The 2018 Ford Focus has been spotted again. From the images of the test mule, the fourth-gen Focus appears to have grown in length, wheelbase and width, though it also looks lower, which should contribute to a better driving position.

Inside, it appears that the dashboard will take on a more conventional form featuring a large digital display perched atop a simplified set of controls, much like the latest Fiesta. The pair of air-conditioning vents are now horizontally-oriented, as opposed to the current model’s vertically aligned ones.


Under the hood, the new Focus is expected to fully transition to turbocharged engines, where previously the United States market still received the naturally-aspirated 2.0 litre Duratec Ti-VCT inline-four. The base model should then be powered by the firm’s 1.0 litre turbocharged three-cylinder EcoBoost unit, along with the 1.5 litre four-cylinder EcoBoost mill already serving in the third-generation Focus here in Malaysia.

Also, the 2.0 litre inline-four EcoBoost will receive extensive revisions for use in the new Focus ST, tipped to crank out in the region of 280 hp. This comes after the next-gen ST was initially rumoured to be set to use the automaker’s new 1.5 litre EcoBoost three-pot mill from the new Fiesta ST. The diesel line-up should include a version of the 2.0 litre TDCi which powers the current ST diesel with 185 hp and 400 Nm of torque.


It’s still early days for talk of a release date, though the next Ford Focus can be expected to make its public debut towards the end of this year, after which it should be entering production for an on-sale date early in 2018.

Cr : Paultan