Jump to content

Ford Focus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 216.114.181.122 (talk) at 03:31, 1 June 2004. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The Ford Focus is a car made by the Ford Motor Company and sold in most Ford markets worldwide. It was launched in 1998 in Europe, and in 2000 in North America. Unlike its predecessors in the North American market, the Pinto and Escort, no luxury Mercury version is available.

In Australia, New Zealand, Japan and other countries in the region, it replaced the Laser, based on the Mazda 323 (called the Mazda Protege in North America).

Mechanically the Focus draws heavily from other European Ford models, using a sophisticated multi-link rear suspension derived from that used in the Ford Mondeo, giving the Focus class leading handling and ride characteristics. The engines used are the well-proven Zetec-SE and Zetec units.

Engines:

Bodies (offerings vary by market):

  • 3-door hatch
  • 5-door hatch (part of the original line in Europe, added in America starting in 2002)
  • 4-door sedan/saloon (not available in Japan or New Zealand)
  • 5-door wagon (only available in Europe and Japan)

Transmissions:

  • 5-speed manual
  • 6-speed manual (Euro ST, US SVT)
  • 4-speed automatic

Competition

Competition in Europe

Opel Astra/Vauxhall Astra*
VW Golf and VW Bora*
Peugeot 307*
Toyota Corolla*
Nissan Almera*
Honda Civic

Competition in North America

Chevrolet Cavalier
Dodge Neon
Toyota Corolla
Mazda Protege*
VW Golf and VW Jetta*
Honda Civic


Cars above with a (*) after them are available in hatch or wagon models as well as the sedan.

In Europe, the hatchback is the biggest selling bodystyle. Ford attempted to market the sedan version in Europe as a mini-executive car by only offering it in the Ghia trim level, something that it had tried before with the Orion of the 1980s. It has since given up on this strategy, and has started selling lower specced versions of the sedan.

Despite its radical styling (the hatchback version in particular), and some controversial safety recalls in North America, the car has been a runaway success throughout the globe. Even in the United States, where Ford has traditonally failed to successfully sell its European models to a Stateside audience.

As of 2003, this is the best-selling car in the world. It was elected Car of the Year in 1999. In Europe, the original had a very subtle facelift in 2001, and a replacement is due in June 2004.

A major facelift is due in the 2005 model year. Ford has apparently decided that a completely new car would not be profitable in the heavily price- and incentives- driven North American market.

Preceded by:
Ford Escort		 Succeeded by:
(still in production)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ford_Focus&oldid=3815863"