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The Focus has built a reputation of high quality and driving pleasure. The 2012 Ford Focus has once again raised the bar and reinvigorated the compact segment.

 

Available as either a five-door hatchback or four-door sedan in S (sedan only), SE, SEL and Titanium trim levels, the Focus is a highly-styled, technologically-advanced car with exceptional quality. The 2012 Ford Focus is equipped more like a European luxury car than the affordable compact it is.

 

The strikingly styled bodywork is penned with Ford's Kinetic Design philosophy and looks sporty and distinctive. A low .295 coefficient of drag keeps wind noise low and reduces fuel consumption. Ford expects the Focus will achieve up to a 40 mpg highway rating, aided by the slippery shape and high technology it’s built around. Active grille shutters that close off airflow and reduce drag when airflow through the cooling system is not needed pulls down temperatures underhood at low speeds. Thermal efficiency is the name of the fuel-sipping game, and the active shutters are part of boosting the 2012 Fusion's performance.

 

Structural rigidity is up 30 percent over the old Focus, and a new Control Blade rear suspension and semi-isolated front subframe deliver refinement and poise. An important factor to car buyers is how fun a vehicle is to drive, and the 2012 Focus achieves this with outstanding tuning and a Torque Vectoring Control® system that transfers power between the drive wheels in much the same way as a limited-slip differential would. This reduces understeer and makes the Focus aggressively devour corners by subtly braking the inside front wheel to send more torque to the outside front wheel, rotating the front end through corners far more effectively. It's a detail that doesn’t make itself obvious, much the same as Ford's Electric Power-Assisted Steering System - it goes about the business of delivering the exact amount of boost and road feel while also counteracting the effects of crowned roads while it simultaneously increases fuel economy by only working when it’s required. These are systems not commonly found in vehicles in this price segment.

 

A chassis without a powertrain that can equal its prowess makes a lackluster automobile, so Ford has equipped the 2012 Focus with a 2.0-liter direct-injection four cylinder with dual overhead cams controlled by Ti-VCT variable timing to deliver both performance and efficiency. A high 12:1 compression ratio is made possible by direct injection, and yet, the 160 hp and 146 lb/ft of torque is generated without the need for Premium fuel. Focus S and SE trim levels offer a five-speed manual transmission as standard equipment, and the six-speed PowerShift automatic transmission is optional for the SE and comes standard with SelectShift manual control for SEL and Titanium trims. The PowerShift transmission is a cutting-edge transmission that uses an automated clutch to deliver seamless shifts and excellent fuel economy without trading responsiveness.

 

The Focus S sedan carries a $16,270 MSRP with the five-door starting at $18,065. The standard audio system is MP3 capable and carries an auxiliary input, and the climate system included an air filtration system and remote keyless entry as well. Side mirrors with integrated blind-spot mirrors with power adjustment are also part of the standard equipment list. Focus SE models pick up 16-inch wheels and, more important, Ford's revolutionary MyKey system. MyKey allows parents to set vehicle maximum speed, audio system maximum volume and other parameters that help to keep young drivers focused on the road ahead.

 

In SEL trim, the six-speed PowerShift transmission is standard, as is Ford's much-admired SYNC system with voice-activated communications and entertainment functions. At the top of the Focus ladder, the Focus Titanium is equipped with MyFord Touch, which uses multifunction controls on the steering wheel spokes and offers deep functionality for information and smartphone integration. The Titanium's suspension is retuned for sporty reflexes as well. Pushbutton start with Intelligent Access makes key fumbling a thing of the past and a 10 speaker Sony audio system, HD Radio and SIRIUS Satellite Radio ensure the audiophile’s requirements are met. Heated leather seating is available, as well as a Parking Technology Package, which helps parallel park the car by itself with minimal driver input.

 

All 2012 Focus models feature AdvanceTrac electronic stability control and SafetyCanopy side curtain airbags. Dual-stage front airbags, seat-mounted side airbags and safety belt pretensioners are also included in the standard Focus safety arsenal.  

 

With the 2012 Ford Focus, the state of the art is once again advanced by a compact car wearing a blue oval.