Zetec name as a trim level
In 1998, Ford of Britain applied the Zetec name to a trim level in the Fiesta range, replacing the Si. Petrol variants of the Fiesta LX were also renamed 'Zetec LX,' although this ceased within months.

Since then, the Zetec name has become a key staple of the Ford trim level hierarchy, serving as the sports-styled variant in most ranges. In October 1998, the then-newly launched Focus also used the name; and the Mondeo and Galaxy ranges also adopted the name before the decade was out.

Ford's 'niche' models, such as the Ka and Fusion did not initially adopt the name, although even these models now include Zetec-badged variants.

Nowadays, the Zetec name is used exclusively in a trim level capacity, with no engines called as such. Zetec models are often seen as the staple of Ford's ranges, with Ford often creating 'spin-offs' of Zetec models and running promotions on Zetec models in the range. Every passenger vehicle in the Ford of Britain range - bar the Ford Focus Coupé-Cabriolet - now includes a Zetec badged model; the same cannot be said of any other trim level.

Such aforementioned 'spin-offs' of the core Zetec model include the Zetec S (Fiesta and the 2000-2007 Mondeo), Zetec S 30th Anniversary Edition (Fiesta), Zetec S Celebration Edition (Fiesta), Zetec Nav (2000-2007 Mondeo), Zetec LX (1995-1999 Fiesta), Zetec Blue (Fiesta) and a key version, the Zetec Climate (Ka, Fiesta, Fusion and the 2005-2008 Focus).