Description
Ford surprised its European customers in 2006 when it introduced the open-top version of the Focus, which wasn't covered by a soft top but by a retractable metallic roof.
After Ford pulled the plug on the sixth and last generation of the Escort in 1998, its customers were left without an open-top version of a blue-oval branded convertible. Furthermore, the first generation of the Focus wasn't available in a drop-top configuration, and Ford started to lose some customers to other brands that had something to attract them. As a result, when the blue-oval brand started developing the second generation of the Focus, it also worked on an open-top version for its compact-sized vehicle, which it unveiled in March 2006 at the Geneva Motor Show. Pininfarina Design Studio from Turin, Italy, penned the car and previously showed it as a concept in September 2005 at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
The 2006 Ford Focus CC shared its front fascia with the rest of its stablemates. Its triangular-shaped headlights were not as swept-back as on the previous generation and were slightly wider. In addition, the clear lenses and the integrated turn signal lamps gave the car an upscale appearance. Between them, the automaker installed a slightly taller grille where the brand's badge took center stage, while on the apron, a trapezoidal-shaped air intake flanked by a pair of fog lamps completed the image of the vehicle.
When Pininfarina designed the 2006 Ford Focus CC, it had to use as many body panels as possible from the car's production version. As a result, the car came with a short nose and flared wheel arches carried over from the rest of the range. However, everything was new, from the A-pillars to the back of the vehicle. The windshield was raked even more compared to the rest of the Focus range. Furthermore, the frameless doors and the rear quarter panels were new. Ford insisted that no safety arch or other fixed structure should raise about the car's waistline. Above the rear wheel arches, the car manufacturer placed the compartment for the two-piece retractable hard top. At the back, Pininfarina created new taillights that spread over the trunk's lid, which also served as a cover for the retractable roof. Unlike the rest of the Focus range, the CC version was produced in Italy on Pininfarina's assembly lines.
Inside the 2006 Ford Focus CC, customers found a pair of bolstered front seats covered in fabric or leather, depending on the options. Fronting the driver was the same dashboard as on the rest of its stablemates. The four-spoke steering wheel framed an instrument cluster where the automaker installed the large dials for the speedometer and the tachometer that flanked an LCD for the car's onboard computer. On the center stack, the automaker placed the stereo and the dials for the HVAC. However, since Pininfarina had to push the bench seat forward to make room for the retractable roof, there was limited legroom for adult-sized occupants.
Under the hood of the 2006 Ford Focus CC, the automaker installed a choice of three engines ranging between 100 PS (99 hp) and 145 PS (143 hp). The 1.6- and the 2.0-liter gasoline versions were paired as standard with a five-speed manual transmission, and a four-speed automatic was available for the latter. In addition, a two-liter turbodiesel mated with a six-speed manual was also on the offer. However, even if the car was heavy and had unimpressive performance, it was the open-top Focus that Ford had to have in its lineup.
