In 2004 Ford introduced the second generation of the Focus at the Paris Motor Show in three body shapes, but none of them was the sedan.
That version was unveiled in 2005.

Ford had an interesting marketing strategy for the Focus. In March 2004 it showed the car at the Geneva Motor Show with black windows. In mid-2004, it revealed the sedan as a study at the Beijing Motor Show, and in September, it unveiled the production versions for the three and five doors versions and the station wagon. The production, four-door Focus, was revealed only in 2005.

From the outside, the headlights followed the triangular shape from the New-Edge-Design theme, but they were smaller. That left more room for the grille, which was broader and narrower. Thanks to its curved roofline and the small triangular window behind the rear doors, the Focus sedan showed an elegant look for the compact segment. In the rear, Ford installed Mondeo-like taillights on the quarter panels.

Inside, Ford offered the vehicle in a few trim levels, including the Ghia, as the top-luxury version. The most significant upgrade was the safety cell, which placed the Focus on top of its class in the EuroNCAP crash-tests results.

The sedan was expected for most of the fleet customers, who enjoyed the new engine lineup that offered fuel-efficient versions. Its power ranged between 80 hp and 146 hp with both turbo-diesel and gasoline options. An automatic transmission was available for selected versions.