Which Ford model won the 1999 European Car of the Year award?

The Ford Focus won the 1999 European Car of the Year award.

The Focus replaced the Ford Escort in many markets and introduced a sharply styled design with a notably advanced suspension layout. Its independent Control Blade rear suspension helped provide stable handling while allowing practical interior packaging. The model was sold in hatchback, sedan, estate, and other body styles depending on the market.

The award was announced in late 1998 for the 1999 title year. The Focus defeated strong competitors, including the Opel/Vauxhall Astra and Peugeot 206, in the voting by European automotive journalists. It is sometimes confused with the Ford Mondeo, which won the award for 1994, and the Ford Fiesta, which won later for 2010. The Focus became one of Ford’s important global nameplates.