2012 Ford Focus ~ Automotive SportCars

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

2012 Ford Focus

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2012 Ford Focus

As with previous generations, the 2012 Ford Focus, which is making its production spec debut at the 2010 Paris show, will continue to be offered in sedan, wagon, and hatchback forms. For 2012, Ford will sell a five-door hatchback and four-door sedan in the U.S., followed by a version of its new C-Max multipurpose vehicle. Conversely, Ford has no plans to sell the sedan in Europe, save for trunk-happy markets like Turkey and Russia. Early predictions, though, are higher for the new Focus hatchback, as nearly 60 percent of customers in the U.S. have preferred the Fiesta hatchback to the sedan thus far.

Ford Focus Paris Lineup Rear Three Quarters

The initial success of the Fiesta models in the B-segment gave Ford insight into how to guarantee a repeat performance in the C-segment. The formula: Give buyers in the smallest, cheapest segment the same upgraded technology found in larger, more expensive models. Ford’s Sync voice-activation technology, which is still regarded among the most user-friendly systems on the market, made its debut in the 2008 Focus lineup. The latest in Ford’s arsenal of infotainment systems -- MyFord Touch -- elevates and integrates Sync technology and is optional equipment on the top-tier 2012 Focus models.

2012 Ford Focus Wagon Front Three Quarter

As part of a strategy to brand the hatchback as a premium product, the Focus will be offered in four trim levels, but the hatchback will only be available in the upper-echelon three. All trim levels, from the base S sedan and up, include power accessories, an aux jack, and stability control as standard equipment. Buyers can select Sync as a $395 option in SE trim (base-spec on the hatch), and it comes standard, with additional audio and convenience features, on the SEL trim and higher. Top-level Titanium models receive standard MyFord Touch, in addition to 17-inch wheels and keyless entry/ignition. Available active park assist, a rear view camera, and ambient interior lighting are all reminders of the Focus’s redefined position in Ford’s lineup and within its class.

The 2012 Focus is larger in all dimensions over its predecessor, save for a one-inch-lower roofline. The 104.2-inch wheelbase is within an inch of the current U.S.-spec model, while width and track grow by more than three inches to match those of the Chevrolet Cruze. Ford has high hopes for the Focus’ sole powerplant, a direct-injection 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, estimated to produce 160 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque. (A torquey, turbocharged variant will power the upcoming ST model.) A five-speed manual transmission is standard, but Ford expects most buyers to opt for the six-speed Powershift dual-clutch transmission, available with push-button manual gear selection. Focus engineers claim the Powershift-equipped Focus will likely see 40 mpg on the highway.

Both the Focus hatchback and sedan boast extensive use of boron steel to increase vehicle stiffness and reduce weight. While the use of boron steel is not revolutionary on its own, it marks the first implementation of high-cost steel technology in a Ford. Ford claims that 55 percent of the body is composed of boron steel for a 30 percent increase in body rigidity. The Focus employs a boron steel front beam to channel energy absorbed in a crash through the roof rails and around the passenger compartment, and the subframe is designed to detach for better passenger footwell protection. Likewise, the B-pillar is strengthened with boron rolled in eight thicknesses, for a total vehicle weight savings of three pounds. The use of higher-quality materials like laminated windshields, as well as greater foam insulation, also gives the Focus an edge in sound insulation at city speeds, as compared with its top rivals.

With the 2012 Focus, Ford is banking on a "paradigm shift" in the C-segment, in which potential buyers consider technology and fuel economy among their top priorities. The Focus will face its established competitors, Toyota's Corolla, Honda's Civic, and Volkswagen's Jetta, as well as the recently introduced Cruze and the forthcoming, next-generation Hyundai Elantra. Pricing has not yet been announced, but based on the amount of equipment listed as standard, we can predict an increase from its current sub-$17,000 base price.

By offering a sedan and hatchback with premium technology, safety, and structural components, Ford might be able to recapture disillusioned Focus aficionados as well as buyers from larger segments. We just hope that Ford avoids a repeat of the malaise that kept the current Focus from remaining world-class.