As night follows day, leaked photos have been quickly replaced by an official release as Ford unveils its facelifted Focus ahead of its public reveal in Geneva. After four years on the market, the third-gen Focus needs to keep up with its ever-growing list of mid-size family hatch rivals, and a new front fascia, new tech and new engines will go a long way in keeping things fresh. Redesigned bumpers, restyled front and rear lights, new body panels and the 'Fiesta-style' (read: Aston Martin copied) front grille are all welcome exterior upgrades.

Chassis revisions include stiffer bushes, upgraded front dampers, and updated electric power steering that combine for a more stable, connected drive. A new 1.5-liter EcoBoost turbo gasoline unit is the most exciting of a new engine range, and comes with two states of tune: 148 hp and 178 hp. Ford is also adding a new 1.5-liter TDCi turbodiesel available with either 95 hp and 120 hp. For the US market, a 1.0-liter turbo three-pot joins the lineup that comes mated exclusively to a six-speed manual, as US drivers are perceived to be incompetent when it comes to small-engined cars and automatic transmissions.

Inside, Ford's new 'SYNC 2' infotainment system and eight-inch touchscreen color display cleans up the cabin, which also receives a new three-spoke steering wheel and better sound insulation thanks to deeper carpets and thicker side window glass. Fresh tech includes an automatic parking assistant and collision assist system that prevents knocks by scanning the road and braking if necessary.