Coming Soon: 2019 Ford Focus

Ford skipped holding a big motor show debut for its fourth-generation Focus and instead will hold its own global debut on April 10.

Competing against the likes of the new Hyundai i30, Volkswagen Golf and Holden Astra, Ford has been ramping up teasers of the new Focus that brings a sophisticated aesthetic and more variant options than before. But details remain thin as the blue oval continues to drip feed information this week.

What is it?

It is Ford’s small car that comes in hatchback, wagon and sedan guise. The new generation will also bring an Active variant that blends cross-over inspired design with all-wheel drive capability – meaning the Focus RS won’t be the only all-paw model available.

It will continue to be produced in Saarlouis, Germany, but production of left-hand drive US-bound cars will begin for the first time in China from 2019 – it’s not yet clear where Australia will source its cars from with Thailand production stopping this generation.

What will it look like?

Updating its features and design seen on newer rivals the Focus will bring sharper creases and improved technology.

A more striking hip line and a new front and rear fascia carry the biggest changes and its LED lights have been flaunted in a recent video that clearly separate the old and new models. An LED bar cuts between the headlights and new LED lamps either side make up a packed headlamp cluster. The rear lights lens is also less bulbous than before and the rear of the glasshouse kinks up with a rounder curvature.

The front grille will mimic some of the classic Focus elements in previous vehicles with variations of the chrome slatted and black honeycomb inserts on different models.

The video (below) also shows bold ‘Focus’ lettering across the boot and what is likely a new ST-Line to sit below the hotter ST, which sits under the ferocious RS.

What’s new?

The Focus Active will bring crossover appeal in a smaller format that might help nudge into the booming SUV sales market – but a hard task. All-wheel drive will boost its cred for adventurous driving and bring a competitor to the Subaru XV.

The ST-Line adds cosmetic bling but potentially powered by a smaller EcoBoost turbo engine than the ST which is likely to launch later in the year or early 2019, after the ST-Line.

A top-of-the-line Vignale will also come but it is unlikely to arrive in Australia, with Titanium remaining the highest spec variant for our market.

Inside, the interior has been redesigned and features the common contemporary central floating tablet-style infotainment setup and de-cluttered console with less buttons. The latest iteration of Ford’s Sync software will feature with Apple Carplay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, DAB and potentially a WiFi hotspot.

The ST (rendered), when it does arrive, is tipped to be powered by a revised version of its 2.0-litre turbocharged engine it currently uses, while the red hot RS is at least two years away and could turn the wick up on its 2.3-litre EcoBoost turbo four-pot like the latest EcoBoost Mustang, keeping up with new arrivals such as the upcoming Mercedes-AMG A35 and A45.

What’s on the wish list?

A return to a five-cylinder turbo engine in the RS would bring back a rally-inspired sound track that matches the car's heritage. A nearer launch for the RS too, which has traditionally released towards the very end of the Focus’ lifecycle.

Down the line, a hotter version of the ST will be required to keep up with the latest front-wheel drive hot hatches like the Hyundai i30N and Golf GTI that bring a raft of automatic driver assistance systems and trick electornic diffs.

What Europe has enjoyed in the past but not the Australian market is a wagon version of the ST; that could take on the monopoly held here by the Renault Megane GT and Skoda Octavia RS wagons.

When is it coming?

The global launch event is slated to begin April 10 with cars hitting European roads later this year. Australia has not confirmed its plans for the next-generation Focus yet.

Watch Ford's latest teaser: