The Focus represents the culmination of an engineering philosophy that first saw the light of day in the original Mondeo. It has a longer than average wheelbase, wider than average tracks and extremely stiff chassis and bodyshell – the essential ingredients for any car purporting to dynamic success.
Multi-link rear suspension is nothing unusual in itself these days, but in a cooking family hatch it is unique and should provide the Focus with a crucial advantage on the road. The front suspension is more conventional: coil springs over dampers and anti-roll. The engine is a reworked incarnation of the Mondeo’s 1.8-litre 16-valve Zetec engine with 115bhp and 116lb ft at 3750rpm.
