Ford introduced the fourth generation of the Focus compact lineup in 2018 but didn’t wait too much until it refreshed it in 2020 for the 2021 model-year.
The Focus started as a global car in 1998 and has evolved ever since. For 2018 model, it offered a completely new design, which was kept for the 2021 facelift. Although there were a few styling updates that made it look different.

A slight upgrade was noticeable at the hood, which received a taller front grille, making room for a higher “nose.” Also, the blue-oval badge was relocated and placed in front of the radiator instead. An important upgrade was for the headlights, which were LED for the entire range. It marked a big step forward to modern-era cars. The daytime running light pattern was moved inside the headlamps and encircled the darker central section. Like its predecessors, the 2021 Focus was available in a few body shapes. The five-door hatchback was among the most popular choice. It featured a sloped tailgate with a roof spoiler. Its landscape-oriented taillights emerged from the quarter panels onto the tailgate, under the rear window.

For the interior, Ford focused on the technology department and installed the SYNC 4 infotainment system. It features a new 12.3” touchscreen placed atop the center stack. Unlike other carmakers in the compact, mass-market segment, it provided more features, including voice commands not just for accepting calls but also for navigation and controlling the audio and climate control systems.

For the drivetrain, Ford introduced hybrid and mild-hybrid versions powered by the 1.0-liter turbocharged Ecoboost engines. Thanks to its 48-volt architecture, the car increased its fuel efficiency and lowered its CO2 emissions. In addition, a belt-driven integrated starter-generator helped reduce the turbo-lag.

After 16 million units sold of the Ford Focus family since the first appearance in 1998, the compact hatchback reached its fourth generation in 2018 to go further, with new improvements in ecology and safety.
The look of a car always was a strong selling point. So, the Focus looked sharper and sleeker than before. The lowered roof with a little spoiler on top of its tailgate were good points. The front, sporty look, had a connection with the male-buyers. But the Focus was available in more trim levels and some of them were appealing for the women-buyers.

Inside the vehicle, there was room for five passengers, even if the central tunnel was somehow protruding inside the cabin. The 2.7 meters (106.3”) long-wheelbase allowed good legroom in the back of the car. Despite the lower greenhouse, the car had enough head-room. For the driver, there were decent features, including an option for an 8” touchscreen infotainment system with SYNC3 that supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The base system had a smaller one. All four doors had parking-bump protection. That was a specific Ford feature that, when the car was opened, a small arm with rubber protection was extended around the door to not hit another car.

For the powertrain, the Focus was available with few base engines and their variants. A 1.0-, 1.5- and 2.0-liter gasoline units and a 1.5- and 2.0-liter diesel. A special ST version had a 2.3-liter gasoline engine. Standard transmissions were of 6-speed manual, while the 8-speed automatic was available as an option for specific engines.

The third generation of the Ford Focus was launched in 2012 and after just two years it received a facelift.
It was the most sold vehicle nameplate in the world at that time.

The compact market was very competitive in 2014. After the whole world got out of recession and the economy was booming, the car sales went up through the roof. Ford understood that offering a wide choice of bodies will make the Focus a winner. The third generation of Focus was offered as a sedan as well as a hatchback or a station-wagon.

The hatchback was the choice for many European customers, thanks to its practicality. With the rear seats folded, the trunk reached 1350 liters (47.6 cu-ft). The new design for the headlights and taillights brought more appeal to the car. The slimmer headlights and the re-designed grille made the car look more aggressive.

Inside, an option for an 8” touch-screen monitor on the center stack incorporated more buttons from the center stack. The standard version featured a 4.2” display. Regardless of the size of the screen, the Focus Sedan featured a standard back-up camera. The instrument cluster was similar to the non-facelifted version, but a recalibrated Electric power-steering enhanced the driving experience. In the back, there was room for three adults, but only two could have fit comfortably, and only if they were of average size.

Ford Focus hatchback was offered with a wide choice of diesel and gasoline engines. It started with a 1.0-liter EcoBoost unit and went all the way up to a 2.0-liter EcoBoost. The 2.3-liter version was available only for the RS range.

The third generation of the Ford Focus debuted at the 2010 North American Motor Show as a 2012 model.
It was available in stores in 2011 in three versions: sedan, hatchback, and station-wagon.

The Focus proved to be a success story for Ford. The compact vehicle was sold in many countries around the world and it was offered in various shapes and with different engines and transmission. From slow but fuel-efficient vehicles to tarmac shredding all-wheel-drive 300 hp monsters. The hatchback and the station-wagon versions were the most popular on the market.

The bodywork was more aerodynamic and it had the new hexagonal face of the radiator grille. Its headlights were closer to those found in the Mondeo, adding more refinement to the known compact-sized vehicle. The taillights featured a controversial design, with the middle side longer than the upper and lower sides.

Inside, there was a new cockpit arrangement. The base model featured a 4” infotainment unit, but a larger, 8” touch-screen unit was available as an option. It featured Bluetooth connectivity and SYNC connectivity package with voice-control and navigation.

The car featured a range of four-cylinder engine, diesel or gasoline-powered. Its power ranged between 95 and 180 hp. These were mated via a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The four-wheel independent suspension ensured a good cornering speed.

Ford refreshed the Focus range and unveiled it at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show.
The ST version was updated as well, starting with the following year.

The 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show was the last dance before the world financial crisis struck the automotive industry. Ford already knew that hard times would follow, and it tried to enhance its product lineup before that, and it did.

The 2008 Focus ST featured wider headlights that resembled the same shape as its bigger brother, the Mondeo. It sported a wide, trapezoidal grille on the lower side of the bumper, with a thick slat for the license plate on its upper side. Ford’s designers installed flared arches that showed more muscles for the five-doors hot-hatch and emphasized the sporty character with an ST-specific roof-spoiler on top of the tailgate. Under the bumper, it mounted a diffuser with two exhausts placed on the outer sides.

Inside, the sporty image was enhanced by the front Recaro sport-bucket seats with high bolstering and dual-tone color scheme. The dashboard was mostly the same as the one from the non-facelifted version, but the three gauges placed on top of the dashboard were magnificent for any tuning enthusiast.

Under the hood, lied the same engine carried over from its predecessor. It was paired to a standard six-speed manual gearbox, and there was no automatic option.

With the second generation of the Focus released in 2004, Ford had enough time to notice and improve the less good parts that came with the previous model.
Having the same basic structure, handling, comfort and safety remained the same, and by no means they needed improvement as the second generation sold really well mostly because of these.

However, the exterior design needed to be refreshed to bring the Focus up to date, as well as the interior getting updated with higher quality materials, a modern design and a better insulated cabin. The updates included a revised center stack, redesigned windows, redesigned mirrors switches, high quality leather for specific trim levels and for the Ghia and the Titanium models, Ford added a new woven headliner as standard.

Some of the optional features coming with the 2004 model became standard, such as the electronic stability control that came with every Ford Focus regardless of the trim level.

Technology was one of the main points Ford focused on improving, with the driver being able to connect and portable audio device via either a 3.5mm jack or a new USB port.

New for 2008, the Focus came with DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) paired with a high quality Sony audio system, thus clarity was highly enhanced.

Ford introduced the second generation of the Focus in 2004 at the Paris Motor Show in three and five-door versions.
The blue-oval brand built the MK2 Focus on the same platform as the Volvo S30 or Mazda 3. It was part of the global shared technologies program, which proved to be highly successful. Thus, the carmaker continued the Focus’ first-generation success.

From the outside, the headlights followed the triangular shape from the New-Edge-Design theme, but they were smaller. That left more room for the grille, which was broader and narrower. Unlike most compact vehicles on the market, it featured a profiled hood in a V-shape that connected the grille to the raked A-pillars. Its hatchback profile with a third window behind the rear doors improved the driver’s rear three-quarter visibility. Compared to its predecessor, the five-door version was slightly longer and sported a 25 mm (0.98”) longer wheelbase.

Inside, Ford offered the vehicle in a few trim levels, including the Ghia, as the top-luxury version. The most significant upgrade was the safety cell, which placed the Focus on top of its class in the EuroNCAP crash-tests results.

Under the hood, the carmaker installed a wide choice of engines ranged between 80 hp and 145 hp. Starting with the second generation, the 5-door Focus was also available in an ST-version.

Ford introduced the second generation of the Focus in 2004 and, in the following year, it came with the ST version.
After several sports cars, rally cars, and hot-hatches, Ford was one of the companies that knew how to build them. The Focus had all the necessary technical underpinnings to evolve into a successful street-performance vehicle, affordable enough to blast some of its competitors.

While the first hot-hatches were based exclusively on 3-doors bodyworks, Ford dared to offer its performance version with a three- and five-door version. But it enhanced the look of the vehicle and avoided the all-go-no-show syndrome.

From the outside, the Focus ST featured a modified front bumper when compared to its regular siblings. The wider lower grille and the silver rims around the side-scoops, plus a specific radiator grille in the upper bumper area, made a difference between the ST and the regular version at the front. From the sides, the specific 18” light-alloy wheels helped the car handle better on the road. In the rear, at the top of the liftgate, the designers installed a small roof-spoiler.

Inside, the Focus ST featured high-bolstered seats at the front to provide better support for its occupants, but the rear bench was the same as in any regular 5-door Focus. The carmaker installed three dials cluster with information about the boost, oil temperature, and oil pressure on top of the dashboard.

Under the hood, Focus ST featured a 5-cylinder Volvo engine. Its 2.5-liter displacement with 20 valves and turbocharging provided 225 hp. It was mated as standard to a 6-speed manual gearbox.

Ford introduced a facelifted version for the Focus range in 2001, to keep the sales figures up and to improve the car in a few areas.
Ford Focus was designed as a world car. The first generation was sold all over the world in a similar shape. The only differences were those related to different regulations on various continents. In 2001, the designers tried, and succeeded, to give the car a new line that kept it fresh.

The Focus was designed within the Edge-design trend, which combined long, arched lines into sharp angles. It was a love-it or hate-it car that changed the perspective for many buyers. A set of new headlights was installed, with lenses for the headlights that improved the night-driving visibility. The turn-signals were moved from bumpers inside the headlights. On the lower apron, a wider grille was installed to increase the cooling capacity. In the back, there was little to change on the D-pillar mounted taillights.

The interior kept the same unusual design that combined curved lines with sharp angles for the dashboard. Other than that, there was an improvement in the material’s quality, an area where some customers had some complaints. Unfortunately, the hood kept the same key-only opening mechanism, which required the driver to stop the engine, move the blue oval from the grille aside, insert the key, turn left and right and then pop the hood.

Ford Focus was a true, love-it or hate-it car, due to its controversial look and the new-edge styling promoted by American brand with other vehicles such as Puma or Cougar.
In 1999, Ford stormed the Geneva Motor Show with the introduction of the 5-door Focus. It was one of the most awaited models for the European compact-segment and an important competitor for the Volkswagen Golf. The new design idea brought the car into attention and completed it with its engineering solutions. Moreover, apart from a convertible version, it covered all other body versions.

One of the most important body versions was the 5-door hatchback, which faced stiff competition on the European market from all of the other carmakers. Still, Ford offered a good package. The triangular-shaped, with curved lines, emerged into sharp angles at the front, were part of the new-edge-design philosophy. An arched roofline ended into a curved, sloped tailgate was a step forward than its competitors. Its taillights were mounted high on the D-pillars, being protected from small dents in the parking lots.

Inside, the new-edge-design language was continued on the dashboard. The upper lines of the instrument cluster emerged in sharp angles with the rest of the panel. Its rear seats offered good legroom and headroom. Due to the rear independent suspension, the trunk was not the biggest in its class, but that layout was needed to increase comfort.

Ford installed a wide choice of diesel and gasoline engines, which was paired as standard with a 5-speed manual gearbox. A 4-speed automatic was on the options list for specific engines. Due to its independent suspension in all corners, the Focus was a benchmark in its car-segment for the cornering speed.