Introduction

If you aren't aware there's a new Ford Focus on the road, you haven't been paying attention. Ford is making a big deal of the revamping of its small car, the 2005 Focus. The automaker claims it is conducting an advertising blitz like it did on the F-150 pickup truck. Ads for the Focus have been plastered all over popular shows like "American Idol." They feature the Focus talking and "begging to be driven." The Focus is critically important to Ford, not necessarily in terms of volume and profits, but in that it reels in certain kinds of important customers, notably first-time buyers, first-time Ford buyers, women and minorities. The Focus is one of the many new or redesigned cars Ford introduces this year, its "year of the car." The Focus has been spruced up outside by a mild facelift, though it takes a sharp eye to distinguish the subtle changes. Designers made more changes on the inside, rendering a more traditional look than before. But the biggest news is under the hood where the engine line-up has been revised. Among them is a super-clean, 130-horsepower engine that's more powerful and slightly more fuel efficient; it qualifies as a Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle in California, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont and Maine. A new 136-horsepower engine is more powerful than last year's powerplant. Despite the makeover, the Ford Focus remains inexpensive, stylish, practical and fun. The sedans are comfortable and move people efficiently. The three-door hatchback proves to be economical and practical yet sporty and fun. The five-door hatchback makes it easier for rear-seat passengers to join in the merriment. The wagons can carry a ton of cargo. We found the sporty ZX4 ST fun to drive, if a bit noisy. It delivered strong acceleration from its 151-horsepower engine with sharp handling and precise steering from its sports suspension. It ranks among the most enjoyable cars in its class.

Walkaround

The Ford Focus was a head-turner when it was first introduced in 2000. Its styling at the time was fresh and innovative. While Ford designers describe its new look as more refined and grown-up, it continues with same general theme of sweeping arcs and crisp creases that we've grown accustomed to. It takes a sharp eye to distinguish the subtle changes from the old one to the new one, however. Designers say they styled the front to have hints of the Ford Five Hundred, the company's upcoming flagship sedan. Its hood and fenders fall away less sharply than the original to make the car look more substantial and to create a better sight line of the edge of the car for easier parking. The most noticeable change is the larger grille with the diamond pattern ringed in chrome. Other new details include reshaped headlamps with clear lenses and a new fascia that incorporates a wide lower air intake, and new round fog lamps. The sedan has new taillamps and rear bumper fascia. All Focus models have a hood made of harder steel and fascias made of thicker plastics to ward off dents and dings.

Interior Features

Designers made more changes on the inside than the outside. It retains its roomy interior space for its compact size and high roofline for headroom. The previous dash consisted of a collection of arcs, a theme that reinforced the exterior design, and an instrument panel covered by an asymmetrically curved and sharply creased bezel. Those shapes are mostly gone in exchange for a more traditional look. The instrument panel was re-styled to be less cluttered. The instrument panel is symmetrical with the driver and passenger areas divided by two rectangular climate control registers, the hazard switch and a shallow center stack for the audio and climate controls. Four interior colors are offered for the interior. A monochrome charcoal is offered on the ZX4 ST, ZX3 and ZX5. All models but the ZX4 ST also come with a two-tone flint interior. The ZX4 and ZX2 can be ordered with a two-tone pebble interior. On two-tone models, the lower portions of the instrument panel and door trim panels are finished in a lighter shade for a more open feeling. Cloth and leather upholstery are offered. The ZX4 ST has unique woven fabrics or suede seating surfaces surrounded with leather trim. A standard floor console houses the shifter, two cupholders, the parking brake, and controls for options such as traction control. An overhead console includes a sunglasses holder and a space for a garage door opener. More storage is provided in the front doors, which also have a molded-in holder for cups and bottles.