Contents: Spacious interior ↳ High level of security ↳ Structural elements of the body -… ↳ Bodywork ↳
Robust and spacious: the Focus's "passive safety portfolio" is based on a self-supporting body with a deformation-resistant cabin and impact-absorbing side members. The Ford Focus withstands the latest crash simulations with flying colours in tests.
Ford has been marketing the Focus as the Escort since 1998. In our country, the Focus models come in four different body styles – three-, four- and five-door models, plus a station wagon version called the Focus Turnier. Ford offers the Focus in four trim levels: Focus, Ambiente, Trend and Ghia. The Focus"s positive features include, among other things, a body structure that is as light as it is stable, with the lowest unladen weight of any compact mid-size car. From the front to the B-pillar, all Focus models are identical, and the three- and five-door versions also share the same rear.
Spacious interior
At the behest of its "technical guardians", the Focus was, to a certain extent, developed from the inside out. According to the designers' vision, the Focus offers the driver and four passengers maximum comfort and functionality. In addition, the interior benefits from a 2,615 mm wheelbase and a high roofline: attributes that allow passengers to occupy an ergonomically favorable position on all seats, trouble-free entry and exit, as well as considerable freedom for the legs, shoulders and head. Without question, the Focus's interior spaciousness approaches that of "adult" representatives of the middle class. Not so with the external dimensions: with a length of 4,178 mm (3-/5-door saloon/estate - 4,369/4,465 mm), a width of 1,695 mm and a height of 1,430 mm (estate - 1,441 mm), the Focus certainly still belongs to the more compact niches in the car park. Its driving characteristics - even with a payload of around 450 kg - satisfy almost all desires.
High level of security
A decisive indicator of the Focus' high safety standard is its extremely rigid interior structure, which, in combination with crumple zones, absorbs the maximum amount of impact energy. The Focus performs significantly more stringent safety tests, such as an impact against a fixed barrier at 56 km/h (35 mph) and exceeds the relevant standards - the test setup requires a crash speed of 48.5 km/h (30 mph). In addition, the impact for the occupants is cushioned by front and side airbags, which are assisted by three-point seat belts in both front seats, including tensioners and side impact protection. The Focus has inherited the obligatory ease of repair after an accident from its predecessor: the amateur mechanic will appreciate this no later than when a new bumper, door, wing, bonnet or tailgate needs to be installed after an accident.
Structural elements of the body - glass and windows
On the following pages we will deal with minor bodywork that you can do yourself. But the front and rear windows, as well as the rigid side windows of the three-door version, should only be handled by a specialist: as structural elements of the body, they are a typical case for a workshop.
Bodywork
You can do most of the repairs described in this chapter with a basic set of tools. However, the hood, tailgate, and doors are quite large, so you should have a helper when working on these items.
Advice on working on the bonnet and rear lid: You will make subsequent installation easier if you first mark the position of the hinges with a waterproof coloured marker.