The Ford Focus is a small family car manufactured by Ford and marketed globally since its introduction in 1998 in Europe, 2000 in North America, and 2002 in Australia. First generation models continued in production in North America through 2007 (with an interim re-styling) and remain in production currently in South America (e.g., Brazil, Argentina). A second generation launched in Europe in January 2005, received styling and engineering updates in January 2008, and is marketed globally outside North and South America.
In Europe, South America, North America and South Africa, the Focus replaced the Ford Escort in 2002. In Australia, New Zealand and Japan, it replaced the Ford Laser.
Focus models rank as the 41st bestselling automotive nameplate worldwide, with over 5 million sold.
Ford Focus Mark 1 (1998–2004)
Design and engineering
Codenamed CW170 during its development, and briefly known to some Ford contractors as the Ford Fusion , the original Focus took its eventual name from a Ghia concept car which was shown at the Geneva Motor Show in 1991. Certain elements of the design had been seen even earlier in prototypes used by Ford to demonstrate forthcoming safety features, such as the eye-level rear lighting clusters. As a continuation of Ford's New Edge styling philosophy, first seen in the Ford Ka in 1996, and Ford Cougar in 1998, the Focus' styling had been often described as polarizing The styling had been overseen by Jack Telnack and executed by Claude Lobo and Australian designer, John Doughty.
The decision to name the new car the Ford Focus was made in early 1998, as Ford's overheads had been planning to keep the Escort nameplate for its new generation of small family cars. 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 magazine. This eleventh hour dispute was overcome, however, and the car was launched without a different "German market" name.
Rear suspension
Engineers for the Focus, including Richard Parry-Jones, developed a class-leading, space-saving independent multi-link rear suspension, marketed as Control Blade suspension, combining the packaging of a trailing arm, with the geometry of a double wishbone suspension — at considerably lower cost.
Where many competitors in the compact class, or small family car (European) class, used the less expensive half-independent torsion beam suspension, 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 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."
Following the 1998 introduction of Control Blade suspension and 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.
Manufacturing
The Mark 1 Focus remains in production (along with the Mark 2 Focus) in General Pacheco, Argentina where it's marketed as the Focus One. It continues to be marketed in Brazil as well.
The Mark 1 was also previously produced in factories in Saarlouis, Germany; Valencia, Spain; Santa Rosa, Philippines; Chungli, Taiwan; Chongqing, China, and Vsevolozhsk, Russia.
Critical opinion
The motoring press praised the handling and ride of the Ford Focus for its rare mix of passenger comfort and lively driver responsiveness. Reviews hailed the Focus' independent rear suspension, performance and accommodation. The interior design polarised opinion. The quality of the interior materials was criticised relative to the Opel Astra and even more so relative to the Mk 4 Volkswagen Golf, although the Mk4 Golf was considerably more expensive than the Focus from new.
Safety
The Mk 1 Ford Focus received 4 out of 5 stars for occupant safety, and 2 out of 4 stars for pedestrian safety in its EuroNCAP tests (69% frontal, 83% side, 28% pedestrian). In Australia, the 2002–2005 Ford Focus was assessed in the Used Car Safety Ratings 2006 as providing "average" protection for its occupants in the event of a crash.
2001 facelift
The 2001 Mk 1 Focus facelift included:
- Revised headlamps with integrated indicators and separate main and dipped bulbs
- Revised bumpers without indicators, but with the addition of removable bump strips
- Revised upper and lower grille and fog lights
- Optional Xenon headlights
- Optional 6-disc CD changer
- Optional Navigation System
- Optional Digital Climate Control
- Features of certain trim levels changed
- Modified centre console with rubber cup holders
- Different centre dash colours
- New seat trims
- Different instrument cluster finishes
- Damped and lit glovebox
- New colours
- Rear power point
- TDCi Engine introduced to the range
- Versatility Pack Option added
A new flexfuel engine was introduced, based on the European Zetec 1.6 L version. This could use both petrol and bioethanol, but only on the Swedish market. This version is still available in some countries despite the advent of an all-new Mk 2 Focus.
Engines
European introduction
Petrol engines available were the well-proven 1.8 L and 2.0 L Zetec-E units from the Ford Mondeo and 1.4 L and 1.6 L versions of the Zetec-SE units found in the Ford Fiesta and Ford Puma. The ST170 and RS performance models used modified versions of the 2.0 L Zetec-E. Originally, the only diesel engine available was the Endura TDDI (a development of the old Deutz-designed motor which Ford had been using since the 1980s). This was replaced in 2002 by the Duratorq TDCI.
International summary
Transmissions
- 5-speed MTX-75 Manual (2.0, RS & 1.8 TDCi, 1.8 TDDi)
- 5-speed IB5 Manual (1.4, 1.6, 1.8)
- 6-speed Getrag 285 Manual (ST170)
- 4-speed 4F27E Automatic (1.6, 2.0)
Trim levels
Trim levels (European)
- CL (1.4 petrol, 1.6 petrol, 1.8 turbodiesel), 3/5-door hatchback, 5-door estate (1.6 only available in UK in 5-door estate)
- LX (1.4 petrol, 1.6 petrol, 1.8 petrol, 1.8 turbodiesel), 3-door hatchback, 5-door hatchback, 4-door saloon, 5-door estate
- Zetec (1.4 petrol, 1.6 petrol, 1.8 petrol, 2.0 petrol, 1.8 turbodiesel), 3/5-door hatchback, 5-door estate
- Ghia (1.6 petrol, 1.8 petrol, 2.0 petrol, 1.8 turbodiesel), 5-door hatchback, 4-door saloon, 5-door estate.
- ST170 (2.0 petrol), 3/5-door hatchback, 5-door estate
- RS (2.0 turbo petrol), 3-door hatchback (In production from 2002–2004)
Body styles
- 3-door hatchback
- 5-door hatchback
- 4-door saloon (Europe)
- 4-door sedan (Not available in Japan, New Zealand and Italy)
- 5-door estate (Only available in Europe and Japan)
Performance versions
ST170
The ST170, which was launched in 2002, is the International version of the American Focus SVT. The car was only available in some markets outside of America.
Adapted from the Facelift Mk 1 Focus, the ST170 had the following cosmetic revisions: 17" Multi-Spoke Alloy Wheels; Alarm; Side Airbags; Optional Recaro leather seats; Optional 9006 Stereo system with Subwoofer; brushed aluminium door releases; honeycomb front grills, round projector style fog lights, colour coded bumper and side beadings & door handles; and Locally developed bodykit (Australia only). The engine was developed by Cosworth and tuning bumped the horsepower from 130 to 170. Upgrades included: High-flow aluminium cylinder head; Variable valve timing; Dual state intake manifold; Stainless steel exhaust system and exhaust manifold by Cosworth; Sports catalytic converter; Larger brake discs (3
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