Ford Focus. Easy choice

Ford Focus is a compact FWD car of С class, produced since 1998 by the American Ford. It’s available in different body options: sedan, estate, 5- and once 3-door hatchback, and even coupe cabriolet. Ford Focus stays in the European top tep best-selling car models. Ford Focus has a rich history: 4 generations have entered the market. Focus was destined to become a best-selling car from its very first day, so it did right after entering the market. On the today’s Israeli market, you can buy the fourth-generation Ford Focus 2018 as a sedan, estate, or 5-door hatchback.

First generation

The first-generation Ford Focus, produced from 1998 to 2004, was really born in 1992 at the Geneva Auto Show as Ghia concept. The CW170 platform was a secret one for a long time, many people believed it was designed for Fiesta. However, Ford designed its New platform for the brand new car - Focus. It was named as Focus only in 1998, right before the release. Ford had many doubts whether the new car should still be called Escort or renamed accoding to revolutionary exterior changes? As you can see, the latter was chosen.

Both interior and exterior were subject to Major changes. Comfort and driveability of this Ford Focus are well-estimate by every expert. And the affordable price made this car an easy choice of a customer. The first generation already had a good safety rating. The first generation of Ford Focus won 4 stars out of 5 in thr EuroNCAP regarding driver’s and passenger’s safety and 2 stars out of 4 regarding the safety of pedestrains.

The first generation Ford Focus was offered in as many as four body types: 3- and 5-door hatchback, 4-door sedan, and 5-door estate. Besides all this abundance, Ford created something else for its customers: sports interpretations of the car. In the case of the first generation, two ‘charged’ versions were available: ST170 and RS.

Soon after the successful start, an updated version of the model took up the torch. Ford did not hesitate with the restyling, and already in 2001 it showed a fresh Focus. The restyled version of the first generation Ford Focus, produced until 2005, received updated headlights, bumper, and grille, modified center console, new seats, and expanded set of options.

Second generation

In 2004, the second generation of Ford Focus appeared. It was produced until 2011 and restyled in 2008. The second generation of Focus used the C1 platform sharing it with Volvo S40, V50, C70, Mazda 3, and Ford C-Max. Ford called it’s universal base Global Shared Technologies, and justified its name. The size of the Ford Focus 2 increased, it became roomier.

The second-generation Ford Focus received KeyFree, sun-reflecting windshield, adaptive headlights, Bluetooth, audio system voice control, Phone, and climate control. The car also received new Durashift transmissions: 6-speed mechanic and 4-speed automatic ones. And the safety exceeded the best expectations! The second generation of Ford Focus received the best EuroNCAP test score ever in its class: 5 stars for driver’s and passenger’s safety, 4 stars for child’s safety, and 2 stars for pedestrains' safety. It has beated the safety ratings of its rivals: Renault Mégane and Volkswagen Golf.

The restyled second-generation Ford Focus was produced from 2008 to 2011 and received a big list of changes. Let’s mention some of these. The restyled Ford Focus 2008 года has had the new Kinetic Design concept, involving trapecioid grille, stylish upper headlights on the new “face”, serious wheel arches, new shape of the rear door and rear glass. The dashboard also changed, Ford has a Start button instead of the ignition key. New Power Shift, an analog of the Volkswagen’s DSG is one of the technical innovations used. The engine range also extended.

Third generation

The third-generation Ford Focus appeared in the early 2010 and was produced until 2019, in 2014, it was restyled. The third-generation Focus was truly global. The appearance of Iosis Max, a new round of the ‘kinetic’ design, was taken as a basis. The second-generation platform was updated for the third-generation Focus. The Control Blade advanced multilever rear suspension and semi-isolated front and rear subframes were used.

The model range of the third-generation Focus became two positions smaller: the production of 3-door hatchback and coupe cabriolet was stopped. Among technical innovations, there are the EcoBoost SCTi (Sequential Charge Turbo injection) engines and 6-speed PowerShift pre-selective transmission of Getrag with two ‘dry’ clutches. The steering is equipped with electric booster. Various safety systems like ABS, EBD, IVD, ESP, TA, EBA, side airbags, as well as curtain airbags for first and second rows of seats are available in the basic version.

In 2014, the third generation of Ford Focus was restyled. Focus received a new grille, lighting, bumpers, hood, and trunk door. All these elements were designed in the Ford’s corporativee style, first used in the second generation of Ford Fusion in 2013. The interior changes affected steering wheel, dashboard, central and lower consoles. The restyled third generation received heated steering wheel, system of perpendicular parking, and steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. The engine range added New 1.5-L gasoline and diesel engines.

Fourth generation

The fourth generation of the Ford Focus was officially demonstrated on April 10, 2018. The new Ford Focus designed by the German unit of Ford is available as sedan, estate, and 5-door hatchback, it’s based on the new C2 platform. Focus received a panoramic roof, head-up display, fully-LED headlights, revolving joystick to switch gears of the 8-speed automatic transmission. The fourth generation of Ford Focus also received a 53 mm wheelbase in order to extend its interior. Estate and sedan with basic power have first received are equipped with an elastic beam instead of the rear multilever suspension.