| Introduced in 1999 as a 2000 model in North | | | | from an already astonishing 130hp to a very |
| America, the Ford Focus was the car to replace | | | | impressive 170hp while still achieving low emissions |
| both the Ford Escort and Mercury Tracer as the | | | | and very decent fuel mileage. The Focus SVT |
| new compact performance vehicle designed more | | | | was offered in a four (4) door and later in a |
| towards the European style of performance | | | | three (3) door and five (5) door hatchback for |
| compacts. Not only was the Focus known for | | | | both 2003 and 2004. Unfortunately, production of |
| performance, but a vehicle that could deliver | | | | the Focus SVT was put to a halt in 2004. Focus |
| respectable performance and horsepower and still | | | | SVT's are still very sought after vehicles today |
| provide conservative fuel management at a very | | | | due to their performance, fuel consumption and |
| reasonable price. | | | | maintainability. |
| Originally offered in both a three (3) and five (5) | | | | Low gas consumption and great performance |
| door hatchback, the ZX3 and ZX5. Or you could | | | | weren't the only reason the Ford Focus was |
| purchase a four (4) door sedan, the SE, LX, and | | | | given the "Best Buy Rating" award from |
| ZTS. It would later be changed to the ZX4 in | | | | Consumers Digest. This award is based upon |
| 2005. These Focus models were available from | | | | several factors including, but not limited to, |
| 2000 to 2007 along with another five (5) door | | | | reliability, fuel economy, performance, recall |
| Focus station wagon called the ZXW released in | | | | history, cost and other characteristics to help |
| 2002 and the performance SVT in 2001. Since | | | | provide the consumer with an overall grand |
| 2008, the Focus has dropped the station wagon | | | | picture of the best vehicle to spend their money |
| and hatchback versions from production entirely | | | | on. The Focus did better in all categories as a total |
| leaving your options of either a 2 door coupe or a | | | | than all other compact performance cars in its |
| 4 door sedan. | | | | class. The Focus has also won over sixty (60) |
| After releasing the Focus SVT model in 2001 as a | | | | awards including thirteen (13) "Car of the Year" |
| 2002 model, performance for the Focus was at | | | | awards. "Car and Driver" put the Focus on their |
| an all time high. Equipped with a reworked | | | | "Ten Best" list for five (5) consecutive years |
| performance version of the 2.0L Zetec, 16 valve, | | | | from 2000 - 2004. |
| DOHC engine increasing performance in the Focus | | | | |