Ford Focus (third generation)
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The Ford Focus (third generation), also known as the Focus Mk III, (Code name: C346) debuted at the 2010 North American International Auto Show as a 2012 model. The cars shown were a 4-door sedan and 5-door
hatchback A hatchback is a car body configuration with a rear door that swings upward to provide access to a cargo area. Hatchbacks may feature fold-down second row seating, where the interior can be reconfigured to prioritize passenger or cargo volume. ...
, also debuting a new 2.0-litre direct injection I4 engine. A 5-door estate (wagon) was previewed at the Geneva auto show a month later. This generation of Focus would be the first Ford vehicle designed under the tenure of CEO
Alan Mulally Alan Roger Mulally (born August 4, 1945) is an American aerospace engineer and manufacturing executive. He is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of the Ford Motor Company. He retired from Ford Motor Company on July 1, 2014. Ford ...
and his "One Ford" plan, which aimed to leverage Ford's global resources into creating more competitive vehicles that could be sold globally in each segment with minimal changes. The "One Ford" plan would reunite the North American and global Focus line. The previous North American version was thus discontinued, and the new model was launched simultaneously in North America and Europe on March 2, 2011, both having started production near the end of 2010. Production in Asia, Africa, and South America followed later. Ford debuted the all-electric Ford Focus Electric at the
Consumer Electronics Show CES (; formerly an initialism for Consumer Electronics Show) is an annual trade show organized by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). Held in January at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Winchester, Nevada, United States, the event t ...
in 2011 to compete with the Nissan Leaf and the
Chevrolet Volt The Chevrolet Volt is a plug-in hybrid manufactured by General Motors, also marketed in rebadged variants as the Holden Volt in Australia and New Zealand and the Buick Velite 5 in China, and with a different fascia as the Vauxhall Ampera in th ...
and announced the hot hatch ST model at the
Paris Motor Show The Paris Motor Show (french: Mondial de l'Automobile) is a biennial auto show in Paris. Held during October, it is one of the most important auto shows, often with many new production automobile and concept car debuts. The show presently take ...
in September 2010. The Ford Focus was the best-selling car in the world for 2012. The third generation Focus originally was intended to spawn a compact sedan that was to be sold by the Mercury division, following Ford confirming its 2012 lineups with its dealers. While not officially confirmed by Ford, two Mercury dealers stated that the car would be sold as the Mercury Tracer. It would've given Mercury two sedans again following the discontinuation of the Grand Marquis after the 2011 model year, and would've slotted below the larger Milan. It was to go on sale in 2011 for the 2012 model year. The plans for the new Tracer, however, were scrapped after Ford announced the closure of the Mercury division in the summer of 2010.


Design

The design was built on Ford's
Kinetic Design Kinetic Design is the name given to a style of automobile design used by Ford Motor Company for many of its passenger vehicles in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Developed by the design studios of Ford of Europe in Germany and Britain, it replaced ...
. The lights at the front have a different shape. The trapezoidal grille has triangular features. At the rear, the hatchback tail lights are positioned lower, similar to the
Ford Fiesta The Ford Fiesta is a supermini car marketed by Ford since 1976 over seven generations. Over the years, the Fiesta has mainly been developed and manufactured by Ford's European operations, and has been positioned below the Escort (later the ...
. The interior has been changed from the second generation in the NA and International versions. Ford wanted to make the Focus more upmarket so it offers two types of central consoles: the basic is associated with smaller engines and the premium is available to more powerful engines. This generation of Focus incorporated a redesigned cabin, changed materials, and a new "infotainment" system. Following the industry trend towards contending, and in keeping with the sedan's downmarket "economy car" image vs. the "premium" hatchback, the earlier sedan's space-saving gas strut trunk hinges are replaced with cheaper, intrusive gooseneck hinges. The Focus also has Ford's patented capless fuel tank, which doesn't require a cap to prevent
siphon A siphon (from grc, σίφων, síphōn, "pipe, tube", also spelled nonetymologically syphon) is any of a wide variety of devices that involve the flow of liquids through tubes. In a narrower sense, the word refers particularly to a tube in a ...
ing. In designing the Ford Focus, a group of young designers used what's called the Third Age Suit in order to simulate the physical limitations of an elderly person. The suit, which restricts the wearer's movements, allowed for insights that were implemented into the car's design.


Production

The Focus is being promoted as a global car, built in several different factories around the world, with changes to engine line-ups and trim levels to suit regional markets and regulations. Production locations include: *
Saarlouis Saarlouis (; french: link=no, Sarrelouis, ; formerly Sarre-Libre and Saarlautern) is a town in Saarland, Germany, capital of the district of Saarlouis. In 2020, the town had a population of 34,409. Saarlouis, as the name implies, is located on t ...
, Germany, production commenced December 2010 for the European market. * Wayne, Michigan, United States, production started in February 2011 for North America and Chile. *
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 ...
(St Petersburg),
Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-ei ...
, production commences in July 2011, with the estate (wagon) model starting in January 2012. *
Rayong Rayong ( th, ระยอง, ) is a city (''thesaban nakhon'') on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand and the capital of Rayong province. It covers tambons Tha Pradu and Pak Nam and parts of ''tambons'' Choeng Noen and Noen Phra, all within ...
, Thailand, commenced May 2012 for the Asian and Australasia markets, and replaces the previous Philippines plant used for the last generation Focus. *
Chongqing Chongqing ( or ; ; Sichuanese pronunciation: , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ), alternately romanized as Chungking (), is a municipality in Southwest China. The official abbreviation of the city, "" (), was approved by the State Co ...
,
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, most populous country, with a Population of China, population exceeding 1.4 billion, slig ...
started production of the Focus for the Chinese market in May 2012. * Taoyuan,
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 no ...
started production of the Focus for the Taiwanese market in November 2012. * Pacheco,
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 List of South American countries by area, second-largest ...
started production of the Focus for most of the South American market in 2013.


Transmission reliability issues

Along with the Ford Fiesta, the Focus equipped with the Ford ''DPS6 PowerShift'' transmission has received much criticism due to transmission shuddering, including several lemon law claims. The issue is due to the dry type clutches associated with gasoline models. Ford's current response is to replace the clutch pack assembly (with updated parts) when shuddering exceeds 250 rpm (upon customer complaint). There have been at least 6 revisions of clutch packs and transmission control modules since inception. Newer clutch packs and transmissions are more resistant to wear and fluid contamination, as the source of many shudder issues involved an improperly installed seal which was leaking transmission fluid onto the dry clutches. Ford also claims there are "Changes to the clutch material for better performance across temperature ranges (new for 2016)." Some consumer complaints are due to the normal operating characteristics of the transmission, because the DPS6 does not contain a torque converter fluid coupling and does not behave similarly to traditional torque converter transmissions, instead sharing some characteristics found in traditional manual transmissions.


North American market

Like in most other non-European markets, only the 4-door sedan and 5-door hatchback are offered in the United States and Canada. The EPA rated fuel economy at 28 city/38 hwy MPG for the 6-speed automatic, and 26 city/ 36 hwy MPG for the 5-speed manual. The SFE package, which can only be added to the sedan SE trim with ''
PowerShift The Ford PowerShift is a six- or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, produced by the Ford Motor Company.
'' automatic
dual-clutch transmission A dual-clutch transmission (DCT) (sometimes referred to as a twin-clutch transmission) is a type of multi-speed vehicle transmission system, that uses two separate clutches for odd and even gear sets. The design is often similar to two sepa ...
, improves highway fuel economy to 40 MPG. The platform that the new Focus is based on is 25% stronger than the previous North American version.


Engine lineup in North America

The Focus was launched with only one engine option, a 2.0-litre Duratec 20 direct injected, Ti-VCT
4-cylinder The engine configuration describes the fundamental operating principles by which internal combustion engines are categorized. Piston engines are often categorized by their cylinder layout, valves and camshafts. Wankel engines are often categorize ...
, producing . Mid-2012,
Flex Fuel A flexible-fuel vehicle (FFV) or dual-fuel vehicle (colloquially called a flex-fuel vehicle) is an alternative fuel vehicle with an internal combustion engine designed to run on more than one fuel, usually gasoline blended with either ethanol or ...
capability was added, except for states in the
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that adhere to
partial zero-emissions vehicle 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 ...
regulations. The engine is a derivative of the port fuel-injected 2.0-liter engine in the previous generation Focus. In late 2012, the range was joined by the Focus ST, with a turbocharged 2.0-litre producing (available only with a manual transmission). For the 2015 refresh, the EcoBoost 1.0-litre three-cylinder began to be offered in North America as an extra-cost option for SE trim level. The 2016 model added 2.3-litre EcoBoost for the new RS trim level.


Specifications


Running changes

Color choices were restricted during summer 2011, due to supply issues caused by the 2011 Japanese earthquake/tsunami. When black and dark blue returned they were replaced by different shades, although the phaseout of Kona Blue in favor of Sonic Blue had been planned. In 2012, the formerly automatic-only Titanium model was offered with a manual transmission. In March 2012, Ford revised the ordering guide for the Titanium models to also have a MyFord Touch delete option, replacing it with the non-touch version of MyFord. Although MyFord Touch is a $995 option on SEL models and the ''PowerShift'' automatic a $1095 option on S and SE, no discount is applied to either manual or non-Touch Titanium models. 2013 model year changes for non-STs are; SE models gain standard SYNC and alloy wheels, the SEL trim is discontinued in favor of an "SE Appearance package" that includes most of the SEL features but with standard trim choices limited to black leather, while Titanium models also pick up standard leather upholstery and lost the auto-dimming rearview mirror and rain-sensing windshield wipers. All now come standard with the 5-speed manual leaving the SFE pack as the last remaining automatic-only Focus (apart from the direct-drive electric), and color choices are rearranged.


Reliability issues

Along with the Ford Fiesta, the Focus equipped with the Ford ''PowerShift'' transmission has received much criticism due to transmission shuddering, including several lemon law claims. The issue is due to the dry type clutches associated with petrol models. Ford's current response is to replace the clutch pack assembly (with updated parts) when shuddering exceeds 250 rpm (upon customer complaint). Ford claims that the transmission, a dual-clutch automatic transmission, is designed to improve fuel economy and has issued several software upgrades for the transmission. To date, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has not required Ford to issue a recall, nor has Ford done so voluntarily. Focus models equipped with the conventional manual transmission have not been affected by the reliability issues. A significant amount of the new models of the first year experiences problems with rust underneath the front bonnet, partly due to issues with the seam sealer used between the structural part of the bonnet and the skin, which allowed water to seep in and create corrosion (similarly to other Ford models of the period). Other issues included rust developing on the trunk lid of the hatchback model due to vibrations of a plastic insert creating friction and wearing out the paint on the metal skin of the lid. Later models included a relocated park brake lever, redesigned adjustable front head rest and a redesigned accessory 12v plug that is more ergonomic.


European market

The UK range is available in hatchback and estate (wagon) in a large number of trim variants including. Most other European countries, including the Republic of Ireland, also include the four-door saloon, unlike Britain, as previous generation sales did not sell as well in comparison with the hatchback and estate.


Engine lineup in Europe

* 1.0 litre EcoBoost: this three-cylinder turbocharged engine is produced in two variants, producing . It replaced the 1.6-litre Ti-VCT Duratec in 2012. * 1.6-litre Duratec Ti-VCT: this engine is an updated version of the same engine from the previous model, with improved intake and exhaust manifolds. The improvements also mean that the engine has been updated to Euro 5 and Euro 6 emissions standards. The 1.6-litre Ti-VCT is available in three versions, , and . Torque figures are , , and , respectively. * 1.5-litre EcoBoost: this engine came with the
Durashift Durashift is the brand name of a range of Ford automatic and recently manual transmissions. Durashift EST Durashift EST ''(Electronic Shift Transmission)'' features electronic control with manual selection of gears. It is an automated manual t ...
B6 manual transmission. It was available with , both versions produced of torque along with with the overboost function. The engine is rated for in 7.6 seconds while the completed it in 7.1 seconds. The 1.6-litre engine was replaced by the 1.5-litre engine in 2015. * 1.6-litre Duratorq: just like the petrol ''Duratec'', the diesel is upgraded for emissions and economy. This engine has eight valves instead of 16 on the previous model. The basic version produces and , while the top-of-the-range version generates and with in the overboost function. For the Focus Econetic model, the engine produces . * 2.0-litre Duratorq: top of the range diesel engine is highly updated and available with ''
PowerShift The Ford PowerShift is a six- or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, produced by the Ford Motor Company.
'', it comes in two versions, , which produce of torque, respectively.


Safety and recall

In 2017, Ford recalled Ford Focus with 1.6 EcoBoost engines because of a risk of engine fires caused by a “lack of coolant circulation”. There were 29 fires related to the engine in the U.S. and Canada reported to Ford. The recall partly contributed to a charge of US$300 million by Ford.


Australia

Announced in 2010, the Australian Focus was set for arrival in August 2011. Going on sale would be a hatch and a sedan, in 4 trim levels and 3 powertrains. The Focus range starts with the base Ambiente, Trend, mid-range Sport, and top-of-the-line Titanium. Powering the Ford Focus are 2 petrol, a 1.6 petrol with 92 kW and 159 Nm, a 2.0 petrol with 118 kW and 198 Nm, and one diesel, a 2.0 turbo diesel with 120 kW and 340 Nm. Ambiente coming with the 1.6, and the Trend, Sport and Titanium standard with the 2.0 petrol, with the 2.0 diesel available as an option. Power was sent through a 5 speed manual on all models except the Titanium, and a 6-speed dual-clutch ''PowerShift'' automatic transmission is standard on the Titanium and optional on all others (standard with diesel).


Other markets


Asia

In March 2012, the Focus was launched to the ASEAN markets at the Bangkok International Motor Show. The Thailand range included: 1.6 Ambiente, 1.6 Trend, 2.0 Sport 5-door, 2.0 Titanium sedan, 2.0 Sport+ 5-door and 2.0 Titanium+ sedan trim levels, while in Malaysia, it is offered in both sedan and hatchback body-styles. Two trim are available for both body-style, the sedan got Titanium and Titanium+ trim while the hatchback got Sport and Sport+ trim. In Taiwan, Assembly started by the end of 2012. 2 petrol engines (1.6L Ti-VCT 125 PS and 2.0L GDI 170 PS) and 1 diesel engine (2.0L TDCi 163 PS) available, all come with ''PowerShift'' transmission as the manual transmission model was unavailable. 8 trim levels: In the Korean market, 2.0L TDCi Duratorq Diesel is the only available engine (available in 140 hp and 163 hp configuration), and all come with the ''PowerShift'' transmission as the manual transmission model was unavailable. 3 Trim Levels: Trend (140 hp), Sport (163 hp), Titanium (163 hp), all available in both hatchback and sedan body style. In Japan, the 2.0L Ti-VCT GDI Sport five door hatchback with either the five speed, dual clutch manual transmission, or the six speed "Power Shift" automatic transmission was the only model currently offered. The assembly changed from the Saarlouis Body & Assembly to the
AutoAlliance Thailand AutoAlliance Thailand (AAT) is the name of a joint venture automobile assembly firm co-owned by Ford and Mazda in Rayong province, Thailand. Modeled after the Ford-Mazda AutoAlliance International joint venture in the United States, AAT builds ...
facility. Its width dimensions at are not within the favorable Japanese
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 ...
tax classification.


Specifications

5-door hatchback model, availability varies between markets.


Safety

The Focus in its most basic Latin American configuration received 5 stars for adult occupants and 4 stars for toddlers from
Latin NCAP The Latin New Car Assessment Programme (Latin NCAP) is an automobile safety assessment programme for Latin America and the Caribbean. Founded in 2010, it offers independent information to consumers about the safety levels of new cars in the ...
in 2013.


Facelift (2014–2019)

The Ford Focus mid-cycle facelift (Mk 3.5) was shown at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show, and features a raft of changes made to both the exterior, interior and engine line up. Revisions made to the body were thinner and sharper headlights, a new trapezoidal grille, giving the front more sporting intent than the previous model. The new front end is similar to that of the 2014 Mondeo as well as the facelifted 2013 Fiesta, while also inspired by the 2011
Ford Evos The Ford Evos is a low-slung mid-size crossover SUV produced by Ford through Changan Ford joint venture in China since 2021. The vehicle debuted at Auto Shanghai in China in April 2021. History Developed largely by a China-based team of Ford ...
concept as well as various
Aston Martin Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings PLC is an English manufacturer of luxury sports cars and grand tourers. Its predecessor was founded in 1913 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford. Steered from 1947 by David Brown, it became associated wi ...
vehicles. (Ford owns an 8% interest in Aston Martin.) The 2015 facelifted Ford C-Max and Grand C-Max, the 2015 S-Max and
Galaxy A galaxy is a system of stars, stellar remnants, interstellar gas, dust, dark matter, bound together by gravity. The word is derived from the Greek ' (), literally 'milky', a reference to the Milky Way galaxy that contains the Solar System ...
, have also incorporated the new family face. On Titanium and Titanium X the grille is chrome, and on other versions, it is black mesh. The ST features a Black honeycomb grille. The front fog-lights were also changed. At the rear on the hatchback, the rear lights were changed, so that they appear sharper, and less clumsy. The estate and saloon, (saloon is not available in Britain), also had subtle revisions to their rears too. For the 2015 model year the Focus range was offered with a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder "EcoBoost" powerplant available in outputs in place of the current older 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre offerings. Another new feature is the 2016 Ford Focus RS's "Drift Mode", which allows the driver to more easily and safely
drift Drift or Drifts may refer to: Geography * Drift or ford (crossing) of a river * Drift, Kentucky, unincorporated community in the United States * In Cornwall, England: ** Drift, Cornwall, village ** Drift Reservoir, associated with the village ...
the car. Inside, the multitude of buttons on the dashboard was removed and replaced by an all-new eight-inch touchscreen. The quality of plastics improved, and the steering wheel was changed to a three-spoke. Trim levels in the UK consist of Studio, Style (instead of
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due to 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 ...
based SUV), Zetec, Zetec S (including special Red and Black editions) - later replaced in 2016 by Zetec Edition, ST-Line (and later ST-Line X), Titanium, Titanium X and ST. Trim levels in Europe are similar to the pre-facelift model including Ambiente, Trend, Trend +, Titanium, and ST. The new 1.5 TDCi Duratorq diesel (95 and 120 hp) and 1.5 EcoBoost (150 and 180 hp) has been added to the line-up. The 2.0 TDCi Duratorq diesel has been updated to produce 150 and 185 hp. The new third-generation RS model went on sale in 2016, with pricing from around £31,000 and the new 2.3 EcoBoost from the
Ford Mustang The Ford Mustang is a series of American automobiles manufactured by Ford. In continuous production since 1964, the Mustang is currently the longest-produced Ford car nameplate. Currently in its sixth generation, it is the fifth-best selli ...
, but updated to produce 350 hp. It was revealed in the production variant at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show and featured at the 2015
Goodwood Festival of Speed The Goodwood Festival of Speed is an annual motorsports festival featuring modern and historic motor racing vehicles taking part in a hill climb and other events, held in the grounds of Goodwood House, West Sussex, England, in late June o ...
. Mechanical improvements to the facelifted
Ford Focus The Ford Focus is a compact car (C-segment in Europe) manufactured by Ford Motor Company since 1998. It was created under Alexander Trotman's Ford 2000 plan, which aimed to globalize model development and sell one compact vehicle worldwide. The ...
are chassis revisions to all versions, to make the car more planted on the road, and the steering is also sharper than the pre-facelift model, while also offering greater feedback for greater driving pleasure and fun, which has been the trademark of the Focus since it launched back in 1998.


Engine lineup in Europe


1.0 litre EcoBoost

Award-winning three-cylinder engine is produced in two variants, with and .


1.6-litre Duratec Ti-VCT

This engine - an updated version of the same engine from the previous model, allowing it to breathe better with improved intake and exhaust manifolds. The improvements also mean that the engine has been updated to EU5 norms (from 2015 - EU6 norms). From 2014, the 1.6 Ti-VCT was available in three versions: , , but in some European markets also as with factory LPG (i.e.: German market - as 1.6 LPG Bivalenten Autogasmotor/ English: BiFuel LPG Engine). It was discontinued in 2016.


1.5-litre EcoBoost

This all-new engine replaces the 1.6-litre EcoBoost with the same power, but with an improved economy. The engine comes equipped with either Ford-Getrag's Durashift B6 manual gearbox or with a new Torque Converter automatic (6F35) available on the Focus for the first time. In the Focus it is available with and of torque, the only engine on offer in the Australian Trend, Sport and Titanium models.


2.0 litre EcoBoost

Exclusive to the ST range, this engine continues to produce , and is available only with the 6-speed manual, producing of torque.


2.3-litre EcoBoost

This all-new engine is already used in the new-generation Ford Mustang and used by the third-generation Focus RS since 2016 with an output of .


1.6-litre TDCi Duratorq

Just like the petrol Duratec, this diesel engine was upgraded for emissions and economy for the third-generation Focus. It produced and in the basic version and and of torque in the more potent version. For the Focus Econetic model, the engine produced . The engine as of 2016 has been replaced by the 1.5-litre TDCi engine.


1.5-litre TDCi Duratorq

An all-new engine as of 2014, replaces the older 1.6-litre Duratorq diesel (despite running side-by-side for a few years) from 2016, and comes in three variants: with of torque, and with of torque. An Econetic option is also available, with , but tuned for economy rather than performance.


2.0-litre TDCi Duratorq

The top of the range diesel engine is highly revised and updated and available with Ford ''PowerShift'' transmission, and the 6-speed manual. It now comes in two new versions, with of torque and with of torque, the latter also available in the ST.


ECOnetic

The second generation Focus ECOnetic for 2011 includes new technologies as Auto-Start-Stop system, Smart Regenerative Charging, Eco mode, Active Grille Shutter, ultra-low rolling resistance tyres, Shift Indicator Light and revised final drive ratio targeting 95g/km average CO2 emissions and 80mpg. Third generation Focus ECOnetic will have improved Ford's Duratorq 1.6-litre 105 hp engine with standard coated
Diesel particulate filter A diesel particulate filter (DPF) is a device designed to remove diesel particulate matter or soot from the exhaust gas of a diesel engine.Tom Nash (May 2003) "Diesels: The Smoke is clearing", ''Motor '' Vol.199 No. 5, p. 54, Hearst Business Publ ...
(cDPF).


Focus Electric

In January 2011 Ford launched its pre-production version based on the Focus Mark III under the new name of
Ford Focus Electric The Ford Focus Electric is a 5-door hatchback electric car that was produced by Ford. The Focus Electric is Ford's second production all-electric vehicle (the first being the Ford Ranger EV), and was made from December 2011to May 2018. The Focu ...
at the
Consumer Electronics Show CES (; formerly an initialism for Consumer Electronics Show) is an annual trade show organized by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). Held in January at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Winchester, Nevada, United States, the event t ...
, rather than the traditional
North American Auto Show The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), also known as the Detroit Auto Show as of 2022 and prior to NAIAS, is an annual auto show held in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., at Huntington Place. The show was held in January from 1989 to 2019 ...
. with sales scheduled in the U.S. market by late 2011 and in Europe by 2013. The
concept Concepts are defined as abstract ideas. They are understood to be the fundamental building blocks of the concept behind principles, thoughts and beliefs. They play an important role in all aspects of cognition. As such, concepts are studied by ...
electric car An electric car, battery electric car, or all-electric car is an automobile that is propelled by one or more electric motors, using only energy stored in batteries. Compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, electric cars are quiet ...
was unveiled at the 2009
Frankfurt Motor Show The International Motor Show Germany or International Mobility Show Germany, in German known as the ''Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung'' (''IAA'' – International Automobile Exhibition), is one of the world's largest mobility shows. It cons ...
as the Ford Focus BEV. The Focus BEV was based on the European second generation Focus. For the Focus Electric, Ford used a complete electric drive train developed and supplied by
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, and uses a 23
kWh A kilowatt-hour (unit symbol: kW⋅h or kW h; commonly written as kWh) is a unit of energy: one kilowatt of power for one hour. In terms of SI derived units with special names, it equals 3.6 megajoules (MJ). Kilowatt-hours are a common bill ...
, liquid-cooled
lithium-ion battery A lithium-ion or Li-ion battery is a type of rechargeable battery which uses the reversible reduction of lithium ions to store energy. It is the predominant battery type used in portable consumer electronics and electric vehicles. It also s ...
pack, has a range of on a charge, and a top speed of . The Focus Electric was built at the
Michigan Assembly Plant Michigan Assembly Plant, formerly known as ''Michigan Truck Plant'', is a Ford Motor Company assembly plant in Wayne, Michigan. The plant employs approximately 2800 hourly employees and 200 salary employees (May 2020), comprises three main buildin ...
in Wayne, Michigan on the same
line Line most often refers to: * Line (geometry), object with zero thickness and curvature that stretches to infinity * Telephone line, a single-user circuit on a telephone communication system Line, lines, The Line, or LINE may also refer to: Art ...
as the gasoline-powered version of the Focus, the C-Max Energi
plug-in hybrid A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is a hybrid electric vehicle whose battery pack can be recharged by plugging a charging cable into an external electric power source, in addition to internally by its on-board internal combustion engin ...
and the C-Max Hybrid. Initial production will be limited, with production to be ramped up in 2012. Sales of the Ford Focus Electric were slated for late 2011, and it was available initially only in 19 metropolitan areas including
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,
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and
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, Boston, Chicago,
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, Detroit, Los Angeles, San Francisco,
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, New York City,
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, Phoenix and
Tucson, Arizona , "(at the) base of the black ill , nicknames = "The Old Pueblo", "Optics Valley", "America's biggest small town" , image_map = , mapsize = 260px , map_caption = Interactive map ...
,
Portland, Oregon Portland (, ) is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, Portland is the county seat of Multnomah County, the most populous ...
,
Raleigh-Durham The Research Triangle, or simply The Triangle, are both common nicknames for a metropolitan area in the Piedmont region of North Carolina in the United States, anchored by the cities of Raleigh and Durham and the town of Chapel Hill, home to th ...
,
Richmond, Virginia (Thus do we reach the stars) , image_map = , mapsize = 250 px , map_caption = Location within Virginia , pushpin_map = Virginia#USA , pushpin_label = Richmond , pushpin_m ...
,
Seattle Seattle ( ) is a seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the seat of King County, Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest region o ...
, and Washington, D.C. The Ford Focus Electric was awarded the 2011
Green Car Vision Award The Green Car Vision Award is an annual award granted by the ''Green Car Journal''. In contrast with its Green Car of the Year award, which only considers production vehicles that make the most significant environmental advancements, the Gree ...
at the 2011 Washington Auto Show. For 2017 and 2018 the Ford Focus Electric came standard in North America and Europe with DC fast charging utilizing a CCS instead of a standard J plug. As well as a larger 33.5KWh battery Ford ended European series production of the full-electric version of its Focus by April 2017.North American Ford Focus production ended in May 2018 effectively ending full-electric production with it. As of 2021, Ford has confirmed plans for an all new Focus EV as it moves toward full electrification.


Focus ST

Beginning Summer 2012 (UK)/late 2012 in the US, Ford offered a new performance-oriented hot hatch Focus ST, as first revealed at the
2010 Paris Motor Show The 2010 Paris Motor Show took place from 2 October to 17 October 2010, in Paris expo Porte de Versailles. For 2010, the theme of the special exhibition was "The Incredible Collection 2: automobile manufacturers collections and museums." Introdu ...
and then at the 2011
Frankfurt Motor Show The International Motor Show Germany or International Mobility Show Germany, in German known as the ''Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung'' (''IAA'' – International Automobile Exhibition), is one of the world's largest mobility shows. It cons ...
when more details were announced, including the availability of an estate(wagon) version for European markets, and the possibility of a sports sedan version for North American markets. The ST features a new, more aggressive exterior design, including a redesigned front bumper with larger air intakes and grille, larger rear wing, wider side sills, center-exit exhaust, and alloy wheels. Inside, the car receives a trio of additional gauges mounted in the dashboard, faux-carbon fiber trim, and sport seats with body-colored inserts and stitching. The car will be offered three trim options: ST1, ST2, and ST3; the same three options that were available with the MkII ST. The ST will use a & version of the 4-cylinder 2.0L EcoBoost engine, a gain of 25 hp above the previous Focus ST which used a larger 2.5L 5-cylinder engine. It is resultantly estimated that the ST will reach in 6.1 seconds, while its top speed will be . Compared to the previous ST, the new model has the same 0 to 100 km/h time and has a 2 mph higher top speed. Another significant improvement is weight; the new car is lighter than its 5-cylinder powered predecessor. The ST was featured in the 2012 film ''
The Sweeney ''The Sweeney'' is a 1970s British television police drama focusing on two members of the Flying Squad, a branch of the Metropolitan Police specialising in tackling armed robbery and violent crime in London. It stars John Thaw as Detective Insp ...
'', a remake of the 1970s TV series of the same name. Ford gave six ST-badged Focuses to the production team.


Facelift (2015–2018)

For the 2015 model year, the ST continued to use the 2.0L EcoBoost with a 6-speed manual gearbox in ST1, ST2 and ST3 trims for the European and US markets, and the single ST trim in the Australian market. Updates were made to the front and rear fascias to coincide with the changes implemented in the standard Focus, including the lights, grille, and rear diffuser. The availability of 5-door hatchback and estate (wagon) body styles remained unchanged. For the European markets, a 2.0L TDCi Duratorq Diesel engine was available for the ST with a 6-speed ''PowerShift'' automatic gearbox to rival the likes of the
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 ...
GTD and the
SEAT León The SEAT León (), also spelled Leon in some other languages (named after the city of León, which also means "Lion" in Spanish), is a hatchback compact car built by the Spanish car manufacturer SEAT since October 1999.ETKA The first two Leó ...
FR. The 2.0L Duratorq's rated output is , and of torque in the ST. Pricing and badging is the same for petrol and diesel models.


Focus RS

Following the merger of Ford's North American Special Vehicle Team (SVT), the European TeamRS and the Australian FPV divisions to the development of Ford's global performance vehicles, Ford's Advanced Product Creation and Performance Vehicles director Hermann Salenbauch said that the decision to sell Ford Focus RS/SVT to North America depended on feedback from the media and customers. However, the product would only appear 2 years after the release of the third generation Focus models. On August 4, 2011 Ford's global boss for small cars, Gunnar Herrmann, revealed to magazine ''Drive'' that the third iteration of the hot-hatch was in the works. The new RS was expected to arrive towards the end of 2015 in Europe and the rest of the world; in North America it will arrive after 2015. On January 21, 2015, Ford released a teaser video previewing the 2015 Ford Focus RS and on February 3, hosted a web-streaming reveal event from Cologne, Germany. At the 2015 Geneva Motor Show the production-ready MKIII Ford Focus RS was unveiled packing the
turbocharged 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 pr ...
EcoBoost engine found in the
Mustang The mustang is a free-roaming horse of the Western United States, descended from horses brought to the Americas by the Spanish. Mustangs are often referred to as wild horses, but because they are descended from once-domesticated animals, the ...
with over . In the Focus RS, the engine itself produces at 6000 rpm and at 3200 rpm 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 ...
. Power is sent to all four wheels via Ford's all-new Torque-Vectoring All-Wheel-Drive system with a rear-drive unit designed by GKN, as well as upgraded suspension and brakes. As well as that, the new Focus RS will be fitted with Drive Modes – including an industry-first Drift Mode that allows controlled oversteer drifts – and Launch Control. The RS will boast a model-specific aerodynamic package that helps to differentiate it from other Focus models. The RS is capable of accelerating to in 4.7 seconds. 2018 marked the final model year for the Ford Focus RS. Ford Performance released Final Edition vehicles with a new Quaife mechanical limited-slip differential. However, there were no upgrades to the power and torque figures from previous model years. The 2018 Focus RS was only available in 2 colors, Race Red and Nitrous Blue. Gloss black roof, spoiler, and mirror caps were added to differentiate the Final Edition. Only 1,000 2018 Ford Focus RS were available for U.S drivers and 500 for Canada. As a final tribute to the RS, the UK only Heritage Edition was revealed to celebrate the strong bond between the UK market and Ford's performance vehicles. Finished in a unique Deep Orange color, and fitted from the factory with the Mountune FPM 375 package boosting power from to and fitted with the Quaife LSD, only 50 were made and cost £7k more than the standard UK Focus RS.


Marketing

The Ford Focus was promoted in
The Amazing Race ''The Amazing Race'' is an adventure reality game show franchise in which teams of two people race around the world in competition with other teams. The ''Race'' is split into legs, with teams tasked to deduce clues, navigate themselves in fore ...
, a reality show featuring 11 teams racing around the world. The Focus was used in a few seasons as the mode of transportation for the racers. In the 18th installment, the 2012 Ford Focus was also used as a prize for the first team that completes a leg of the race.


Motorsports

Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Chip Ganassi Racing, LLC (CGR), also sometimes branded as Chip Ganassi Racing Teams, is an American auto racing organization with teams competing in the NTT IndyCar Series, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, FIA World Endurance Champion ...
entered a Ford Focus in the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge Street Tuner class in 2014.
Hoonigan Racing Division The Hoonigan Racing Division is a motor racing team that competes in the American Rally Association fielding a Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC car for Ken Block. The team previously competed in the World Rally Championship, Global RallyCross Championship ...
fields two Ford Focus RS rallycross cars in the
2016 FIA World Rallycross Championship The 2016 FIA World Rallycross Championship presented by Monster Energy was the third season of the FIA World Rallycross Championship. The season consists of twelve rounds and started on 16 April with the Portuguese round at Montalegre. The season ...
, with drivers
Andreas Bakkerud Andreas Bakkerud (born 10 October 1991) is a rallycross driver from Bergen, Norway. He has competed in the FIA Rallycross Supercar class since 2013 in both Euro RX and World RX, and Nitro Rallycross since 2021. He became European Champion in 2021 ...
and
Ken Block Kenneth Paul Block (November 21, 1967 – January 2, 2023) was an American professional rally driver with the Hoonigan Racing Division, formerly known as the Monster World Rally Team. Block was also one of the co-founders of DC Shoes. He als ...
.


Appearance in media

A 2017 Focus RS appeared in Season 4, Episode 2 (A Massive Hunt) of the
Amazon Prime Video Amazon Prime Video, also known simply as Prime Video, is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming and rental service of Amazon offered as a standalone service or as part of Amazon's Prime subscription. The service pr ...
original show
The Grand Tour ''The Grand Tour'' is a British motoring television series, created by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May and Andy Wilman, made for Amazon exclusively for its online streaming service Amazon Prime Video, and premiered on 18 November ...
. It was driven by
Richard Hammond Richard Mark Hammond (born 19 December 1969) is an English journalist, television presenter, mechanic, and writer. He is best known for co-hosting the BBC Two motoring programme '' Top Gear'' from 2002 until 2015 with Jeremy Clarkson and J ...
, who modified the car by removing the wheels and putting on caterpillar tracks. He also repainted the car from blue to black.


Discontinuation and end of production (North American models)

On May 4, 2018, the final 2018 Ford Focus was assembled at
Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company (commonly known as Ford) is an American multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, United States. It was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. The company sells automobi ...
's
Michigan Assembly Plant Michigan Assembly Plant, formerly known as ''Michigan Truck Plant'', is a Ford Motor Company assembly plant in Wayne, Michigan. The plant employs approximately 2800 hourly employees and 200 salary employees (May 2020), comprises three main buildin ...
in Wayne, Michigan. The
Michigan Assembly Plant Michigan Assembly Plant, formerly known as ''Michigan Truck Plant'', is a Ford Motor Company assembly plant in Wayne, Michigan. The plant employs approximately 2800 hourly employees and 200 salary employees (May 2020), comprises three main buildin ...
will continue to produce the all-new 2019
Ford Ranger Ford Ranger is a nameplate that has been used on multiple model lines of pickup trucks sold by Ford worldwide. The nameplate has been used for distinct model lines of vehicles worldwide since 1982 from the compact and mid-size pickup category. ...
for North America. A crossover named the Ford Focus Active was planned to be imported from China. It was planned to be sold in North America for the 2020
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. ...
. In August 2018, Ford canceled its plans to import the Chinese-built Focus Active to North America, citing tariff concerns.


References


External links


Ford Focus US – Official website

Ford Focus Australia – Official website

Ford Focus UK – Official website

Ford Focus ST US – Official website

Ford Focus ST Australia – Official website

Ford Focus ST UK – Official website
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