By Craig Cheetham

09th June 2004

The Chinese breakaway came after speculation that a prototype Focus would be on show at the British event, as the UK is traditionally the model's biggest-selling market. However, a Ford insider told us the decision to unveil this concept on the other side of the world was taken because of the growing Chinese and Asian markets, where the next Focus will be an unfamiliar new model, as the existing car isn't sold there.

"There were a number of possibilities considered by Ford Motor Company," our source revealed. "But given the projected introduction date, and the fact that the current Focus is selling as well as ever, it was decided not to show the car in Birmingham." Not that Auto Express readers will be that bothered, as we sensationally published undisguised spy pictures of the new model in issue 805.

The concept also points the way to how the four-door Focus will look when it reaches showrooms in 2005. Whereas the old four-door was a slow seller in the UK, we understand that Ford is aiming to boost the appeal of the saloon variant with the next-generation car.

It will be aimed at a more upmarket audience than the current model, in the same way as Volkswagen's Bora is promoted as a classier alternative to the Golf. The four-door will be longer than the hatchback, too, while the rear end treatment will have more than a hint of Mondeo about it, in a bid to market the car as a model that fits between the Focus and its bigger brother.

The concept is also a showcase for new Ford technological developments, which are expected to appear on production cars within the next three years. These include LED headlights, produced in development with bulb manufacturer Osram, while the ring-shaped foglamps have been designed specifically to emit pure white light to reduce their dazzling effect on oncoming motorists.

Speaking at the concept's unveiling, Ford of Europe's design director, Chris Bird, said: "The four-door Focus Concept gives clues as to how we are maturing the Focus in line with evolving customer tastes and expectations. It's recognisably a Ford and unmistakably a Focus, yet it is far more sophisticated and refined."

The firm expects the four-door Focus to account for most of its sales in the Asia Pacific region - which is why a saloon became the basis for the Focus Concept. In Britain, the newcomer will sell far better in hatchback form, and it's this model that will be seen here first.

In one of our biggest scoops ever, we revealed the undisguised Focus as it will appear later this year. Two weeks later we scooped plans for the stunning coup΃©-cabrio model, while we've shown you the estate, too. This saloon means we have now got the complete set!

When it hits British showrooms this autumn, the Focus will be offered with 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0-litre petrol engines, plus a choice of 1.6 and 2.0-litre diesels. It will initially be available as a three or five-door hatch, with saloon, estate and coup΃©-cabrio models to follow in 2005. Prices are expected to directly rival those of the Vauxhall Astra, which costs from ΂£10,995 to ΂£17,645.

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