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Facelifted Focus found in Frankfurt

Building on the 1.1 million UK sales of the second generation Focus, Ford is showing a face-lifted Mk II in Frankfurt this week. Following the same 'Kinetic Design' principles of the new Mondeo, recently announced Kuga and the Verve concept, the Focus features a trapezoidal front grille and headlights that sweep backwards in a similar manner to that of its saloon brother. More pronounced wheelarches, a contoured tailgate and redesigned rear lamps show Ford is keen to develop the look some believed was disappointedly conservative when it was first released back in 2005.

Interior tweaks see the use of softer plastics covering the instrument panel, which houses a redesigned fascia, whilst seats are covered in new fabric materials. Titanium models will include a 'Kinetic Design' centre console, available as an additional option or in the Sports Pack in other models. Other options include a keyless starter or 'Ford Power Button' (available in early 2008), USB connection and 230-volt inverter.

Important to the new Focus is fuel economy. Using a paddle-shift automatic gearbox co-developed with Getrag, called PowerShift, it will be coupled to a 2.0-litre turbodiesel from launch, and is said to improve fuel consumption by up to 10 percent. Ford is expected to make the transmission available on other models should demand materialise. Further emphasising fuel economy, Ford's ECOnetic 1.6-litre diesel variant is believed to give 65mpg and emit only 115g/km of CO₂, sufficiently beating VW's new Golf BlueMotion.

The new '08 Focus will roll off production lines at the end of this year, in three-, four- and five-door form, but we will have to wait until spring next year for the changes to reach the Coupé-Cabriolet and the flagship ST.

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