Ford doesn’t seem to know what to do with the Focus. At least, in China. Not long ago, the model got a front that was completely different from that of the European equivalent. The brand is now returning to that, it seems.
The South American Jeep Renegade that just appeared on AutoWeek.nl is not the only example of a car that looks slightly different elsewhere in the world than in Europe. In this article, the Chinese Ford Focus is discussed, a car that Ford adapts so that it looks more like the version known here.
Ford Focus Sedan facelift I China (2020-2022)
Rewind to 2020. In that year, Ford carried out a remarkable facelift on the Chinese versions of the Focus Wagon and Focus Sedan. Although the hatchback was not significantly updated, Ford gave the stationary and sedan versions of the current Focus in China that were not delivered in the Netherlands a completely individual front with a grille placed lower in the nose and headlamp units housed above, which were optically connected by a chrome strip. Earth-shattering? Well, but striking. Certainly because Ford also implemented a facelift on the Focus in Europe at the end of 2021, which did not bring the car closer to its Chinese brother. The differences seem to be too big for Ford now.
Ford Focus Sedan Facelift II China (2022 – )
AutoWeek has images of a renewed Chinese Focus from the database of the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Indeed, less than 1.5 years after the Chinese versions got their own face, the Focus snouts are already being adapted. It is striking that the Chinese Focus now more closely resembles the renewed variant in Europe. The shape of the headlights is the same and the shape of the grille also corresponds to that of the Focus delivered here. However, the headlights and grille do optically merge somewhat, although that illusion is achieved by nothing more than a dark piece of plastic between the light unit and the edge of the grille. A clever design trick, that’s how Ford’s Chinese design language is combined with the brand’s European style. It is also striking that Ford is optically updating the Chinese Focus Hatchback this time. We do not yet have a picture of the renewed Chinese station version.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl