Derrick Kuzak, group VP and head of global product development for Ford, opened a Detroit-area unveil of the new Ford Focusthe production version of which drops at the Paris auto showby stating that the C-segment, or compact class, is where we [Ford] have been underperforming in the U.S. The man aint lying; our current Focus, a warmed-over version of its predecessor and completely divorced from the grass-is-greener Euro Focus, underperforms in just about every way when stacked up against stuff like the Mazda 3 or Volkswagen Golf. And so the companys European engineers cooked up an all-new car, one thats ostensibly much more competitive and intended to be sold in every market.
Indeed, nearly 80 percent of the 2012 Focuss component parts will be shared across more than 120 markets, including throughout Asia, North and South America, Africa, and Europe. With the Focus, Ford rehashes the promise of the cars little brother, the global Fiesta, in saying it will deliver loads of refinement and features. Given the Fiestas pricingroughly $14K to start, and more than $21K when fully loadedwe expect the new Focus will be somewhat more expensive here than its woeful predecessor, the 2010 base prices of which range from $17,365 to $20,395. Most of the world also will get a wagon version, but the U.S. will be offered only sedan and five-door hatchback body styles. Its been confirmed that the new Focus lineup will not grow to include a three-door hatch or cabriolet, both of which were previously offered.
One Engine, Two Gearboxes for Regular Foci
Ford installs its all-new 2.0-liter direct-injection four-cylindergood for 155 hp and 140 lb-ft of torqueas standard on all trim levels, from the lowly S to the top-spec Titanium. (SE and SEL trims occupy the middle ground.) It replaces the current cars 140-horse, 136-lb-ft 2.0-liter four, and employs Ti-VCT variable valve timing. The automatic transmission for all Focuses is the companys new PowerShift dual-clutch automated manual, which is available with paddle shifters. Given our experience with that transmission in the Fiesta, wed recommend you stay with the five-speed stick. In the smaller car, the PowerShift tries too hard to act like a regular slushbox, ultimately failing at being a good example of either an automatic or dual-clutch unit. Its of course possible that the PowerShift experience (didnt we see them in Cleveland in 83?) will improve in the Focus.
The best news for enthusiasts, of course, is the turbocharged Focus ST, the first U.S.-sold performance compact from Ford since the 20022004 SVT Focus. It packs a 247-hp, 250-lb-ft EcoBoost four-banger and a six-speed manual transmission. Let's take a second and pay major respect to whatever Ford executive or focus (har!) group made this happen. Still, we may have more pleading to do if a follow-up to the even-hotter Focus RS appears, as the previous generation didnt come here. The ST we will see has been promised to pack a taut suspension, hyper-crisp steering, and a growl to wake Zeus, claims well wait to confirm until we drive it.
On the safety front, Ford's next-generation airbags will make their big debut in the newest Focus. Theyll then scatter in 2013 to the rest of Fords products, where theyll help meet NHTSAs upcoming and plenty-more-rigorous crash standards. The updated requirements place more emphasis on lowering injury rates, as well as airbag safety for small occupants. To that end, Fords new bags come with an inner tether to reduce lower abdomen impact, special shoulder vents to decrease deployment pressure when a smaller occupant is present, and pyrotechnically-fired valves in the passenger-side front bag that allows some gas to escape if it detects a lighter-than-average person.
Infused with Modern Tech
The Focus gets Fords generally well-regarded electronics suite, with both Sync and MyFord Touch systems available. The difference isn't vast between the two; think of MyFord Touch as Super-Sync. It does a handful of Web 2.0flavored things like reading your texts out loud, responding to texts with some preprogrammed away messages while you're driving, and offering the ability to turn the car into a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot. (Click here for a full story on MyFord Touch.) Ford's Active Park Assist system, which automatically parallel parks for you, is available on the SEL and Titanium. We were impressed after experiencing an older version of this same system on the Lincoln MKT, and while we generally scoff at cars doing anything that we can do ourselves, well admit the system is good for teenage and elderly drivers. (Its also bad news for shops that repair wheels or bumpers.)
The marketing campaign for the new Focus will heavily tout a 40-mpg highway mileage number, exactly the same maximum delivered by the Fiesta. As with the Fiesta, though, the 40-mpg figure is only possible with a package dubbed SFE, for Super Fuel Efficient. The kit includes low-rolling-resistance tires, aerodynamic wheel covers, and a special spoiler designed to reduce drag. The package makes the car look like a low-rent stripper model, and we doubt the hard tires will help handlingthink yesteryear Prius. As to the rest of the lineups efficiency efforts, theyre pretty extensive. For example, all 2012 Focuses come with aerodynamic wind deflectors ahead of the front wheels, an under-engine aero shield, kicks molded into the taillights to optimize airflow, and a relatively whiz-bang active-shutter system in the grille that closes at higher speeds to further reduce total drag.
While were happy the U.S. is no longer on the short end of the Focus stick, the proof will be in the driving experience. Once we have the chance to evaluate the new Focus in a comparison test, well see if Ford has a winner, or if the model continuesto use Kuzaks phraseto underperform.
http://www.caranddriver.com/news/car/10q3/2012_ford_focus-official_photos_and_info
That ST is pretty freaking sweet!
