescoping wheel, front center armrest, speed control, front map lights) available on ZX3, manual transmission available on SE Wagon (as a delete option), power group includes power locks with all-door remote entry, power windows, and power mirrors – now available on ZX3, Zetec Engine now standard on SE Wagon. Introduction of the
S2 Edition.
![02-04 Ford Focus ZX5](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/02-04_Ford_Focus_ZX5.jpg)
* 2002 MY – Introduction of the ZX5 5-door hatchback, power moon-roof available for the first time on all body styles, available 6-Disc In-dash CD Changer, improved cup holders to accept larger cups, added rear-seat map pocket on LX, SE, ZX3, and kangaroo pouches on ZTS,
and the ZTW trim level for the wagon – including the 2.0L DOHC Zetec I-4 engine, leather seating surfaces, driver's side lumbar support, six-disc in-dash CD player, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, remote key-less entry, power windows and door locks, electronic speed control and air conditioning. In 2002, all Focus models received a safety package, marketed as the Personal Safety System – which included an electronic crash severity sensor, restraint control module, dual-stage driver and right front passenger airbags, dual-threshold driver and right front passenger airbags, driver's seat position sensor, front outboard safety belt energy management retractors, front outboard safety belt pretensioners, front outboard safety belt usage sensors. Introduction of the
Mach Audio Edition. Introduction of the
SVT models.
* 2003 MY – ZX5 now available in three trim levels, two new interior fabrics, heated front seat and heated mirror option, available traction control and ABS package, gray headlamp surrounds, silver instrument cluster and color-keyed trim on premium trims, CD/MP3 audio player standard on ZX3, ZX5, redesigned 16-inch alloy wheels, optional perimeter alarm, improved interior noise level, recalibrated throttle, refinement of engine. Introduction of the
Centennial Edition in celebration of Ford's 100th anniversary.
* 2004 MY – The new 2.3 L
I4 Duratec
Duratec is a brand name of the Ford Motor Company used for the company's range of gasoline-powered four-cylinder, five-cylinder and six-cylinder passenger car engines.
The original 1993 Duratec V6 engine was designed by Ford and Porsche. Ford ...
engine previously only available in select states became available nationwide,
ZX3 now available with leather seating surfaces, new steering knuckles and struts for improved ride and handling, discontinuation of optional
electronic stability control.
![2005 Ford Focus ZX4 SE](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5c/2005_Ford_Focus_ZX4_SE.jpg)
;Facelift
* 2005 MY – (mid-cycle
facelift
A facelift, technically known as a rhytidectomy (from the Ancient Greek () "wrinkle", and () "excision", the surgical removal of wrinkles), is a type of cosmetic surgery procedure used to give a more youthful facial appearance. There are mul ...
) While the European Focus was replaced by a second generation, the North American Focus received styling and engineering changes developed under Focus Chief Engineer John Sidelko and Focus designer Larry Erickson.
With the 2005 model year, Ford introduced the
ST model of the ZX4 sedan (replacing the SVT models of the ZX3 and ZX5),
and the Focus nomenclature was revised to combine a body-style designation (ZX4, ZX3, ZX5 and ZXW – with tail badges) with a trim designation (S,SE or SES – the latter two carrying respective tail badges). Styling revisions included a new front bumper facia, a revised instrument panel, new tail lamps and a new rear bumper fascia on sedan models, a new harder steel alloy used for the hood,
an 11% thicker plastic bumper fascia,
a storage drawer for six compact discs located by the driver's left knee, optional overhead console with sunglasses holder and space for a garage door opener, molded-in beverage holders in the front door pockets, steel wheels and all-season tires, instead of on entry trim level models, (now designated S), and new brake linings with total brake swept area increased by 17 percent.
:Engines included a , Duratec 20 dual-overhead-cam, inline-four cylinder engine replacing both the base , single-overhead-cam inline-four and the Zetec DOHC inline-four, while a Duratec 23 DOHC inline-four engine derived from the Duratec 20 family was available in all 50 states for the ZX4 ST. The Duratec 23 has a larger displacement and performance-tuned exhaust, while in California, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont and Maine, the Duratec 23E was also available, qualifying the Focus as a Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (
PZEV A partial zero-emission vehicle, in the United States, is an automobile that has zero evaporative emissions from its fuel system, has a 15-year (or at least 150,000-mile) warranty on its emission-control components, and meets SULEV tailpipe-emissio ...
).
Manual transmission was now listed as standard equipment rather than a delete option on wagons.
* 2006 MY – On ZX4, ZX3 and ZX5, standard CD/MP3 player on all models, S and SE models receive revised plastic wheel covers with alloy wheels now available as a standalone option, six-disc audio systems now have steering-wheel controls, convenience Package and Safety Packages bundle popular options. Also in 2006 Ford introduced the Street Appearance Package priced at
US$
The United States dollar (symbol: $; code: USD; also abbreviated US$ or U.S. Dollar, to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies; referred to as the dollar, U.S. dollar, American dollar, or colloquially buck) is the official ...
1295 with two unique front and rear fascia choices. The front fascia included integrated fog lamps and side markers, while the rear offers a rear diffuser, with the option of a large rally-style spoiler.
* 2007 MY – models no longer carried body configuration (ZX3, ZX4, ZX5, ZXW) tail badges, modifications increased EPA mileage ratings, new leather-trimmed sport seats with contrasting leather inserts, new exterior colors: Kiwi Green and Aqua Blue Clearcoat Metallic, available Street Appearance Package I with rally-style rear deck lid spoiler, single-disc CD and MP3 capable player now standard on all series, available six-disc CD and MP3 capable player now includes duplicate audio controls on steering column, new Interior Upgrade Package. Wagon production ends at the end of the 2007 calendar year.
Body styles and trims
On 2005 and 2006 models in the US and Canada, the second generation Focus received a body-configuration badging (e.g., ZX3, ZX4, ZX5, ZXW) along with separate badging to designate trim levels SE and SES trim; there was no trim badge for the S trim level. The body configuration badging were deleted from the liftgates/trunklids of 2007 models, the trim badging remained.
2005–2007 trim designations
* Focus S: (ZX3, ZX4 and ZX5), Duratec 20 or 20E engine with five-speed manual transmission, manual driver's seat height adjustment, split-folding rear seat, AM/FM single CD player, 15-inch wheels, Dual-stage driver and front-passenger air bags.
* Focus SE: (ZX3, ZX4, ZX5 and ZXW) Included S content, plus air conditioning, overhead console, AM/FM stereo with single-disc CD/MP3 player, dual power mirrors, power windows and locks, remote keyless entry.
* Focus SES: (ZX3, ZX4, ZX5 and ZXW) Included SE content, plus tilt/telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel, tachometer, decklid spoiler, and 16-inch alloy wheels.
* Focus ZX4 ST: Included SES content, plus Duratec 23 engine with sport-tuned exhaust, ST suspension with unique 16-inch alloy wheels, fog lamps, four-wheel antilock disc brakes, chrome-tipped exhaust, body-color, heated outside mirrors, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob with contrast stitching, unique sport-trimmed interior fabrics and instrument panel.
Debut marketing
Targeting
Generation X
Generation X (or Gen X for short) is the Western demographic cohort following the baby boomers and preceding the millennials. Researchers and popular media use the mid-to-late 1960s as starting birth years and the late 1970s to early 1980s a ...
and
Generation Y
Millennials, also known as Generation Y or Gen Y, are the Western demographic cohort following Generation X and preceding Generation Z. Researchers and popular media use the early 1980s as starting birth years and the mid-1990s to early 2000s ...
in the Focus marketing campaign at its North American introduction, Ford created a now defunct youth-destination website (www.focus247.com), aired 64 live television spots featuring comedian
Annabelle Gurwitch
Annabelle Gurwitch (born November 4, 1961) is an American author, comedic actress, television host most recognizable from her stint as hostess on ''Dinner and a Movie on TBS','' and activist associated with environmental issues and secular huma ...
beginning September 6, 1999, during the
MTV Video Music Awards, featured the Focus in co-sponsoring
Ricky Martin
Enrique Martín Morales (born December 24, 1971), known professionally as Ricky Martin, is a Puerto Rican singer, songwriter, and actor. He is known for his musical versatility, with his Ricky Martin albums discography, discography spanning ...
's Livin La Vida Loca North American tour (September 1999), and developed a strategic partnership with the WB Network show ''
Dawson's Creek
''Dawson's Creek'' is an American teen drama television series about the lives of a close-knit group of friends in the fictional town of Capeside, Massachusetts, beginning in high school and continuing into college that ran from 1998 to 2003. T ...
'' – including a private live concert event (November 1999), featuring of the Focus in two ''Dawson's Creek'' episodes, and a Focus signed by the ''Dawson's Creek'' cast auctioned on Amazon.com.
In January 2001, Ford partnered with
Atom Films
Atom.com (formerly AtomFilms) was a broadband entertainment network offering original short subject Film, movies, animations, and series by independent creators. The company was founded in 1998 in Seattle by Mika Salmi. Sequoia Capital, led by Mic ...
and
J. Walter Thompson (now JWT) to create three short films featuring the Ford Focus. Costing $80,000
the films were later shown at the
Sundance Film Festival and on Atom Films' web site.
In "Little Man on Campus," the lead male, undersized, uncoordinated, who had trouble living up to his
father's hopes, gets a Ford Focus from his parents and then makes a varsity sports team, wins 'the girl' and finally carries a squad of cheerleaders in the Focus.
[ ] The film features a cameo appearance by
Barry Livingston
Barry Gordon Livingston (born December 17, 1953) is an American television and film actor, known for his role as Ernie Douglas on the television series ''My Three Sons'' (1963–72). He is the younger brother of actor/director Stanley Livings ...
, who played "Ernie" in the TV show ''
My Three Sons
''My Three Sons'' is an American television sitcom that aired from September 29, 1960, to April 13, 1972. The series was broadcast on ABC during its first five seasons, before moving to CBS for the remaining seasons. ''My Three Sons'' chroni ...
''. Another of the films was titled "The Kiss." The third film entitled "gulp" and by director
Jason Reitman was selected to premiere in the 'Official Sundance Screening Room'. The film depicted the efforts of a young man to save his tropical fish. All three films were available for viewing at a now defunct web site, www.focusinfilm.com.
Marketing packages At introduction, Ford offered five specialized packages for the Focus targeting the youth market
marketed as ''Tailored For You'' kits, allowing buyers to customize their car's interior:
* The Pet Package (also called the ''Have Spot, Will Travel'' kit) included custom car bed, insulated pet sport bottle, lint roller, integrated pockets for leashes, a foldable bowl, air purifier, and pet safety belt.
* The Professional Package (also marketed as the ''Mobile Pro'' kit) included a voice-recorder, illuminated notepad holder, pocket for cellular phone/pager storage, and a mobile work station consisting of a tray to hold laptop, paper, pencils and supplies.
* The Sports Package included a backpack that slid over the back of the front seat and a customized roof rack.
* The Express Yourself Package included customized decals, steering wheel cover, gear shift knob on manual models, and special seat covers in neoprene, fleece or jersey
* The Friends Package included the features of the Express Yourself Package along with a coordinated ice cooler, and candy dispenser.
Special editions
Sony: Ford marketed 7000 examples of the Sony Limited Edition in January 2000 featuring an AM/FM CD receiver with wireless remote, four red and black three-way speakers (one pair in each door), trunk mounted 10-inch subwoofer. Exterior colors were Rainforest Green, Infra-Red, Pitch Black, and Going Platinum, each with an MSRP of $15,535.
Kona: the
Kona Mountain Bike Edition (May 2000, 5000 examples), featuring an "Out of Bounds" Kona bike, bolt-on bike rack, nylon washable seat covers, unique colors Dirt Metallic and Rainforest Green, unique side moldings with molded-in Kona Moto logo and bike tire treads; 16-inch six-spoke machined aluminum wheels and heavy-duty black rubber floor mats, also with Kona Moto logo and bike tire treads
![2001 Ford Focus Wagon Street Edition](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f6/2001_Ford_Focus_Wagon_Street_Edition.jpg)
Street: the Street Edition (September 2000) with European suspension, black trim, 16-inch polished aluminum wheels, a 6-disc CD changer, leather-wrapped steering wheel.
On the exterior, the front chin, rocker panels, bodyside moldings and lower rear fascia were black, while exterior colors were Infra-Red, Egg Yolk Yellow and Malibu Blue. The models used same springs, dampers and anti-roll bars found in the European Focus. Interior details included sport bucket seats with diamond, silver-masked instrument cluster, radio bezel, door accents and a silver shift knob. 7,500 total Street Editions were manufactured, approximately 85 percent of them were made as sedans ($15,750 MSRP), the remaining models as wagons ($17,745 MSRP).
S2: The Focus S2 (2001), available only in the three-door ZX3 model, featured European-tuned suspension, grey body trim with unique front spoiler and rocker panels, color-keyed bodyside moldings and S2 badging, rear spoiler, six-spoke 16-inch aluminum wheels and chrome exhaust tip, six-disc in-dash CD changer, sport bucket seats with diamond-patterned inserts, and exterior colors including CD silver, Sangria Red and a Focus Liquid Grey.
Mach Audio: The Focus MACH Audio ZTS sedan featured an audio system with six-disc in-dash CD changer, four 5 x 7-inch door-mounted, two-way speakers, a 10-inch dual-voice coil subwoofer, equalization customized to the Focus' interior configuration and 460 watts unique silver-faced instrument cluster, mesh seat fabrics and door trim panels, six-spoke, machined-aluminum wheels, MACH Audio badging, chrome HID projector headlamps, exterior colors of CD Silver, Liquid Grey and Mandarin Copper, and an MSRP of $16,975.
Centennial: In celebration of its 100th Anniversary on December 20, 2002, Ford marketed 3000 examples of the Ford Focus Centennial Edition, each a 2003 four-door sedan with black paint, 16-inch aluminum wheels; rear spoiler, fog lamps, leather-wrapped steering wheel with tilt and telescoping column, AM/FM Stereo with CD and MP3 player, driver's seat lumbar support, premium Verona-grain Imola leather seating surfaces in two-tone parchment, Ford 100th Anniversary deck lid and side badges, a commemorative key chain and watch, a copy of the limited edition
coffee table book
A coffee table book, also known as a cocktail table book, is an oversized, usually hard-covered book whose purpose is for display on a table intended for use in an area in which one entertains guests and from which it can serve to inspire convers ...
"The Ford Century," and a black leather owner's guide portfolio with the embossed signatures of Henry Ford, his son Edsel Ford, Henry Ford II, and William Clay Ford, Jr.
Aftermarket
![2006 Saleen S121 rear](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/2006_Saleen_S121_rear.jpg)
Tuner
Saleen
Saleen Automotive, Inc., commonly known as Saleen (/səˈliːn/), is an American manufacturer of specialty high-performance sports cars and high-performance automotive parts. Saleen is headquartered in Corona, California, US. On June 26, 2013 Sal ...
modified the first generation USA Focus into the S121 and N20 performance cars. The S121 includes a Duratec 2.0L
I4 engine
A straight-four engine (also called an inline-four) is a four-cylinder piston engine where cylinders are arranged in a line along a common crankshaft.
The vast majority of automotive four-cylinder engines use a straight-four layout (with the e ...
with improved suspension, custom body work designed and CAD modeled by Phil Frank, custom graphics, tire and wheel package, customized interior components, and optional upgraded brakes. The 10% performance boost to the factory Duratec 2.0l I4 engine was achieved by replacing the factory paper air filter with a more freely flowing reusable air cleaner and by replacing the factory exhaust with a cat back exhaust system. The N20 offers the same base engine and other improvements along with a factory installed
nitrous oxide
Nitrous oxide (dinitrogen oxide or dinitrogen monoxide), commonly known as laughing gas, nitrous, or nos, is a chemical compound, an oxide of nitrogen with the formula . At room temperature, it is a colourless non-flammable gas, and has ...
system that offers a boost bringing the N2O to . The S121/N2O are sold as new at many Ford dealers. There were 200 S121/N2O's produced by Saleen in 2005.
Several American companies offer genuine Ford parts to modify North American built Focuses to full or partial European standards. There is also a
V8 engine
A V8 engine is an eight-cylinder piston engine in which two banks of four cylinders share a common crankshaft and are arranged in a V configuration.
The first V8 engine was produced by the French Antoinette company in 1904, developed and u ...
conversion for the Focus.
South America
The Mark 1 Focus remained in production until 2008 in
General Pacheco
General Pacheco is a city in the Tigre Partido
Tigre Partido is a '' partido'' of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, situated in the northern part of Greater Buenos Aires. The department covers a large section of the Paraná Delta and its low-l ...
,
Argentina
Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...
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
Ford Motor Company used the Zetec name on a variety of inline 4-cylinder automobile engines. It was coined to replace "Zeta" on a range of 1.6 L to 2.0 L multi-valve engines introduced in 1991 because Ford was threatened with legal acti ...
Flex Fuel engine, a 2.0 L
Duratec HE engine, or the 1.8 L
Duratorq
The Ford Duratorq engine, commonly referred to as Duratorq, is the marketing name of a range of Ford diesel engines first introduced in 2000 for the Ford Mondeo range of cars. The larger capacity 5-cylinder units use the Power Stroke branding wh ...
Diesel Engine. Assembly of the Mark 2 Focus started in 2008 for the 2009 model.
However, in Brazil,
Ford do Brasil
Ford Brasil is the Brazilian subsidiary of American automaker Ford Motor Company, founded on April 24, 1919. The operation started out importing the Ford Model T cars and the Ford Model TT trucks in kit form from the United States for assembly ...
offered this until 2009, in 1.6 (Flex Fuel - 105 PS gasoline/112 PS ethanol) GL or GLX hatchback or saloon versions.
Trim levels (Brazilian)
* GL (2000–2003) (1.8 gasoline 118cv), 5-door hatchback, 4-door saloon.
* GL (2004–2007) (1.6 gasoline 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 gasoline 118cv, 2.0 gasoline 130cv), 5-door hatchback, 4-door saloon.
* GLX (2005–2008) (1.6 flexfuel 112cv, 2.0 gasoline 147cv), 5-door hatchback, 4-door saloon.
* XR (2003) (2.0 gasoline 126cv), 5-door hatchback.
* GHIA (2000–2004) (2.0 gasoline 130cv), 5-door hatchback, 4-door saloon.
* GHIA (2005–2008) (2.0 gasoline 145cv), 5-door hatchback, 4-door saloon.
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
Euro NCAP
The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) is a European voluntary car safety performance assessment programme (i.e. a New Car Assessment Program) based in Leuven (Belgium) formed in 1996, with the first results released in Februa ...
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. The car scored 11.6 points out of 16 in a frontal crash test conducted by the Russian
ARCAP
ARCAP (Autoreview Car Assessment Program) is an automobile safety assessment program founded by the Russian car magazine Autoreview. It was Russia's first independent rating for the passive safety of a car, presenting itself as the local edition of ...
safety assessment program in 2003.
Engines
European introduction
Gasoline engines available were the well-proven 1.8 L and 2.0 L
Zetec
Ford Motor Company used the Zetec name on a variety of inline 4-cylinder automobile engines. It was coined to replace "Zeta" on a range of 1.6 L to 2.0 L multi-valve engines introduced in 1991 because Ford was threatened with legal acti ...
units from the
Ford Mondeo
The Ford Mondeo is a large family car manufactured by Ford since 1993. The first Ford model declared as a " world car", the Mondeo was intended to consolidate several Ford model lines worldwide (the European Sierra, the Telstar in Asia and Aus ...
and 1.4 L and 1.6 L versions of the
Zetec-S/SE units, also found in the
Ford Fiesta and
Ford Puma. The ST170 and RS performance models used modified versions of the 2.0 L
Zetec
Ford Motor Company used the Zetec name on a variety of inline 4-cylinder automobile engines. It was coined to replace "Zeta" on a range of 1.6 L to 2.0 L multi-valve engines introduced in 1991 because Ford was threatened with legal acti ...
. 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
North America
Transmissions
Europe
* 5-speed
MTX-75
The Ford MTX-75 (M TransaXle), is a 5-speed transmission developed by Ford Motor Company for its larger-engined front wheel drive models. "75" refers to the distance in millimeters between the main and lay shafts.
Debuting in 1992, the transmissi ...
Manual (2.0, RS & 1.8 TDCi, 1.8 TDDi, 1.6)
* 5-speed
IB5+ Manual (2.0 SPI USA Only)
* 5-speed
IB5 Manual (1.4, 1.6, 1.8)
* 6-speed
Getrag 285 Manual (ST170)
* 4-speed
4F27E Automatic (1.6, 2.0)
North America
* 5-speed ''
MTX-75
The Ford MTX-75 (M TransaXle), is a 5-speed transmission developed by Ford Motor Company for its larger-engined front wheel drive models. "75" refers to the distance in millimeters between the main and lay shafts.
Debuting in 1992, the transmissi ...
''
manual (ST)
* 6-speed Getrag MT285 manual (SVT)
* 5-speed ''
IB5''
* 4-speed ''
4F27E''
automatic (Zetec, Split Port and Duratec)
Body styles
* 5-door
Hatchback
* 4-door
Sedan
* 3-door
Hatchback (Not available in Japan and New Zealand)
* 5-door
Station Wagon (Only available in North America, Europe and Japan)
Performance versions
SVT models
![2003 Ford Focus SVT ZX5](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/2003_Ford_Focus_SVT_ZX5.jpg)
In late 2001, Ford's in-house performance group,
Special Vehicle Team
Special Vehicle Team, also known as SVT, was an arm of Ford Motor Company responsible for the development of the company's highest-performance vehicles. Established in 1991, SVT was the successor to the SVO division. The last SVT Director was H ...
(SVT), introduced the three-door Focus ZX3 SVT (ST170) to the United States and Canadian markets for the 2002 model year. The exterior included revised front and rear bumper fascias, side skirts, fog lamps, rear diffuser, hatch lip spoiler, and 5-spoke alloy wheels wearing fairly sticky "Y" rated 215/45R17 tires from Continental. The SVT also featured a reworked version of the 2.0-liter Zetec engine available in other Focus models. Developed in concert with Cosworth, this engine featured a special aluminum cylinder head with enlarged intake ports, high compression pistons and forged connecting rods, piston oil squirters, solenoid operated variable camshaft timing on the intake cam, dual stage intake manifold, and a 4-2-1 tubular exhaust header.
These additions, coupled with an increased 10.2:1 compression ratio, increased power from .
Getrag
Getrag (), stylized as GETRAG, was a major supplier of transmission systems for passenger cars and commercial vehicles. The company was founded on 1 May 1935, in Ludwigsburg, Germany, by Hermann Hagenmeyer; as the ''Getriebe und Zahnradfabrik ...
provided a six-speed manual transmission shared with the
Mini Cooper S
The Mini is a small, two-door, four-seat car, developed as ADO15, and produced by the British Motor Corporation (BMC) and its successors, from 1959 through 2000. Minus a brief hiatus, original Minis were built for four decades and sold during ...
. This transmission was a twin
layshaft design and included a dual mass flywheel to eliminate vibration and transmission noise. Other changes to complete the package included sharper steering through an increased boost ratio in the steering rack, larger disc brakes on all four corners with standard ABS (300mm front/280mm rear,) and stiffened suspension with a slightly larger rear anti-roll bar. Exterior color choices were limited to CD Silver, Infra-Red Tintcoat, Sonic Blue, and Pitch Black.
Interior features included two-tone leather/cloth seats with Infra-Red/Sonic Blue cloth seat/door inserts, perforated leather steering wheel, perforated leather shift knob with leather boot, as well as a perforated leather emergency-brake handle and leather boot. Options for the Focus SVT included a one-touch sliding power glass sunroof, seven-speaker Audiophile sound system with sub-woofer, a Cold Weather package (includes heated seats/outside mirrors, traction control, and a 115 V block heater,) and, for 2003 and 2004 models, HID xenon headlamps.
In 2003, the SVT was offered in an all-new five-door ZX5 SVT counterpart and an exclusive European Appearance Package available for the ZX3 SVT only. The European Appearance package (or EAP for short) included all available options listed above, plus full black perforated leather Recaro seats/door panels and fifteen-spoke Dark Argent colored wheels. The exterior was available in two new exclusive EAP colors, Screamin' Yellow and Competition Orange. The only options not available on the 2003-2004 ZX5 SVT were the EAP for 2003 or the side skirts. In 2004, the Focus SVT's final year of production, the Euro package was available in the ZX5 SVT model as well. The base 5-spoke "Cobra R" wheel design would be replaced by a 6-spoke design similar to the ones found on the Steeda Focus as the base wheel option, the 2004 EAP would retain the Dark Argent 15-spoke design. The Focus SVT would be replaced by the 2005 Focus ZX4 ST Sedan.
Focus SVT total production: 14,003
2002: 4,788 (ZX3 SVT only, total '02 SVT)
2003: 6,158 (total 2003 SVT)
2,173 (ZX5 SVT)
3,985 (ZX3 SVT)
2004: 3,057 (total 2004 SVT)
1,079 (ZX5 SVT)
1,978 (ZX3 SVT)
ST model
![Focusstfront](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fd/Focusstfront.JPG)
Following discontinuation of the North American SVT Focus in 2004, Ford introduced the ST variant of the ZX4 for 2005–2007, with a 2.3-litre, ( (SAE) Torque) Duratec driving a five-speed MTX-75
manual transmission
A manual transmission (MT), also known as manual gearbox, standard transmission (in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States), or stick shift (in the United States), is a multi-speed motor vehicle transmission system, where gear change ...
with reverse lock-out. Though power was lower than the SVT, acceleration was only slightly lower due to a higher differential ratio. The 2005 ST used dampers and stabilizer bars similar to those of the SVT, but significantly softer springs. The ST featured a unique interior, wheels with Pirelli P6 Four Seasons tires, spoiler, color-keyed fascia, a color keyed grille, and four-wheel
anti-lock disk brakes. The 2005 ST included all SES package equipment – with heated seats, heated mirrors, leather interior, moonroof, and Audiophile package controlled by a Blaupunkt headunit all optional. 2007 was the final year for the 2.3 L engine in the Focus. For the 2006 and 2007 ST's the suspension geometry was changed to provide a softer ride.
In Canada, the Street Appearance look was available and named the GFX package. The Focus ST name did return in 2012 in an all new model.
Total Production:14464
2005: 9329
2006: 2419
2007: 2716
ST170
The ST170 (codename Piranha), which was launched in 2002, was the first Focus sport model to be developed for international markets by a joint SVE/SVT global team.
Adapted from the Facelift Mk 1 Focus, the ST170 had the following cosmetic revisions: Multi-Spoke Alloy Wheels; Alarm; Side Airbags; Optional 1/2 (in non-UK markets) and full
Recaro
Recaro Holding, as the parent company of the Recaro Group, owns the Recaro brand and the independently operating companies Recaro Aircraft Seating (aircraft seats) based in Schwäbisch Hall and Recaro eGaming (gaming seats) based in Stuttgart, Germ ...
leather seats; Optional 9006 Stereo system with bespoke
Subwoofer
A subwoofer (or sub) is a loudspeaker designed to reproduce low-pitched audio frequencies known as bass and sub-bass, lower in frequency than those which can be (optimally) generated by a woofer. The typical frequency range for a subwoofer i ...
; brushed aluminium door releases; honeycomb 'tech flec' front grills, round projector style fog lights, colour-coded bumper and side beadings & door handles; and Locally developed bodykit (Australia only). The 172.3PS engine was developed by Cosworth and tuning bumped the power from . Upgrades included: High-flow aluminium
cylinder head
In an internal combustion engine, the cylinder head (often abbreviated to simply "head") sits above the cylinders and forms the roof of the combustion chamber.
In sidevalve engines, the head is a simple sheet of metal; whereas in more modern ...
;
Variable valve timing
In internal combustion engines, variable valve timing (VVT) is the process of altering the timing of a valve lift event, and is often used to improve performance, fuel economy or emissions. It is increasingly being used in combination with var ...
; Dual stage intake manifold; Stainless steel exhaust system and exhaust manifold by Cosworth; Sports
catalytic converter
A catalytic converter is an vehicle emissions control, exhaust emission control device that converts toxic gases and pollutants in exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine into less-toxic pollutants by catalysis, catalyzing a redox chemic ...
; Larger brake discs (300 mm front, 280 mm rear);
Getrag
Getrag (), stylized as GETRAG, was a major supplier of transmission systems for passenger cars and commercial vehicles. The company was founded on 1 May 1935, in Ludwigsburg, Germany, by Hermann Hagenmeyer; as the ''Getriebe und Zahnradfabrik ...
6-speed manual M6 gearbox; Revised power steering 'falling-flow' pump and close ratio steering rack. Black Oak engine management system. The engine was sourced from the Ford of Mexico Chihuahua plant. The vehicle final-assembly was in the Ford Saarlouis plant in Germany, with some content such as the subwoofer assembled off-line at the ACÜ facility attached to the plant. There was an additional Wagon/Estate variant (codename Swordfish) launched in Europe-only in 2003, which featured Nivomat self-levelling rear dampers.
RS
![2003 Ford Focus RS 2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/2003_Ford_Focus_RS_2.0.jpg)
The Focus RS Mk1 was produced from October 2, 2002, to November 11, 2003, and was Ford's return to the RS (Rallye Sport) badge after the demise of the tweaked Escorts, particularly the fabled
Ford Escort RS Cosworth
The Ford Escort RS Cosworth is a rally version homologation special of the fifth generation European Ford Escort. It was designed to qualify as a Group A car for the World Rally Championship, in which it competed between 1993 and 1998. It was ...
. Production was limited to 4501 units only. The car was largely built on its own assembly line in Ford's
Saarlouis plant, with some additional specialist off-line assembly performed by the ACÜ group at Überhern. The RS was offered all over Europe, but 2147 were sold in the United Kingdom, by far its largest market.
The Mark 1 Focus RS was a limited production run available in 21 European countries. Prior to the launch of the production car, there were 12 development prototypes, which were then followed by 26 pre-production vehicles.
Using a turbocharged version of the 2.0-litre
Ford Zeta engine
Developed in the late 1980s by the Ford Motor Company, the Ford Zeta engine was a straight-4, double overhead cam internal combustion engine with which Ford had intended to replace the analogous Pinto and CVH models.
Ford designed the Zeta to sh ...
, the Focus RS rated at .
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 324 mm (Front) 280 mm (Rear).
The development of the Focus RS was undertaken by a mixed team of mainstream Ford engineers (not SVE nor the TeamRS group which replaced it later on) and
Tickford
Tickford is an automobile engineering and testing business in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, known for tuning and such products as the 140 mph Tickford Turbo Capri.
Under the name Salmons & Sons and their Tickford products the firm has ...
Engineering in Milton Keynes, United Kingdom. Originally it was to be released as the Racing Focus, however after the poor selling Racing Puma, Ford (driven by Martin Leach) decided to revive the RS badge.
More bespoke than the concurrent
Ford Focus SVT (badged as the
Focus ST170 in Europe), the Focus RS upgraded or replaced 70% of the standard Focus mechanicals. The
inline-four engine
A straight-four engine (also called an inline-four) is a four-cylinder piston engine where cylinders are arranged in a line along a common crankshaft.
The vast majority of automotive four-cylinder engines use a straight-four layout (with the ...
equipped with a single
Garrett AiResearch
Garrett AiResearch was a manufacturer of turboprop engines and turbochargers, and a pioneer in numerous aerospace technologies. It was previously known as Aircraft Tool and Supply Company, Garrett Supply Company, AiResearch Manufacturing Compa ...
GT25 (60) SG
turbocharger
In an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger (often called a turbo) is a forced induction device that is powered by the flow of exhaust gases. It uses this energy to compress the intake gas, forcing more air into the engine in order to pro ...
produced a minimum of at 5500 rpm and of
torque
In physics and mechanics, torque is the rotational equivalent of linear force. It is also referred to as the moment of force (also abbreviated to moment). It represents the capability of a force to produce change in the rotational motion of th ...
at 3500 rpm, which was then mated to the 5-speed
Ford MTX-75 transmission
The Ford MTX-75 (M TransaXle), is a 5-speed transmission developed by Ford Motor Company for its larger-engined front wheel drive models. "75" refers to the distance in millimeters between the main and lay shafts.
Debuting in 1992, the transmissio ...
and not the Getrag used in the ST 170. Mechanically, most notably, the car incorporated a
Quaife
R.T. Quaife Engineering, Ltd. is a British manufacturer of automotive drivetrain products. It designs and manufactures motorsport and performance orientated gearboxes, gearkits, differentials, steering racks and axle kits, along with many other as ...
automatic torque biasing
differential to improve
traction from the
front-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive (FWD) is a form of engine and transmission layout used in motor vehicles, where the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel drive vehicles feature a transverse engine, rather than the conventional longitu ...
setup. The steering used a similar quick-ratio rack as the ST170 while the brakes used fixed-caliper, four-piston
Brembo units with discs at the front and single-piston floating calipers and discs at the back. Wheels were 18"
alloys
An alloy is a mixture of chemical elements of which at least one is a metal. Unlike chemical compounds with metallic bases, an alloy will retain all the properties of a metal in the resulting material, such as electrical conductivity, ductility ...
specially developed by OZ Racing. The engine was heavily modified with forged aluminium pistons, hardened valve seats,
sodium
Sodium is a chemical element with the symbol Na (from Latin ''natrium'') and atomic number 11. It is a soft, silvery-white, highly reactive metal. Sodium is an alkali metal, being in group 1 of the periodic table. Its only stable ...
-filled exhaust valves,
stainless steel exhaust system. The
forced induction
In an internal combustion engine, forced induction is where turbocharging or supercharging is used to increase the density of the intake air. Engines without forced induction are classified as naturally aspirated.
Operating principle Overvi ...
system comprised a
Garrett turbocharger with a
water-cooled
Cooling tower and water discharge of a nuclear power plant
Water cooling is a method of heat removal from components and industrial equipment. Evaporative cooling using water is often more efficient than air cooling. Water is inexpensive and no ...
charge air cooler and an electric water pump. To transmit the higher torque an upgraded AP clutch was used.
The Focus RS was available in one metallic colour, Imperial Blue. The body looked similar to the standard Focus or to the ST170, although the RS featured unique front and rear bumper assemblies required for the wider wheel arches which accommodated the wider front track. Internally, the theme is blue and black with sections of blue leather trim on the door trim panels, the steering wheel and the Sparco seats which were trimmed in blue/black leather and
Alcantara. A green
starter button starts the engine. The instruments have a blue background and in place of the coolant temperature gauge, the RS was equipped with a boost pressure indicator (up to 1.5
bar). The gear lever knob,
handbrake lever, and pedals were all custom made by
Sparco
Sparco S.p.A. is an Italian auto part and accessory company headquartered in Volpiano near Turin that specializes in producing items such as seats, steering wheels, harnesses, racewear and helmets. Sparco branded alloy wheels are produced under li ...
.
All-around performance was roughly equal or better to its other competitors, including hatchbacks such as the
Honda Civic Type-R and some
four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive, also called 4×4 ("four by four") or 4WD, refers to a two-axled vehicle drivetrain capable of providing torque to all of its wheels simultaneously. It may be full-time or on-demand, and is typically linked via a transfer cas ...
cars in the same price field. Power was a diminished priority and the handling on a track, courtesy of the front differential, was considered by most observers to be its strongest characteristic. In a
Top Gear
Top Gear may refer to:
* "Top gear", the highest gear available in a vehicle's manual transmission
Television
* ''Top Gear'' (1977 TV series), a British motoring magazine programme
* ''Top Gear'' (2002 TV series), a relaunched version of the or ...
review,
Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson (born 11 April 1960) is an English broadcaster, journalist, game show host and writer who specialises in motoring. He is best known for the motoring programmes '' Top Gear'' and '' The Grand Tour'' alongside R ...
noted that "''it lacks the straightforward oomph of a
Subaru Impreza
The is a compact car that has been manufactured by the Japanese automaker Subaru since 1992. It was introduced as a replacement for the Leone, with the predecessor's EA series engines replaced by the new EJ series. It is now in its sixth gene ...
.
..The reason it was quick round our track is simple: this car handles like it's in a cartoon.''" Clarkson and other motor journalists also commented on the car's torque steer on bumpy British roads.
Cosworth Concept
Ford Motor Company made acquisition in 1998 of its longtime partner Cosworth Racing and was exploring the return of the Cosworth badge on their production cars. At the 1999 Geneva International Motor Show Ford represent concept model named Focus Cosworth. It was inspired by 1999 Ford Focus WRC with unique bodykit and powered by a Cosworth-developed 2.0-litre turbo-charged and inter-cooled Zetec-E engine that produce more than 200 PS.
Focus RS WRC
![Benikbalazs06miskolc](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/Benikbalazs06miskolc.JPG)
The Focus RS WRC was built in 1999 to replace the
Ford Escort WRC
Ford Escort WRC is a rally vehicle based on the Ford Escort RS Cosworth with World Rally Car homologation. It was built by M-Sport to compete in the World Rally Championship for the Ford World Rally Team
The Ford World Rally Team, also known ...
. It debuted in the
Monte Carlo Rally with
Colin McRae
Colin Steele McRae, (5 August 1968 – 15 September 2007) was a Scottish rally driver. He was the 1991 and 1992 British Rally Champion, and in 1995 became the first British driver and the youngest person to win the World Rally Championship ...
and
Simon Jean-Joseph behind the wheels of the two cars. It was immediately on the pace, setting many fastest stage times, but the use of an illegal water pump meant that the two cars were excluded from the event. McRae gave the Focus its first win two events later on the
Safari Rally Kenya finishing over 15 minutes ahead of the second placed
Toyota
is a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on . Toyota is one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world, producing about 10 ...
of
Didier Auriol
Didier Auriol (born 18 August 1958) is a French former rally driver. Born in Montpellier, and initially an ambulance driver, he competed in the World Rally Championship throughout the 1990s. He became World Rally Champion in 1994, the first driv ...
.
In
2003, Ford released a newly designed Focus WRC, named Focus RS WRC 03, for competition during the second part of the season. The car, with most parts redesigned from the ground up, featured a lighter body shell and a new aerodynamically enhanced front bumper and wing.
Markko Märtin
Markko Märtin (born 10 November 1975 in Tartu) is a retired rally driver from Estonia, who competed in the World Rally Championship from 2000 until 2005.
Career
Märtin, as understudy to then-team mates Colin McRae and Carlos Sainz, rose to ...
drove the car to two world rally victories. The 2004 and 2005 Focus WRCs were evolutions based on the RS WRC 03. The Focus RS WRC 04 won three events with Märtin at the wheel. By 2005, the car was no longer competitive and Ford had a winless season.
Overall sales and history
In Europe, the
hatchback is the biggest selling bodystyle. Ford attempted to market the saloon in Europe as a mini-
executive car
Executive car is a British term for a large car which is equivalent to the European E-segment and American full-size classifications. Executive cars are larger than compact executive cars (and the non-luxury equivalent mid-size cars), and smal ...
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
Vauxhall ( ) is a district in South West London, part of the London Borough of Lambeth, England. Vauxhall was part of Surrey until 1889 when the County of London was created. Named after a medieval manor, "Fox Hall", it became well known for ...
/
Opel Astra
The Opel Astra is a compact car/small family car (C-segment) developed and produced by the German automaker Opel since 1991, currently at its sixth generation. It was first launched in September 1991 as a direct replacement to the Opel Kadett. ...
and
Volkswagen Golf
The Volkswagen Golf () is a compact car/small family car (C-segment) produced by the German automotive manufacturer Volkswagen since 1974, marketed worldwide across eight generations, in various body configurations and under various nameplates ...
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 Car of the Year (COTY) is a common abbreviation for numerous automotive awards.
The "Car of the Year" phrase is considered to have been introduced by ''Motor Trend'' magazine in 1949 when the new publication named Cadillac as Motor Trend Car of the ...
in 1999, ahead of
GM's new
Astra model. The Focus won the ''
North American Car of the Year
The North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year are a set of automotive awards announced at a news conference each January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The jury consists of no more than 60 automotive journali ...
'' 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
A panel van, also known as a blind van, car-derived van (United Kingdom) or sedan delivery (United States), is a small cargo vehicle with a passenger car chassis, typically with a single front bench seat and no side windows behind the B-pillar. ...
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
The Ford Transit Connect is a Compact car, compact panel van sold by Ford Motor Company, Ford since 2002. Developed by Ford of Europe, the model line replaced sedan-based vans (Ford Escort (Europe)#Sixth generation (1995–2002), Ford Escort a ...
was introduced in 2002 as its replacement. A
convertible
A convertible or cabriolet () is a passenger car that can be driven with or without a roof in place. The methods of retracting and storing the roof vary among eras and manufacturers.
A convertible car's design allows an open-air driving expe ...
version was another notable omission that was rectified with the Mk2 Coupe-Cabriolet.
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.
Awards and recalls
Since its launch in 1998, the first generation Focus 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
A family car is a car classification used in Europe to describe normally-sized cars. The name comes from the marketed use of these cars to carry a whole family locally or on vacations. Most family cars are hatchbacks or sedans, although there are ...
ever (Autocar UK 2003). In 2000, the Focus won ''
Automobile
A car or automobile is a motor vehicle with wheels. Most definitions of ''cars'' say that they run primarily on roads, seat one to eight people, have four wheels, and mainly transport people instead of goods.
The year 1886 is regarde ...
'' magazine's Automobile of the Year and ''
MotorWeek
''MotorWeek'' is an automotive news and information program focused on car road tests, previews, and maintenance tips. The program is produced by Maryland Public Television for PBS and also airs on the commercial cable/satellite channel MAVTV.
...
s Best Small Car.
Though the Focus received the
R.L. Polk & Co. Automotive Loyalty Award for highest percentage of repeat buyers, four years running, from 2000 through 2003 – the Focus did experience numerous
recalls early in the car's life.
Despite
Lemon-Aid describing it as "glitch ridden" up until 2004, Focus reliability steadily improved.
By 2005, the Focus received a
Consumers Digest
Founded in 1959 and published by Consumers Digest Communications, LLC, ''Consumers Digest'' was an American magazine. It was based in Chicago. The last issue was published in February 2019.
The magazine had no subscribers and did not test the pro ...
Best Buy Rating,
(taking numerous factors into consideration, including reliability and recall history) as well as the Strategic Vision 2005 Total Quality Award.
In 2006 the Focus received AutoPacific's first Ideal Vehicle Award as top-rated compact car for 2006.
The Focus placed on ''
Car and Driver
''Car and Driver'' (''CD'' or ''C/D'') is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. In 2006 its total circulation was 1.23 million. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, who purchased prior owner Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. in 2011. It was f ...
'' magazine's
Ten Best list for five consecutive years between 2000 and 2004.
References
{{Ford Australia timeline
Euro NCAP small family cars
Ford C1 platform
Cars introduced in 1998
2000s cars
Goods manufactured in Germany
Ford Focus
Sedans
Hatchbacks
Station wagons