I think its cause the body is technically the same. well the frame is. you can swap all the parts over I believe.

 

Exterior - new fenders, hood, bumper, headlights, grille, and a few supportive pieces behind

Interior - different dash and door panels.

Engine - duratec only.

Besides that, they are effectively identical

 

Well the front suspension has some redesign done to it but will bolt directly on earlier cars. Other than that Viper said it best.

 

So only half the car was changed

 

Think of the 05-07's as a 1.5gen []

Its not enough of a change to be considered on its own.

 

I've wondered this as well. I am part of a Rnager forum, and they consider the 83-88 gen1 and 89-92 gen2. Even though the only differences was the "facelift" hood, fenders, grill, headlights.
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Yeah i would consider all the stuff they changed including the engine a pretty big change. oh well.

 

Exactly as Ford intended. This is the whole design intent of a refresh -- to have improve the vehicle sales with the smallest investment possible to make the biggest impression -- hence the emphasis on sheet metal changes.

The engine wasn't so much change as... an elimination of a host of engine options.

There's an interesting brochure Ford put out that elaborates on the exact changes made in 2005.

Still... a refresh.

 

eh, i think we are basing the gens off of the frame. When the frame changes, then we call it a new gen. But the truth is, if you strip down any focus 00-07, and leave just the frame, they are identical.

funny enough, alot of parts from the 08-11 focus are compatible with the 00-07 models too.

Also, the 2.3 duratec was available in 2003 IIRC.

 

the 2012 seems to have the same frame too. can someone say 5 lug swap?

 

The rear Control Blade suspension is still the same, so it stands to reason this would be quite feasible, though I have no clue how easy it would be. You should do it first.[thumb]

I'm in the school of thought that calls the 05-07 "Gen. 1.5" as well.

 

Yeah i like those newer 5 star 5 lug wheels on the new ones.

 

00-04 MK1, 05-07 MK1.5, 08-11 MK2, 12-? MK3.

Mazda 3's are closer to MK1's. I read around here the rear disc and 5 lug are a direct swap, and the fronts require Mazda 3 LCA, Front Shocks, spindles, and the outer CV Shafts.

 

It is the same as the 00-04 on my 05. I'm running svt suspention on my sedan . I'm tempted to get the Mach headlights and svt bumper and just get a new hood and fenders

 

If you swap 2012 front you have to swap it all including the outer cv shaft. I had wondered about the Mazda 3 stuff. Wonder how hard it would be to swap over the 3s front to the 2000zx3? Then of course there is the rear. Especially since there is no longer a rear SVT kit unless you buy used one.

 

The mazda3 has more in common with the 2nd gen euro focus that we never got.

 

Basically a 1.5gen or a facelift.

08-11 is the true 2nd gen.