Ford Focus XR5 Turbo facelift spotted
10 Jun, 2008
60 Comments 
Without even a hint of disguise, Ford’s yet to be released facelifted Focus has been spotted in Melbourne.
Parked on the side of the road in peak hour traffic, the orange XR5 Turbo variant stood out like dog’s…feet.
Although the rear is the same as the current Focus, there are modifications to the front end, including new headlights and sleek looking inserts. It seems like our XR5 Turbo won’t feature Bi-xenon headlights though, even as an option - according to the Ford website.
Although you can’t tell much from the interior photo, a starter button can be spotted. The overall layout is quite similar to the Mondeo - which certainly isn’t a bad thing.
What do you think about the Focus’s new design? Shown in this upmarket XR5 trim, we think it certainly looks pretty impressive!
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June 10th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
I LOVE IT, WHERE DO I SIGN…..
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June 10th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Yuk hate orange cars. Performance is good though.
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June 10th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
They have this model up on the Ford website, must be restricting the facelift to XR5?
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June 10th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Just thought I would make the correction that in fact the back of the new XR5 is very much different to the 07 and earlier models.
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June 10th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
^ Correct. The side panels and door skins are actually different too, with a feature line like the Mondeo.
I had a look over the new XR5T in a NZ showroom a few weeks ago, stunning. The new shape base model didn’t do anything for me though.
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June 10th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Still no cruise control available!
Who buys a car these days without cruise control (even as an option)?
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June 10th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
Hey that’s wicked guys! Well spied.
Good looking car from the front, shame the back didn’t change much. Still, I’d have one.
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June 10th, 2008 at 11:26 pm
There’s no need for disguise though, i mean this car is already on sale in UK isn’t it? At least it has being tested in UK magazine already, both the XR5 (they call it ST) and the base models
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June 10th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
I also wonder what gearbox options we’ll get, in UK they have 6 speed twin clutch called powershift, hope we have that option here as well
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June 10th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
Poison eagle, our XR5s are made in Germany, or is it Belgium? All other Focuses come from South Africa. Pretty soon, they’ll sport the same changes too.
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June 11th, 2008 at 12:25 am
It looks awesome.
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June 11th, 2008 at 12:28 am
As far as I know the ST (XR5T) is german made, the other variants South Africa until FordOZ started producing them locally in 2010/2011.
The current XR5T looks great, the new one looks even better.
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June 11th, 2008 at 12:42 am
It’s Germany, Golfschwein. NZ already has the facelift because they source the Focus elsewhere.
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June 11th, 2008 at 1:34 am
I’m in London at the moment and I’ve seen lots of these- esp in Orange. This colour works much better here with the grey sky’s overhead - whereas in Australia - it can look a bit bright due to all the sunlight.
Ford really should fix the cruise control issue fast. It’s really a poor effort to not have a car with this level of performance with this feature. Volvo, where the engine comes from, has it in available in their models, so the electrical system is designed for it and therefore is readily available to Ford to include in it’s go fast machines.
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June 11th, 2008 at 3:08 am
I really like the look of the facelifted XR5, although I think that Ford Aus (or SA) were wise to not apply the update to the whole model range - the base models with the new look are seriously fugly. Just look at the UK Ford website if you don’t believe me.
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June 11th, 2008 at 7:24 am
The front looks excellently cool, very Ford DNA stuff. But do they have to keep the taillights up so high. The rear panel looks very slabbish across the back. It needs tail lights to break it up a bit instead of having them jammed in a narrow c-pillar panel. IMO.
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June 11th, 2008 at 7:57 am
It’s a backwards step. It does not look as tough as the previous car. Looks soft and girly. No power increase either, and no LSD.
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June 11th, 2008 at 8:45 am
looks great,
Now all Fords sold here are using same DNA
Falcon Mondeo Focus will look great together
in the showroom.
Go Ford
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June 11th, 2008 at 9:17 am
People, you can now get a properley integrated drive by wire Cruise control from Autron, if you really need it. Also, the XR5 (ST) is made in Saarlouis, Germany. It’s the only factory producing this variant of the Focus.
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June 11th, 2008 at 9:23 am
The only difference I can see at the back is clear indicators - would look better i they were blacked out or “smoked”
Yet as the headlights are more sweeping it would look better if they were either tiered or scalloped similar to the XR6
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June 11th, 2008 at 9:27 am
I prefer the old design, the new one isn’t bad, but the fron’t just doesn’t match the rear.
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June 11th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Looks like half of the facelift has made it onto this car. There are none of the new Euro model’s side panel changes - just the new face screwed on
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June 11th, 2008 at 10:36 am
It’s the entire new car. Considering we get the exact one off the production line in Germany, I doubt they’d spec the body panels different. My guess is once again we’ll miss out on xenons and climate, but with the new additions will be dearer than before
$37,000 base, plus a few options:
Leather - $2000
Sunroof - $1900
Orange Paint - $1800
+ On roads… will equal a nice 45/46,000
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June 11th, 2008 at 10:44 am
brings it inline with the verve styling they are using. still looking forward to that new fiesta, although im sure the base models will be ugly, just hope that they have a upmarket version that looks like the concepts.
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June 11th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Looks good with the Mondeo front end on it. I wonder if Ford are styling their cars a bit too much the same though. It’s hard to pick a new Falcon from a Mondeo in the rear view mirror.
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June 11th, 2008 at 11:04 am
Wheelnut, the difference at the back end is this:
Rear tail lights are LED and clear
Rear hatch is quite different (have a close look)
Rear Roof spoiler is different
Rear bumper bar is different includes diffuser
Different rear reverse and fog lights.
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June 11th, 2008 at 11:06 am
Most likely strategically placed there for the public to see.
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June 11th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
The car looks great, but I have found that you must see a vehicle close up in person to make definite conclusions. For some reason images of cars in broaches & in print in general seem to be quite different to what it looks like in real life. A case in point is the Ford Territory which only looked average in print but close up looked much better.
Cheers !
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June 11th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
They are in the showrooms now.
So you can have a look at all the differences.
They look even better in person
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June 11th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Very nice.
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June 11th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Typical Ford facelift - time to get out the micrometers. Go buy a WRX instead - not only faster and better looking but has xenons and cruise control too
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June 11th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Ford is consistently boring.. I’d get a subaru instead
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June 11th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Your comment is boring Rebs76.. I’d get the Ford Focus for looks and overall performance alone..
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June 11th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Yaaaawn conservative Ford… the earlier shots of this vehicle looked better with projector/xenons and better lines. Hasnt lived up to it from drawing board to metal.
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June 11th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
TP……..you love Toyotas…the kings of Yaaaaawn. This makes any comments you make invalid. This car has more character, style, engineering, driveability and performance than any Toyota will ever have.
AURION……the NAME has changed !!!!
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June 11th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
Oh please the people telling us to go get a WRX. The new WRX is boring, go take a real good look at it, might as well be sold by KIA. The new STI on the other hand is a huge improvement in looks over the WRX.
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June 11th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
I like it, I love the electric orange paint as well. Would be nice if Ford offered this colour on the Falcon.
Hopefully Ford have sorted out the rear bar on this so you cant see the rear muffler…
Go the maroons!
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June 11th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Wheelidiot who are you kidding. At least Toyota are bold enough to change the look of the Aurion… Corolla…Kluger. All of Fords offerings (Focus for 5 years now, Falcon) have small changes from previous generations and they are all starting to look the same… thats as bland as it gets!
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June 11th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
Even tho that particular car is part of the Ford fleet it’s not particularly ground breaking it’s been in Ford’s brochures & website etc for awhile now so not much more exciting then seeing a FG really.
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June 11th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Why is this idiot TP talking about toyota cars here this is about the XR5 Focus no toyota.
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June 11th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
TP………..I guess Wheelstud hit a nerve? You could only dream of Toyota offering something exciting……oh they tried TRD!
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June 11th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Lighten up, TP. Have you not looked at a Corolla sedan or a Camry lately? Or a Kluger? Or a Landcruiser? If anything defines conservative, these do.
You’ll never get them in this orange, either.
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June 12th, 2008 at 9:19 am
Ease up Golfschwein,
Toyota did have a bright colour. Remember that metallic pastel green colour that came out when they released the latest gen camry…?
Also, I remember a Melbourne Motor show when Toyota had only silver cars -BLAND!
There is a lot to like about Toyotas, but they are as boring as bat sh1t.
Focus is targeted at a younger market, not the lawn bowls market.
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June 12th, 2008 at 9:23 am
…looks like still no climate control (and probably also cruise) when all its competitors offer it - why?
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June 12th, 2008 at 11:00 am
Those going on about how there should be radical changes… well, it is only a mid-life facelift.
It’s a shame that we don’t get the 2-door.
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June 12th, 2008 at 11:10 am
That’s a point to consider, BOSSCR. If your boss told you you’re getting a new Camry, you could at least plead for that spec and colour. Quoite noice.
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June 12th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Used to sell these a year back and had a chance to drive them at the release when the first XR5T came out, you could not take the smile off my face!! Until we get one in the showroom i cant really comment on the look but has anyone seen the racing stripes that are available? seems that ford cant get enough of them lately.
Macca, just to give you the official speale regarding the high rear lights, its so they are out of the way in-case someone rear ends you and other drivers see your lights more clearly!
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June 12th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
So GT40 is obviously a Fordophile, and obviously a big fan of one of Frauds biggest heaps of junk ever made - the GT40. Ask Jeremy Clarkson what he thinks of them - he wanted one sooooooo bad yet went and sold his because it was a heap of junk which broke down every other day. As for the XR5 it is just a Focus crapbox with a few little go fast bit stuck on. If you squint a little bit you could think it was a Daewoo or Kia. Cheap nasty thrown together crap with nothing - no xenons, no cruise, no climate, no performance, the list goes on. Ford are so cheap I am surprised they did not cut down the falcon dash and interior and stick it in the Focus to save more dollars. yes I lurv the electric orange or whatever it is called but not on a cheap boxy crapbox with a few “afterthought” go fast bits stuck on. I will take my WRX over that any day.
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June 12th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Ford are just cheap - when comparing WRX to XR5 we find the following:
WRX has 3kw more, weighs 30kg more, 1 full second faster to 100km/hr, has all wheel drive, xenons, climate, cruise, cd player reads MP3s (XR5 doesn’t), 10 speakers vs 8 - and all that for only an extra $3000.
Wow XR5 has 6 speed and 18″ wheels against 5 speed and 17″ wheels, heated mirrors (wow I want some of those), lumbar adjust for front driver seat, and that is all.
Considering AWD is estimated to add around $4000 the XR5 is grossly overpriced when you look at what you don’t get.
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June 12th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
I’d say you’re wrong Tuff. If we’re talking cheap, open the door of a brand new WRX and try to tell us all it’s a quality looking/feeling product (the XR5 is no better).
Most car enthusiasts (the people who would tend to buy either of these cars)… want to have a car with great looks at least. Have a search on nearly any worldwide forum… and try to find a general consensus that the WRX (specifically), is a good looking car.
No denying all-wheel-drive is great, but for some that’s just not the be-all and end-all, especially when it looks like the new WRX!! The new Rex has also come into some pretty harsh criticism with its new found suspension ’softness’.
Features? That’s purely whats important to the individual. People will obviously sacrifice xenons, climate and cruise for a great sounding, great handling car, cheaper car.
I don’t own an XR5, but i would say in this instance, it seems to be the better choice.
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June 12th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
The side panels have changed, maybe it’s just the colour that makes it hard to see. If you go onto the Ford Oz website, you’ll see pics (I hate how all pics on the Ford website are computer generated) that show the side is different (same as the Ford UK pics).
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June 12th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
TuffGuy you talk sh** comparing the this Xr5 Focus with you crap WRX my EVO would eat you crap WRX why don’t you came and play with the big boys.
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June 12th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
TuffGuy, doesn’t that ancient 5 speed manual gearbox make Subaru a bit cheap these days. I believe toyota made the 5 speed manual standard in the Celica back in 1972. Even the econobox corolla manual is now a 6 speeder. People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.
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June 13th, 2008 at 10:50 am
M-16:
By playing with the big boys, do you mean making cheap shots over the internet. Wow, that EVO must be a weapon there big boy..
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June 13th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Yeah and M16 has his hand on his weapon a bit too much I reckon. M16 you are a dick - your EVO is clearly targetted at the WRX STI so of course it should be faster than the WRX. And that clearly demonstrates how much air you have between your ears, and the fact you drive a Mitsushitty EVO (yeah I know a cheap shot). I won’t crush you any more by talking about how cheap the EVO is - all they did was drop a good engine into an everyday boring cheapass Lancer and throw on an EVO badge
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June 13th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Austran I guess what really counts is how many are being sold and how many one sees on the roads - bucketloads. Sure there are a lot of forums out there with people bagging the new rex. However it is probably the same little dweebs with the reverse baseball caps commenting on all the forums. The so-called die hards who are having difficulties getting over the fact Subaru have updated the look of the rex. This was for a reason - for WRC the hatch is a better rally racing shape and all the others were already hatches. As for the new look I think it looks great and I love mine. What I was trying to get across before was the rex is better value for money than the xr5. Rex is only 3k more than xr5 but if you look at the cost of all the things I mentioned (that the xr5 does not have) they add to around 7k. That gives around 4k more value in the rex and as a bonus it is heaps faster in the dry and the wet. Remember too we are talking about standard equipment here not options, most of which Ford do not even offer as an option.
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June 13th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
As for the interior plastics issue raising its ugly head again - are you going to drive the car or sit there and fondle the dash and door panels??? Why do they have to be soft and what are you going to do with it. I bought a rex because it is a rex and because I like the look of it - way too stylish for the little rev-heads obviously. Everyone I show it to turn green with envy. Would you really and truly not buy a car because the dash or door panel was not soft??? And like you say the xr5 is the same so why does this hold so much importance for some people?
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July 6th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
I would buy this car if it had cruise control. But I won’t because it doesn’t (not even an option!). Fix the problem Ford or lose customers. I’m walking in the direction of the VW dealership who include cruise as standard on the Golf GTI. What a stuff up on Fords behalf.
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August 3rd, 2008 at 6:24 pm
I want one!!!!
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August 3rd, 2008 at 6:48 pm
^When I first read your couple of first posts on CarAdvice I thought you where completely Holden the way you said things in your posts, but I am wrong now. Or the Focus is the only ford you like.
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