Ford · 1998–2007

Ford Focus Mk I

The Ford Focus (first generation) is a compact car that was manufactured by Ford in Europe from 1998 to 2004 and by Ford in North America from 1998 to 2007. Ford began sales of the Focus to Europe in July 1998 and in North America during 1999 for the 2000 model year. Manufacturing in Argentina continued until 2008, and it was still on sale in Brazil until 2009. In Europe and South Africa, the Focus replaced the various Ford Escort models sold in those markets. In Asia and Australia, it replaced the Ford Laser.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: Ford Escort · Successor: Ford Focus Mk II|Ford Focus 2nd generation

All Ford Focus data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years → + Compare

Design and engineering

Codenamed C170 during its development, the original Focus took its eventual name from a Ghia concept car which was shown at the Geneva Motor Show in 1991. Certain elements of the design had been seen even earlier in prototypes used by Ford to demonstrate forthcoming safety features, such as the eye-level rear lighting clusters. As a continuation of Ford's New Edge styling philosophy, first seen in the Ford Ka in 1996, and Ford Cougar in 1998, the Focus's styling was often described as polarising. The styling had been overseen by Jack Telnack and executed by Claude Lobo and Australian designer, John Doughty, concluding in January 1996 upon program approval. The decision to name the new car the Ford Focus was made in early 1998, as Ford had been planning to keep the "Escort" nameplate for its new generation of small family cars. A last minute problem arose in July 1998 when a Cologne court, responding to a case brought by the publishers Burda, ordered Ford to avoid the name "Focus" for the German market cars since the name was already taken by the publisher's Focus magazine. This eleventh hour dispute was overcome, however, and the car was launched without a different "German market" name. The Focus once again represented an attempt by Ford to introduce a true "world car" that could be sold in disparate markets with little modification. Previous attempts to achieve this had met with limited success - the concept for the original 1981 Escort had infamously mutated into two entirely different cars for Europe and North America with only superficial similarities between the two. Ford had tried again with the 1993 Mondeo and Contour/Mystique but the two variants still had too many differences to be called a true single car for both American and European consumption. The Ford F

Markets

=== Europe (1998–2005) === Manufacturing. Historically, the Saarlouis, Valencia, and Halewood plants had produced the Escort, however the Focus was only produced at Saarlouis and Valencia since Halewood was to be switched over to production of the Jaguar X-Type. However the sixth and final generation of the Escort remained in production in Halewood until 2000 as a budget alternative to the Focus, and the van versions continued until 2002 until its replacement by the Focus-based Ford Transit Connect. The Focus production also took place in Santa Rosa, Philippines (though it was only for export and never offered in the Philippine domestic market); General Pacheco, Argentina; Chungli City, Taiwan and Vsevolozhsk, Russia. 2001 facelift (Mk1.5). The Mk 1 Focus facelift in late 2001 included: Revised headlamps with integrated indicators and separate main and dipped bulbs Revised bumpers without indicators, but with the addition of removable bump strips Revised upper and lower grille and fog lights Optional Xenon headlights Optional 6-disc CD changer Optional Navigation System Optional Digital Climate Control Features of certain trim levels changed Modified center console with rubber cup holders Different center dash colors New seat trims Different instrument cluster finishes Damped and lit glovebox New colors Rear power point TDCi Engine introduced to the range Versatility Pack Option added Bluetooth camera facility A new flexfuel engine was introduced, based on the European Zetec 1.6 L version. This could use both gasoline and bioethanol, but was only available on the Swedish market. This version is still available in some countries despite the advent of an all-new Mk 2 Focus. North America (2000–2007). Ford began marketing the Focus in October 1999 for the 2000 model year

Safety

The Mk 1 Ford Focus received 4 out of 5 stars for occupant safety, and 2 out of 4 stars for pedestrian safety in its Euro NCAP tests (69% frontal, 83% side, 28% pedestrian). In Australia, the 2002–2005 Ford Focus was assessed in the Used Car Safety Ratings 2006 as providing "average" protection for its occupants in the event of a crash. The car scored 11.6 points out of 16 in a frontal crash test conducted by the Russian ARCAP safety assessment program in 2003.

Engines

=== European introduction === Gasoline engines available were the well-proven 1.8 L and 2.0 L Zetec units from the Ford Mondeo and 1.4 L and 1.6 L versions of the Zetec-S/SE units, also found in the Ford Fiesta and Ford Puma. The ST170 and RS performance models used modified versions of the 2.0 L Zetec. Originally, the only diesel engine available was the Endura TDDI (a development of the old Deutz-designed motor which Ford had been using since the 1980s). This was replaced in 2002 by the Duratorq TDCI. International summary. === North America ===

Transmissions

=== Europe === 5-speed MTX-75 manual (2.0, RS & 1.8 TDCi, 1.8 TDDi, 1.6) 5-speed IB5+ manual (2.0 SPI USA Only) 5-speed IB5 manual (1.4, 1.6, 1.8) 6-speed Getrag 285 manual (ST170) 4-speed 4F27E automatic (1.6, 2.0) North America. 5-speed MTX-75 manual (ST) 5-speed IB5 manual 6-speed Getrag MT285 manual (SVT) 4-speed 4F27E automatic (Zetec, Split Port and Duratec)

Performance versions

=== SVT models === In late 2001, Ford's in-house performance group, Special Vehicle Team (SVT), introduced the three-door Focus ZX3 SVT (ST170) to the United States and Canadian markets for the 2002 model year. The exterior included revised front and rear bumper fascias, side skirts, fog lamps, rear diffuser, hatch lip spoiler, and 17-inch (430 mm) 5-spoke alloy wheels wearing fairly sticky "Y" rated 215/45R17 tires from Continental. The SVT also featured a reworked version of the 2.0-liter Zetec engine available in other Focus models. Developed in concert with Cosworth, this engine featured a special aluminum cylinder head with enlarged intake ports, high compression pistons and forged connecting rods, piston oil squirters, solenoid operated variable camshaft timing on the intake cam, dual stage intake manifold, and a 4-2-1 tubular exhaust header. These additions, coupled with an increased 10.2:1 compression ratio, increased power from 130 to 170 horsepower (97 to 127 kW). Getrag provided a six-speed manual transmission shared with the Mini Cooper S. This transmission was a twin layshaft design and included a dual mass flywheel to eliminate vibration and transmission noise. Other changes to complete the package included sharper steering through an increased boost ratio in the steering rack, larger disc brakes on all four corners with standard ABS (300mm front/280mm rear,) and stiffened suspension with a slightly larger rear anti-roll bar. Exterior color choices were limited to CD Silver, Infra-Red Tintcoat, Sonic Blue, and Pitch Black. Interior features included two-tone leather/cloth seats with Infra-Red/Sonic Blue cloth seat/door inserts, perforated leather steering wheel, perforated leather shift knob with leather boot, as well as a perforated leather emergency-bra

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name

Ford Focus (first generation)

Manufacturer

Ford

Production

1998–2007

Model years

1998–2005 (Europe) 2000–2008 (Argentina) , 2000–2007 (North America)

Assembly

Germany: Saarlouis (Saarlouis Body & Assembly), Spain: Valencia (Ford Valencia Plant), United States: Wayne, Michigan (Wayne Stamping & Assembly), Mexico: Hermosillo (Hermosillo Stamping & Assembly), Argentina: General Pacheco (Ford Argentina), Philippines: Santa Rosa, Laguna (FMCP), Venezuela: Valencia (Valencia Assembly)

Designer

John Doughty (1995) & Claude Lobo (1995)

Class

Compact car / small family car (C)

Body style

3- and 5-door hatchback, 4-door saloon/sedan, 5-door estate/station wagon

Layout

Front-engine, front-wheel-drive

Engine

See below

Transmission

See below

Predecessor

Ford Escort (Europe/Latin America/South Africa), Ford Escort (North America), Ford Laser (Asia and Australia)

Successor

Ford Focus (second generation, Europe), Ford Focus (second generation, North America)

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

US EPA fuel-economy records

US EPA test figures (US MPG, US test cycle).

Sources

• Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5467780CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Focus_(first_generation)CC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1368679914 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ford_Focus_Turnier_I_1.8_TDDi_Facelift_front_20100509.jpgAttribution · Photo: M 93 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Manufacturer website (link only) — http://www1.ford.it/fo2/index.htmlLink only; no content copied · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.

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