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: 
I LOVE IT, WHERE DO I SIGN…..
Yuk hate orange cars. Performance is good though.
They have this model up on the Ford website, must be restricting the facelift to XR5?
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.
^ 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.
Still no cruise control available!
Who buys a car these days without cruise control (even as an option)?
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.
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
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
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.
It looks awesome.
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. :-D
It’s Germany, Golfschwein. NZ already has the facelift because they source the Focus elsewhere.
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.
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.
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.
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.
looks great,
Now all Fords sold here are using same DNA
Falcon Mondeo Focus will look great together
in the showroom.
Go Ford
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.
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
I prefer the old design, the new one isn’t bad, but the fron’t just doesn’t match the rear.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
Most likely strategically placed there for the public to see. :D
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 !
They are in the showrooms now.
So you can have a look at all the differences.
They look even better in person
Very nice.
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 :)
Ford is consistently boring.. I’d get a subaru instead
Your comment is boring Rebs76.. I’d get the Ford Focus for looks and overall performance alone..
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.
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 !!!!
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.
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!
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!
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.
Why is this idiot TP talking about toyota cars here this is about the XR5 Focus no toyota.
TP………..I guess Wheelstud hit a nerve? You could only dream of Toyota offering something exciting……oh they tried TRD!
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.
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.
…looks like still no climate control (and probably also cruise) when all its competitors offer it – why?
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. :(
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.