Love It or Hate It
Get a bunch of Focus enthusiasts together, and there's one thing they will heartily discuss: The love or hate relationship of the 2005 redesign.
Some argue the redesign was a step backwards for Ford. It's distinguishing European traits were traded in for bland North American ways. The loss of the SVT performance edition made it inferior to offerings from competitors like the VW Golf, Mini Cooper, or Honda Civic Si coupe.
On the other hand, some feel the redesign was more pleasant to the eye, appealing to conservative buyers. There was no need for any performance edition because of the "economy car" status in our culture, and the last performance version was priced well beyond what many hoped.
Many Focus forums out there have tackled these points. You can check them out and add in your few cents.
Charting The Changes: MK-I.5 Generation (2005 to 2007)
Here are just a few changes that have evolved through the life of the Focus production cycle:
| 2005 |
- Newly redesigned front end (hood, fenders, headlights, foglights, grille, and bumper)
- Redesigned rear end on the sedan
- Redesigned interior dashboard that incorporates a 6 CD storage, and the new Ford corporate sound system
- Overhead console now available
- Standard CD player, and optional incorporated MP3 player
- New seating fabrics and trim options
- New base powerplant: 136-horsepower, 2.0L "Duratec 20" inline-4 engine
- Simplified trim lines: S, SE, and SES
- Re-classification of wagon and sedan models to ZXW and ZX4, respectively
- New ST performance sedan with 2.3L Duratec 23 (PZEV) engine and 4-wheel disc brakes
- Standard 15-inch steel wheels
- Discontinuation of the SVT performance hatchbacks
|
| 2006 |
- "GFX Package " (includes: unique colour keyed front fascia with fog lamps, side
marker lamps, integrated mold-in-black grille and lower air deflector; unique colour keyed rear fascia with
black diffuser insert; unique colour keyed "rally style" rear decklid spoiler (ZX4), unique high-mount rear wing
spoiler (ZX3/ZX5) and bright exhaust tip) Note: ST's sold in Canada will come standard with the GFX package. SE's will be offered this package as an option.
- New colors for 2006 include: Dark Toreador Red Clearcoat Metallic, Pueblo Gold Clearcoat Metallic, and
Screaming Yellow Clearcoat
- Discontinued colours: Sangria Red, Blazing Copper, and Arizona Beige
- All Focus series now standard with a single disc CD/MP3 player. The optional 6 disc CD/MP3 player now
includes duplicate audio controls on steering column
- 15" multi-spoke alloy wheels will only be available as part of the Wagon Sport Group or GFX package
- Note: Some Focus owners have discovered a lot more has changed, in regards to suspension and brakes. Please be aware of that if you intend on modifying your vehicle.
|
| 2007 |
- Final year of the wagon model (November 20, 2006 will be the final day you can order a Focus wagon)
- New colors for 2007 include: Vermillion (it is unconfirmed whether this is actually Infra Red), Kiwi Green Metallic, and Aqua Blue Metallic
- Discontinued Colours: Infra Red, Light Tundra, and Sonic Blue
- "ZX" moniker disappears from many of the decklids and tailgates
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