Ford Focus History
With the beginning of production in July 1998, Ford launched the Focus, replacing the much-loved Escort and has won the hearts of millions of families across the world.
1998-2004 First Generation Ford Focus
The release of the Focus had a great success with its futuristic looking styling on the exterior, while in the interior they pushed the boundaries with curves and angles swooped across the dashboard. The Focus debuted with three body styles: three-door hatchback, four-door sedan, and five-door wagon. Later on, Ford launched a performance oriented version of the Focus named Ford Focus RS. The special version had 2.0L turbocharged Duratec engine with special limited-slip differential and Brembo brakes. Almost 70% of the parts used for it are special and could not be found in other models.
2004-2010 Second Generation Ford Focus
The new Ford Focus was larger and heavier than the first generation. The trademark suspension that made the Focus’s performance was carried over with almost no changes. In 2005, Ford released the performance version of the second generation Ford Focus. The ST featured tuned sport suspension, a 2.5L five-cylinder turbocharged engine with a power output of 225hp. Later in 2009, small tweaks were made to the ST’s engine. For the North American market, the second generation of the Ford Focus came only in two body styles, a two-door coupe and four-door sedan.
2010-2018 Third Generation Ford Focus
For this generation, Ford reunited the international and North American model by releasing the Focus worldwide. In designing the new Ford Focus, Ford’s engineers used new technologies and systems. A technology called the Third Age Suit was implemented in the car's design. That helped with finding and eliminating the flaws of the design. Ford released the Focus with several practical and very economic engines. A 1.0L EcoBoost petrol engine with power varying between 98hp and 123hp that gives on average 4.7l/100km. A 1.6L TDCi with the remarkable fuel consumption of 3.0l/100km. The most powerful engine for this generation is the 2.3L Direct Injection inline-four gasoline engine with 350hp and an AWD system. It was paired to a six-speed manual and Ford only installed it in the RS version of the Focus.
The Ford Focus had six trim levels. The S trim level being the basic it provides some power with its 2.0L engine and the fuel economy is pretty decent. The SE trim level comes with the 1.0L engine and some added options to the standard like heated seats, and heated steering wheel. The SEL trim level includes almost all possible options but if you want something luxurious the Titanium trim level is for you. It includes all of the possible options for the car. The RS trim level featured sport tuned suspension, Quaife limited slip differential, different interior, sport bucket seats, different steering wheel and many more slightly tweaked parts that are unique.
2018- Ford Focus Fourth Generation
Ford unveiled the fourth generation of Focus on the 20th anniversary of the model. The new restyled Ford Focus is available in a sedan, hatchback, and estate body style. The new exterior of the Focus leans more on the sport look. It has several engines that produce power from 85hp to 260hp. The sportier trim level ST is the most powerful one with a 2.3L gasoline engine. Ford also offers a diesel ST with a 2.0L engine. Ford announced that it will stop making any passenger cars for the North American market. They also said that they don’t plan to release an RS Focus for this generation. Ford has limited the sales of the Focus to only a four-door sedan in many countries.