The Ford Focus: A Look Through The Compact Car’s History

After introducing the Focus, Ford decided to take it racing, entering it in the World Rally Championship with the legendary Colin McRae as the star driver.

Ford raced the Focus in WRC until 2010, claiming 44 partial victories without ever winning the Drivers’ Championship. However, in 2006 and 2007, Ford won the Constructors’ Championship.

Just after Ford introduced the Focus to the U.S., the compact car became the best-selling car in the world. This is a record the Focus wouldn’t again achieve until 2011 and 2012.

In 2002, Ford introduced two performance variants of the Focus, the ST170 and RS, the former being the equivalent to America’s Focus SVT. While the ST170 and SVT did not have the RS model’s potent 215-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter, the two models solidified the Focus as an accessible performance vehicle.

This is where the American Focus and European Focus diverge in style. In 2004 at the Paris Motor Show, Ford released the second-generation Focus, improving quality, overall design, and performance. This would be the generation where Ford turns the Focus into a performance benchmark. The second-generation Focus in the U.S. wouldn’t be introduced until 2008.

In Europe, the Focus ST packed a 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine making 225 horsepower, an engine the RS would engine adopt and adapt. In the U.S., The Focus also received an ST variant. However, it was a four-cylinder engine making just 151 hp. It replaced the SVT that was discontinued in 2004.

In 2007, Ford showed a refreshed, second-generation Focus, which updated the design and added features. This is also the year Ford introduced a different second-gen Focus in North America for the 2008 model year. That Focus eliminated the hatchback and wagon offerings in the market, only providing a two-door coupe or four-door sedan. The 2008 Focus also introduced Ford’s Sync infotainment system.

Ford confirmed a second-generation Focus RS would be coming, and in 2009, the company delivered. Borrowing the Volvo-engineered 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine from the ST, the RS turned up the power to 305 hp. All that power went to the front axle, which came with a mechanical self-locking differential. While the U.S. didn’t get the RS in 2008, it did create a fervent fan base asking for it to be brought stateside.

To commemorate the RS, Ford introduced the RS500 – a 500-unit run of matte-black hot hatches. However, this was more than just an appearance package. The RS500 produced 345 horsepower from the turbocharged 2.5-liter engine along with 360 pound-feet of torque, making it one of the most power front-wheel drive models in recent memory.

In 2010, Ford unveiled the third-generation Focus at both the Detroit Auto Show and Geneva Motor Show. While Europe received the car as a 2011 model, in North America it was a 2012 model. This is where the Focus became nearly identical around the world. This generation introduced the Focus Electric and the 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine.

The same year Ford unveiled the new Focus, it also unveiled the Focus ST – the return of the performance model. In Europe the ST was available in the five-door hatchback or wagon (sportbreak). In the U.S. the ST was only available in the hatchback. Gone was the five-cylinder engine. Instead, Ford used a more powerful 2.0-liter, four-cylinder EcoBoost engine making 252 horsepower.

Ford updated the Focus in 2014 with a new front end, and more available technology. The design brought the Focus more in line with the overall design language of the entire Ford lineup.

In 2015, Ford announced the return of the Focus RS, which would finally come to North America. Just like the 2012 ST, the RS replaced its five-cylinder engine for a 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder producing 350 horsepower. This time, however, the Focus RS came equipped with all-wheel drive.

Ford unveiled the fourth-generation Focus, which will go on sale in the U.S. sometime in 2019. In Europe, it will offer three body styles – five-door hatch, wagon, and sedan. The Focus rides on an all-new platform that increases its overall size and interior space. It also comes with loads of technology. You can check all the new details of the 2019 Ford Focus here.