The 2005 Saleen Ford Focus is an ultra-rare hot-hatch with impressive performance prowess.

The first generation Ford Focus was typically nothing special, as it was designed to be a small, fuel-efficient family car. However, a few first generation models did manage to beat the stereotype with the help of performance modification.

Some aftermarket companies have taken it upon themselves to create better versions of production model vehicles, and one of them is Saleen Automotive, Inc., widely known as Saleen. By adding their unique modification touches to the Ford Focus, the Saleen Focus was born.

Saleen's Focus packed plenty of features that the base models lacked, such as a 75-shot of nitrous, among others. Through the work of the widely renown performance company, Saleen, this version proved to be more than just an average grocery getter. Here's more about the forgotten, legendary 2005 Saleen Ford Focus.

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The appearance of the Saleen Focus undeniably gets a lot of attention. To the uneducated eye, the Saleen Focus might appear to be a regular Focus with a body kit, though it’s far from it. Saleen is widely known for its partnership with Ford, its performance parts, and limited custom vehicles. Similar to the rest of their projects, there wasn’t any lack of “Saleen” branding on the Focus.

Saleen reworked the exterior of the Focus, by featuring its own body kit. With side skirts, fender flares, custom vinyl, and large wing, the Saleen Focus started to take form. Plenty of vehicles during this era were using superchargers and turbochargers for greater efficiency and power, so a factory nitrous-ready Focus was unique, to say the least. Given the time when 2 Fast and 2 Furious and Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift were released, body kits were heavily popular, which explains the inspiration behind the Saleen Kit.

Saleen didn't stop with just the appearance of the car, as they changed everything underneath. The Focus came with Saleen's Racecraft System, featuring Saleen's N2 Racecraft Shocks, larger stabilizer bars, and strut tower brace. It also came with special 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels paired with high-performance Pirelli tires, to provide plenty enough grip to the road. With a less than 300 produced, saying the Saleen Focus is uncommon would be an understatement.

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Unlike the production run of the first generation Focus, the interior featured a slight revamp from the West Coast company. Starting from the dash, the instrument cluster featured a white-faced Saleen speedometer to reassure the driver what they were driving.

The leather seats were crafted by Momo, a company popular for their performance parts, which hold you firmly in place. The seats feature Saleen embroidery on the headrest and floor mats. Right above Saleen's Racecraft shift knob was one of the three serialized plaques on the car, which indicated its production number. Underneath the shift knob was a short-throw shifter, which drastically changes the driving experience of the car.

If that wasn't enough, each Saleen Focus displayed its corresponding production number on the front bumper and engine bay of the car, further exclaiming its limited production run.

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There were two models of the Saleen Focus: the N20 and the S121. These two looked almost identical in appearance, but differed in performance features. Both models featured Saleen Performance Center Exhausts, short-throw shifters, and "low restriction air intake tubes", which promoted lower intake temperatures.

In 2004, the N20 Focus was paired with a 2.3L Duratec engine, capable of pushing up to 225 horsepower and 227 ft-lbs of torque with nitrous. Later in 2005, the S121 and the N20 both featured a 2.0L engine, though the N20 received an updated model that came factory ready for a 75-shot of nitrous. The S121's two-liter was the same as the production models but tuned by Saleen to make slightly more power, 150 horsepower to be exact. Underneath the hood scoop of the N20 was an all-aluminum block with double overhead cams, which further differentiated them from the S121s.

With the flick of a switch, you could gain 75 more horsepower or cruise on the highway while getting 30mpg. Despite the "lack" of power, the Saleen Focus was primarily designed to excel in handling. While this was partly due to the Pirelli's, it was largely because of Saleen's Racecraft System. The Focus pulled a 0.97g on the MotorTrend skidpad at 73.1 in the slalom, which was greater than the Evo 8 MR and the WRX Sti (Blobeye).

Conclusively, with a total of under 300 made, it's only expected that this is one of the rarest Ford hatchbacks out there. In a world of forced induction, primarily with turbochargers and superchargers, Saleen's use of nitrous sure was different. Notably, the design of the future generation Focus also mimics the Saleen variant, which suggests Ford was inspired by Saleen's amazing craft. Needless to say, the design is beautiful and timeless.

Based in the East Coast, Joshua Ko is an automotive writer. Graduating from The Pennsylvania State University, he spends most of his free time outdoors, writing, or in the garage. He has a few years of writing experience and plenty of automotive experience. He prefers German vehicles but loves anything with wheels!