The Focus front end is dominated by a two-bar version of the three-bar, razor-like grille that first appeared on the Fusion. The grille is flanked by headlights that wrap around to the sides and follow the curve of the hood toward the windshield.

The Focus sedan features a bright chrome grille, and the air intake below the bumper is divided into three rectangular sections, with space for black-bezeled fog lights at the extreme ends.

For 2009, the coupe gets its own face, with a darker chrome grille and a single, large opening beneath the bumper that narrows slightly toward the top. Fog lights are tunneled directly into the fascia on either side; above them, the fascia is cut away, almost like a step. It's all a bit more interesting to look at but doesn't reduce the bumper's visual mass.

The sedan's sides feature a chromed triangular applique at the back of each front fender that looks like tacked on ornamentation. This piece, which looks like an F on the driver's side, is the starting point for a pair of character lines that flow back. The bottom line leads to the rear wheel well, while the top line rises from front to rear and teams with a high tail to give the Focus the appearance of motion.

Here, the 2009 coupe drops the bright ornament and allows the character lines to flow more subtly and naturally from behind the curve of the front wheel arch. The 17-inch alloy wheels of the SES feature a dark, turbine-blade look that nicely complements the dark grille.

The rear of the coupe roofline stays almost as high as the sedan's, which makes it look a bit clunky on the SE, although this is relieved somewhat by the new roof spoiler on the SES. Both styles look best from the rear, where the simple angular shapes seem to work. The 2009 coupe adds a bit of blackout trim at the bottom center of the bumper fascia, but if anything this only seems to emphasize the bumper's mass.