Ford Focus (international)

This is the article about the European and worldwide Ford Focus. For the Focus sold in North America, see Ford Focus (North America).

The Ford Focus is a small family car made by Ford and sold in most Ford markets worldwide. It was launched in 1998 in Europe and 2002 in Australia. Since then, it has become the United Kingdom's best selling car, following in the success of its predecessor, the Escort. In 2001 and 2002, the Focus was the world’s best selling car.[citation needed] A new version of the Focus (Mk 2) was launched in Europe in January 2005 and a face lifted version in January 2008.

In Europe, South America, North America and South Africa, the Focus replaced the Ford Escort. In Australia, New Zealand and Japan, it replaced the Ford Laser.

Ford Focus Mark 1 (1998–2004)

Design and engineering

Codenamed CW170 during its development, and briefly known to some Ford contractors as the Ford Fusion[citation needed] , the original Focus took its eventual name from a Ghia concept car which was shown at the Geneva Motor Show in 1991. Certain elements of the design had been seen even earlier in prototypes used by Ford to demonstrate forthcoming safety features, such as the eye-level rear lighting clusters. Initial spy photographs of the car seen in 1995 showed a continuation of Ford's New Edge styling philosophy, first seen in the Ford Ka in 1996, and Ford Cougar in 1998.