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2012 Ford Focus Des Moines

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Ford has rolled out a total redesign of one of their long time models, the Ford Focus. The new Focus gets a new powertrain, a new chassis, and significant exterior and interior upgrades. The new design will provide very smooth idle with high horsepower and torque numbers, as well as excellent fuel economy and emissions performance. The new chassis is steered around by electric power steering that takes no engine power to run and thus increases fuel mileage. Front and rear suspensions are mounted on semi-isolated subframes to decrease nose, vibration and harshness, with a new independent rear suspension called control blade, a strut front suspension, and a torque-vectoring system that moves engine torque from side to side during cornering maneuvers to improve traction during turns and reduce understeer. Compared with the current U.S. Focus, the new car is 0.5 inch lower and 3.0 inches longer, and it has a 1.3-inch-longer wheelbase. The 2012 model's dimensions are close to the current Euro car's, save for a wider track and lower stance. Ford offers four trim levels (S, SE, SEL, Titanium) on the sedan and three trim levels on the hatchback (SE, SEL, Titanium).

New Ford Focus Power

The 2012 Focus gets a complete powertrain upgrade. It uses a new Ford six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, a quick-shifting automatic that has no traditional torque converter and can be used as a manual transmission. The transmission features a hill-start feature that holds the brakes on for 2.5 seconds on inclines, allowing easier driving in hilly cities. Ford plans to raise the benchmark for the c-segment with its next Focus by delivering what it believes to be class-leading driving quality which is intended to blend steering precision and road feedback with refinement and control. This Ford model uses a brand new all-aluminum 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that features both a Denso direct fuel injection system and TiVCT, twin independent variable camshaft timing.  Ford has also added the Electric Power Assist Steering system.The EPAS system helps to reduce the effort required during low-speed maneuvers such as parking, but tightens up to provide a more precise and natural feel at higher speeds.

Design of the 2012 Ford Focus

The design language used on the next Focus is a blend of the European Ford Focus and the Ford Fiesta's kinetic design language. Many common design cues can be found between the next Focus and the Fiesta including the general front flow and headlamp shape, the side profile and sheet metal styling, fog lamps and especially the window trim and shapes. The exterior design of the 2012 Focus brings it into modern times with an interesting and stylish look. Ford has managed to create an attractive sedan and hatchback. There are clever details throughout; the hatchback's fuel door is camouflaged behind a diamond-shaped panel under the passenger tail light. The Z-shaped "Zorro Clip" as the designers call it, is a not-so-subtle character line on the front door. The car rides on an all-new chassis made of high-strength steel and designed with Ford's Trinity crash structure. The 2012 Focus looks terrific, especially in five-door form. Ford felt able to make the Focus sportier by lowering its seating position and overall height due to the upcoming C-Max, a tall-roof, five- or seven-seat derivative off this platform.

'12 Ford Focus Cabin

The Ford Focus cabin gets a complete cabin redesign for 2012. A completely new MyFord Touch control and display system is offered with either two 4-inch screens, or one 4-inch screen and one 8-inch touch screen, with steering wheel buttons and voice activation to control climate, telephone, entertainment and navigation functions while the driver concentrates on the road ahead. The package includes Bluetooth connectivity, satellite navigation, iPod and MP3 plugs.  The new Focus is packed with high technology and handsome shapes, great seats, excellent door coverings and plenty of room all around. Materials are certainly more finger-friendly than the outgoing model. Design language also appears to follow the trend of upcoming Ford products for the North American market - especially true in the dash with the future fleet-wide integration of MyFord.

Lineup of the 2012 Focus

SE models add 16-inch steel wheels with hubcaps, body-colored mirrors and door handles, fog lamps, automatic headlamps, MyKey, floor mats, steering wheel audio controls and power rear windows (power front windows only are standard on S sedans).

SEs offer a handful of options: An SE Convenience Package adds cruise control, map lights and an alarm. Sync/MyFord and a six-speaker stereo are also available.  An automatic transmission, power moonroof, heated cloth seats and a few styling packages are also optional.

SEL models add an automatic transmission, four-wheel disc brakes, alloy wheels, door mirrors with integrated turn signals, six speakers, MyFord, Sync, leather-wrapped steering wheel, automatic climate control, split-folding rear seats, and one-touch windows.

The range-topping Focus Titanium adds to the SEL 17-inch wheels, a styling kit, a sport suspension, push-button start and keyless access, a center touch screen, Sony audio and sports seats. Options include a Premium package identical to that on the SEL (minus the alloy wheels), a moonroof, heated seats, navigation, a performance-oriented handling package and some appearance packages.

Conclusions

When the Focus first debuted in 2000, it reset opinions of what small, American cars could be. It was light on its feet with a brilliant chassis, a zippy and frugal Zetec engine, a crisp manual transmission and enough personality and quality inside and out the cars sold by the boatload. As competition has increased, the Focus was in dire need of a redesign, and with the 2012 model, every aspect of this American 'small' car is impressive. The Focus is called  a global car, with at least 80% content shared across the globe.  Ford says that the design of the next Focus was intended to appeal to customers from markets around the world without causing conflict due to differing tastes, which is no easy task. For more on this all new Ford model, visit the official 2012 Ford Focus site.