I Bet It's On Your List of The Most Missed Cars

The first-generation Ford Focus, launched in 1998

The Ford Focus, hailed as a "legendary vehicle" of its generation, made its debut at the 1998 Geneva Motor Show and was launched in Europe in the autumn of the same year. Developed by Ford as a "world car" for global users, the Focus's arrival completely redefined people's perception of the compact family sedan.

The birth of the Focus marked the pinnacle of Ford's "New Edge" design philosophy, a style that combined bold lines, sharp angles, and fluid surfaces to create an extremely dynamic and recognizable exterior that looks timeless even today.

The second-generation Ford Focus, launched in China in 2005

In 2005, Changan Ford introduced the second-generation Focus to China, officially rolling it off the production line. This was the Focus's debut in the Chinese market. As a byword for the sporty family sedan, the Focus had a profound impact on the Chinese market and established the product image of the "Ford hot hatch".

With the launch of the Ford Focus, Ford's brand promise in China, "Live the Moment" (活得精彩), also became deeply popular.

Many people may still remember the TV commercial that looked like a spilled paint bucket. This 20-year-old ad, titled "The Freer the Heart, the Wider the World" (心越自由天地越广), perfectly showcased the Focus's agility and vibrancy. Click here to watch the Advertisement.

This rounded rear design was very fashionable, avant-garde, and full of sporty appeal at the time. The 2009 Ford Focus is the one most missed by Chinese people, especially the hatchback version. With its bold colors and avant-garde styling, it was a beautiful sight on the road. Because it is a classic, it is also known as the "Classic Focus."

The 3rd Generation Ford Focus

The third-generation Focus was launched domestically in March 2012. It was the first model in Ford's "1515" strategy—the plan to introduce 15 new models to the Chinese market by 2015.

This was the most glorious era for Focus sales. Thanks to its strong product competitiveness, the third-generation Focus topped the global single-model sales charts for two consecutive years in 2012 and 2013, becoming a genuine "world car."

Globally, the Ford Focus has cumulative sales exceeding 16.5 million units. At its peak in 2012, it achieved annual sales of over 1.02 million, surpassing the Toyota Corolla to briefly become the world's best-selling car.

In China, the Focus also wrote a sales legend—with cumulative sales of over 2.6 million units since 2005, it won the domestic annual model sales champion title multiple times and is an undisputed "legendary vehicle" in the hearts of countless people. The accessible driving pleasure and the wave of sporty enthusiasm it brought deeply imprinted an era.

For enthusiasts pursuing ultimate driving control and fun, the Focus introduced high-performance versions: the Focus ST and the Focus RS. There were once many classic jokes circulating online about spending 400,000 RMB on a Focus—these cars remain a highly desirable commodity among car circles.

The Changan Ford Team Awarded the 2010 CTCC Champion

The sporty DNA carried by the Focus also allowed Ford to stand out in racing culture.

In 1999, the Focus replaced the Escort to represent Ford in the World Rally Championship (WRC) and achieved its first WRC victory. When the Focus retired from the WRC in 2010, it had won a total of 44 rallies.

In China, the Changan Ford Team, formed in 2006, competed in the CTCC (China Touring Car Championship). By 2016, it had won the annual Team Championship a remarkable nine times in 11 years.

The Focus was once one of the most widely owned models among Ford employees, serving as many people's first car and the most authentic "Little Fo" (小福 - a nickname for Focus) in their hearts.

A Moving Family Memoir

@Michael He (何卉峰) :"I bought my first car, a Focus, in 2013. Since then, this car has been a steadfast and effective helper in my role as a father. The most important drive of my life was the journey home from the hospital after my son was born, with that small, joy-filled bundle securely settled in the back seat.

This car is more like a moving family memoir. It has accompanied our family through countless trips: we've been to the highlands, where my son watched planes take off and land with curious eyes, dreaming of his future flight; and we've spontaneously driven out for ice cream."

A Big Toy for Exploring the World

@Shawn Lang (朗春阳) :"My first car was also a Focus, a second-hand red 2012 sedan.

It has accompanied me to the Wudalianchi lakes on the border between China and Russia in the north, to the snowy peaks of Changbai Mountain, to the welcoming pine of Huangshan, and to Yangzhou in the misty spring. In 2018, I drove my "Little Red" more than 2,000 kilometers from the Northeast all the way south to Shanghai. Here, I began a new chapter in my life: a new job and a new role—becoming a father.

In the winter of 2022, I welcomed my second car, the Mustang Mach-E. The leap from the Focus to the Mach-E is not only a crossing of two eras in Ford's product line but also a testament to my life's journey: constantly exploring, always moving forward.

To me, the Focus has long been an indispensable member of the family. The valleys we've reached together, the starry skies we've gazed at together—all are precious memories that belong to us."

A Vessel for the Self

@Emma Zhao (赵小群):" I was extremely excited the first time I drove my "Little Fo" home. It was a 2015 model, equipped with the 1.0T EcoBoost engine, full of driving feel and superb handling, sitting there quietly with an elegant stance.

For me, the sense of control brought by the "Little Fo" comes not only from its handling performance but also from that private space.

This Focus is my exclusive companion for the daily commute, a vessel for the self. I enjoy the quiet, happiness, and the atmosphere of driving it brings. Closing the door, I enter a world completely dominated by myself—briefly escaping external identities and pressures, feeling safe to be myself again."

A Rewarding Professional Medal

@Hank Chen:" The Focus has launched numerous versions in the Chinese market, covering regular models, sport versions, high-performance editions, and multiple derived versions. What I own is a distinctive derived model—the Focus Active Wagon, a shooting brake, also known domestically as a "wagon" in China.

The term "wagon" is a transliteration of the English word, generally referring to estate cars. These models are mostly built on a sedan platform, retaining the comfortable ride and handling of a sedan. By extending the trunk space to be level with the roof, the storage capacity is significantly increased.

As a wagon enthusiast, I promptly bought one when Ford launched the wagon version of the Focus in 2021. Over the past few years, I've traveled with it across most of Jiangsu and Anhui provinces, and also visited Shandong, Shanxi, Zhejiang, Henan, Hunan, Guangdong, and Jiangxi. It has never let me down on the road; its reliability is full.

For me, this Focus Active Wagon is not only the first Ford car in my life but also an important medal in my career—because the Focus Active Wagon was the very first project I participated in after joining Ford in 2019. Two years later, when the vehicle was officially launched, my passion as a project participant and a model enthusiast was finally realized."