Like a sharp pair of white sneakers, the current Ford Focus did nothing but impress when it was all new in 2012, but five years of scuffs and stiff competition have seen Ford?s compact offering supplanted by newer offerings. In steps the 2019 Focus, hoping to restore some of the 10Best-winning luster that made its predecessor so great when it launched.
We put camera lenses on a camouflaged Focus hatch this spring, and this peek at the sedan body style tells a similar story: ever so slightly more sculpted sheetmetal and a rakish profile bring a touch of style to the little four-door, while slimmer taillights look more sophisticated than the outgoing car’s.

Powertrain info is unconfirmed at this point, but the 2.0-liter 160-hp four and 1.0-liter three-cylinder EcoBoost engines may carry over, though we wouldn?t be surprised to see the adoption of a small turbocharged four to compete with the now-turbocharged Chevrolet Cruze and Honda Civic. The hatchback variant we spied earlier this year sported a six-speed manual transmission; it’s unknown at this point if Ford once again will offer a six-speed dual-clutch automatic, or if the chilly reception given to that gearbox?and its penchant to inspire warranty claims?will see the Focus offer a conventional auto instead. Big and decidedly not fake news lies in where the new Focus will be bolted together. Current Focuses bound for North American dealers are built at the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michi...