The Focus was one of Ford's most succesful efforts to build a common car for both European and American markets. Designed to replace the Escort -- which, though advertised in the US as a "world car", was actually quite different in Europe and America -- on both sides of the Atlantic, the Focus was primarily a European design and the main differences in the US version were engine choices and suspension tuning. Four body styles were offered in both markets; Europeans gravitated towards the five-door hatchback, shown here, while Americans preferred the sedan. The Focus earned worldwide praise for its good use of space and enjoyable driving experience.
Oddly enough, despite its success, Ford split the Focus product line in 2005 when it introduced an all-new Focus in Europe and a restyled version of the first-generation car in North America. For 2008, US buyers will get a completely restyled Focus based on the current car, meaning that -- as in the Escort days -- European and Americans will once again be offered two different cars with the same name.