Winter weather testing looks to be in full swing in these latest spy shots of the facelifted Ford Focus Active that was captured with the long lens in Northern Europe. The hatchback pictured appears to have raised ride-height, plastic surrounds on the wheel arches, revised bumpers, and subtle roof rails, pointing to the fact that it’s the faux-crossover Active variant. It also sports an alloy wheel design that is offered only on this lifestyle-focused edition.
The mid-life facelift, which isn’t
expected to appear in showrooms until 2022, features slimmer profile headlights
and taillights, as well as what looks to be a new grille under the cladding.
Customers can expect an updated interior, although it’s unclear whether the
refreshed Focus line-up will benefit from Ford’s recently announced
collaboration with Google, which will see all Fords’ sport Android-based
infotainment systems from 2023.
We also anticipate mild revisions to the
engine line-up, which last year saw the addition of mild-hybrid drivetrains,
including a rumored plug-in hybrid (PHEV) option. One thing is for sure though;
the Focus Active will continue to rely on its two front wheels for traction,
with two additional driving modes (Slippery and Trial) supplementing the
Normal, Eco and Sport of the standard hatch, to somewhat make up for the lack
of AWD.
The Focus, which was dropped from Ford’s
US line-up last year, continues to be a popular choice in Europe. It’s though
the facelift will help increase the appeal of the fourth-generation car that
was introduced back in 2018, as it faces stiff competition from the likes of
VW’s Golf and the BMW 1-Series.
