Ford is about to give the Focus a facelift, according to a set of fresh spy photos of a packed test specimen that is subjected to cold tests in northern Europe. We expect the renewed Ford Focus on the Dutch market in the second half of this year.
The current fourth-generation Ford Focus has been at Dutch dealers since mid-2018, which means that the model will celebrate its third anniversary later this year. The European branch of Ford is therefore equally busy with testing a facelifted version, a car that is now giving a first sign of life.
To clear up some confusion, the facelift that Ford is implementing on the Focus in Europe is by no means the same as that of the facelifted Focus that Ford introduced in China last year. This does not alter the fact that the facelifted Focus intended for the European market will also be given a new nose. These photos show the renewed European Focus, a car that is richly covered with camouflage stickers on both the front and rear.
Ford Focus Facelift (2021, headlight)
The five-door Focus visible in these photos, apparently executed as Active but equipped with the grille that is, among other things, on the Titanium version, has a thoroughly revised front. The renewed Focus will get completely new headlights, specimens that are sharper cut than the current light units and which are also completed with a new light signature. It is striking that the renewed, flatter headlights are somewhat like those of the aging Mondeo. Ford seems to give the Focus a new, flatter grille and the cooling opening in the also renewed front bumper is tightened. That lower grille grows a bit. The two parts are separated by a horizontal bar that houses the license plate. It is currently more or less loose at the bottom of the upper grille. Ford is also installing a new bumper and new lighting on the back. Again, the new rear lights are just a bit tighter and smaller than the current ones. Especially the runners on the outside of the units seem to be shrinking a bit.
Ford Focus Active (2018-2021)
Undoubtedly, Ford also uses the brush of innovation in the interior of the Focus, although the changes here will mainly relate to matters such as use of materials and the infotainment system. When it comes to engines, little will likely change. Last year, the engine range of the Focus was already expanded with 125 hp and 155 hp mild hybrid petrol engines. In addition, the Focus is currently available with 100PS, 125PS and 150PS powerful conventional 1.0 and 1.5 Ecoboost machines. The ST will probably just return as a 280 hp top version. We do not have to expect a Focus RS at all.
Although Focus sales in Europe lagged behind those of the Volkswagen Golf by about 100,000 units last year, in the Netherlands the car was in a neat eighth position in the sales statistics with approximately 7,800 units sold last year. Indeed, above the Gulf (14th place, 6,375 units). However, it was not a party for Ford either. In 2019, the Focus took off with an even better third sales position.