Features: Five-occupant seating; CD player; dual front air bags and side-impact protection system; power steering; independent front and rear suspension; front-wheel drive; 2.0-liter inline-4 engine rated at 110 horsepower (130 horsepower for the upgraded Zetec version); front disc and rear drum brakes; air conditioning (standard on all but the base sedan and three-door hatchback). Special-limited production versions include the Kona edition, which comes with a mountain bike, and the ear-numbing Sony edition, with its 220-watt stereo system. An animal lovers edition, with pet restraints and other goodies, is in the works.
Target: Though there are a goodly number of fortysomethings driving around in them, Focus sales so far have achieved Ford's goal of lowering customers' median age. The average age of a Focus buyer is 36, six years younger than the average buyer of its predecessor, the Escort. More than 25% of Focus buyers are in the 18-to-25 age group, and 44% are under 35.
