Ford's radically-styled Focus has won the prestigious European Car of the Year award 1999. It achieved 444 points compared with 272 for the Opel Astra and 249 for the Peugeot 206.
Judging was by 55 leading motoring journalists from 21 European countries, including Ireland.
Forty-two of the 55 made the Focus their first choice out of a short list of five that also included the Audi TT and Volvo S80.
Focus succeeds the Escort, which for almost two decades has been Ford's challenger in the highly competitive small family car sector.
Ford engineers approached the Focus project with a clean sheet, and virtually everything on the car is new, including engines, suspension and cabin and fascia layout.
Focus goes on sale in Ireland this weekend.
Although 11 versions are being marketed here, from 1.4 to 2.0 litres, Ford has simplified the pricing and there are only three price points.
These are £13,620, £14,370 and £15,120, all ex works.
Andrew Hamilton, Motoring Editor of The Irish Times, represents Ireland on the international jury of motoring journalists. For the 1999 award he gave 10 out of 10 points to the Ford Focus, with seven going to the Peugeot 206, five to the Opel Astra and three to the Volvo S80. Journalists have 25 points to distribute.