Three-quarters front view of an Orange, second generation, Ford Focus ST, on display at the 2006 British International Motor Show, Excel, London
The Focus was released in July 1998 in Europe, succeeding the Ford Escort, and replaced the Mazda Familia-derived Ford Laser in Asia and Oceania along with the Laser-based North American Escort. Wayne Stamping & Assembly started producing the Focus for North America with sales beginning in 1999. The last North American-produced Focus rolled off the line at the Michigan Assembly Plant on May 4, 2018. Production of the fourth generation Focus began in 2018 in Germany and in China. The Ford Focus is a compact car (C-segment in Europe) manufactured by the Ford Motor Company and created under Alexander Trotman's Ford 2000 plan, which aimed to globalize model development and sell one compact vehicle worldwide. The original Focus was primarily designed by Ford of Europe's German and British teams. The second generation Focus was launched at the Paris Motor Show on September 25, 2004 as a three and five-door hatchback and an estate, although the new car was previewed,[9] in 4-door sedan form, as the "Focus Concept" developed by Ford Europe at the Beijing Motor Show in mid-2004. The basic suspension design, which contributed much to the Mk 1's success, was carried over largely unchanged from its predecessor. Along with a 10 percent stiffer bodyshell, according to Ford this offers a better ride, but critics claimed the car lacked the precise and poised handling of the Mk 1. The same body styles as the Mk 1 Focus were offered, though the sedan did not appear until mid-2005. A two-door coupé-cabriolet with a retractable hardtop was added to the line-up in 2007. The Focus Mk 2 is larger and considerably heavier than its predecessor: it has a 25 mm ( in) increase in wheelbase, and is 168 mm ( in) longer, 8 mm ( in) taller, and 138 mm ( in) wider. As a result, the interior and boot space have increased. New technologies include a KeyFree system, a solar-reflect windshield, adaptive front lighting, Bluetooth hands-free phones and voice control for audio, telephone .
Size: 4064px × 2704px
Location: ExCel Exhibition Centre, Royal Victoria Dock, London, England
Photo credit: © John Gaffen / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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