Ford Focus XR5 Turbo facelift spotted
June 10, 2008 by Paul Maric
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!
Print it: 
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).
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.
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.
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..
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 :)
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.
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?
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.
I want one!!!!
^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.
I Purchased this vehicle first week of January 09, in snow white no stripes. Vehicle is nice, has a slight kick to it when turbo comes in, Not the most powerful vehicle out there> I hope they will bring in the 2 door version to Australia. Car does come with Cruise control if you pay extra. Personally, I rather pay the extra to get sunroof than the cruise control.
However I really do like this vehicle, Alot of people do ask me questions about it, make comments, try to drag me on the streets, Ladies love it lol. compare to a Focus it self this car is totally different in all aspects to its lower models.
Just thought I’d drop my comments to those slagging off the focus st.I have one and had a wrx before.Comparing the two is chalk and cheese.The wrx I owned for 11 months,the st I’ve had nearly 3 years…nuff said.
It handles better,steers better,is more solidly built,the gearbox and diff are not made of glass(my mate has had 2 diffs in his wrx)the rear discs are the same diameter as the front on a wrx so it stops ,never driven a sorted front drive car take one for a ride,I have never had a car with so much grip and I’ve owned cosworths rs capris and escorts.Pity oz is not to get the rs focus with the revonuckle geometry.Google it,it may change your mind if you actually need 4wd