Ford Focus
The US-spec Ford Focus never had the sales success of its European namesake, for obvious reasons: the ungainly vehicle always had the appearance of a spartan economy car that simply lacked the perceived quality of its European counterpart. The all-new Focus, however, signals Ford's intention to market the vehicle as a new global contender, and its newfound aesthetic is indicative of the Blue Oval's goals.
Shown in Detroit in four and five-door variants, the third generation C-segment vehicle was developed in the Ford of Europe's Cologne based-studio in Germany under the direction of Stefan Lamm, Ford of Europe's exterior design director. It implements the company's kinetic design theme but also pushes it one step further. The exterior design, created by lead designer Murat Gueler, is more upmarket than the Euro Focus it will soon replace and it accentuates the dynamic theme by appearing "fast whilst standing still," as Lamm told CDN.
The new Focus features a change in proportions over its Euro counterpart with a sleeker overall aesthetic, demarcated in profile by a pronounced featureline which begins just over the front wheelarch and drops down at the start of the front door, running across both door handles before kicking back up to accentuate the rear haunch. The trapezoidal lower and thin single bar grille give a new impression for the front and brings the car in line with its new Fiesta sibling and Mondeo, while the chrome-trimmed DLO elevates percieved quality.
The driver-focused interior, shroud in high-quality materials and designed by Tiago Dias under the direction of chief interior designer Ernst Reim, is also leaps and bounds ahead of its North American market predecessor, moving more towards premium German brands. The L-shaped IP is canted slightly towards the driver and features deeply recessed 3D dials and vents that are mounted vertically on the IP, while the center stack (with 8-inch LCD screen on premium models) doesn't exclude the front passenger.
