2005 Focus Improved but Europe Gets a New One

For 2005 Europe gets an all-new Ford Focus including a platform shared with the Mazda 3. We get a "much improved" same old thing. Are we unworthy or just too dumb to notice? In any case the North American Focus does receive moderate styling updates around the front end plus a more functional and attractive instrument panel. Model choices are simplified, the range now offering a three-door hatch, a four-door sedan, a five-door hatch, and a wagon. A Focus ZX4 performance sedan has been added, marrying chassis components from Europe’s Focus ST170 and the SVT Focus, with a 151 hp engine. A new 136-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine replaces both the existing base engine and the optional 130 hp, 2.3 liter engine.