Ford Focus

Britain's favourite family car is getting an exciting mid-life makeover - and Auto Express can bring you the first spy pictures of the revised Ford testing out on the road.

We showed you how the model would look in world exclusive pictures in Issue 966. Now, these spy shots capture the newcomer breaking cover for the first time. And underneath the black plastic disguise lurks a design which, as we predicted, ditches the conservatism of the current car for something far more head-turning.

The revised Focus has been penned by Ford styling boss Martin Smith - the man behind the S-MAX people carrier - and will be inspired by another of his creations: the all-new Mondeo. Take a look at this prototype estate, spied undergoing final testing, and you can see all the clues.

Although the front end is covered by cladding, the sleek, recessed head-lamps, lower integral spotlights and trademark twin air intakes are clearly visible. And together with a bonnet that features chunky raised lines run­ning from the nose to the A-pillars, the Mondeo styling cues are all there.

Many of the other body panels are also new, and with flared wheelarches and extended side skirts, it will be a much more sporty-looking car. At the rear, revised tail-lights and a smoother bumper complete the updates.

The design is vital to the continued success of the Focus, with Vaux­hall's Astra getting a smart makeover and radical crossover models such as Nissan's Qashqai providing stiff competition.

Major upgrades are also expected inside the new Focus, with higher-quality materials for the dashboard, a version of the Mon­deo's Human Machine Interface cabin control system and a layout which borrows practical touches from the recently facelifted C-MAX people carrier.

A connection for iPods or other MP3 players, as well as revised satellite navigation and stereo systems, will also feature inside.

With the current Focus still considered the best car to drive in the class, you might think that engineers are not planning any significant revisions under the skin. But there will be a number of subtle updates to the suspension set-up, aimed at delivering a more comfortable ride and sharper handling. The existing line-up of petrol and diesel engines will be carried over, with the flagship 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbocharged ST topping the range. Manual and automatic gearboxes will be available.

The wraps will come off the Focus at the Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany in September, with three-door, five-door and estate models going on sale in the UK in early 2008. Prices are likely to rise slightly.

The facelifted Focus won't be the blue oval's only unveil at Frankfurt, though. The company is also set to take the wraps off the new X-MAX - its 4x4 rival for Toyota's RAV4 - and a show model which hints at how the next Fiesta will look. Simply tagged the B-car design concept for now, it shares a platform with Mazda's new 2, and is expected to have a radical design.