New Ford Focus 2012 Reviews

Ford has released 2012 Ford Focus. Standard equipment on all models will include Ford’s Torque Vectoring Control technology which debuted on the new Ford C-MAX. This electronic system balances the distribution of engine torque between the driven front wheels to optimise grip and stability irrespective of driving conditions or road surface.

Customers can choose between three petrol engines, including a new 1.6-liter, 150 hp Ford EcoBoost engine, which debuted on the Ford C-MAX and four diesel engines. These are the updated version of the 1.6 TDCi 2.0 TDCi engines and six-speed manual gearbox (with an optional two powershift clutch automatic 2.0-liter). 1.6-liter and 1.6 liter TDCi with standard auto start-stop EcoBoost. All sources of energy to reach 140 g / km of CO2 and the 1.6-liter TDCi (115 bhp) to reach 109g/km – the only car in its segment in CO2 emissions below 110g/km all series.

The 2012 Focus certainly looks terrific, especially in five-door form. The engineers and designers 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—that fulfills the family-car mission. Compared with the current U.S. Focus, the new car is 0.5 inch lower (at 58.1 inches tall) and 3.0 inches long­er (178.0 inches overall), and it has a 1.3-inch-longer wheelbase (104.2 inches). The 2012 model’s dimensions are close to the current Euro cars, save for a wider track and lower stance.

A new body in white employs high-strength steel for 55 percent of the structure, the highest of any U.S. Ford. Torsional rigidity is up by 25 percent over that of the current Focus. Under the skin, the layout of the strut front and multilink rear suspension stands pat, but many pieces are revised. According to Gunnar Herrmann, the vehicle line director for global C-segment: “The carry-over on the platform is effectively only seven percent. We have changed almost everything.”

At launch, the Focus will get a new 2.0-liter, direct-injection four-cylinder that has variable intake- and exhaust-valve timing. Ford says the engine will put out 155 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. Later on, expect a sportier engine. Jim Hughes, the chief nameplate engineer for the Focus in North America, adds, “We’ll eventually get an EcoBoost [turbocharged DI] engine in the Focus.” We’re thinking a 1.6-liter making more than 200 horsepower in a sporty ST model.

The Focus will go on sale with two available transmissions: a base six-speed manual and a very fancy six-speed dual-clutch gearbox co-developed with Getrag. Derrick Kuzak, the global product-development chief, says: “There will be no conventional automatic on this car.” Electric power steering is a new feature, along with “torque vectoring,” which, similar to the systems of many other automakers, uses the anti-lock brakes to approximate a limited-slip differential.

The interior looks like a winner, but there’s a caveat: The styling mockup we examined had hard surfaces, even if Ford assures us everything will be soft-touch in the production version. The mockup had cool piano-black and aluminum finishes and a stitched dashboard. This upscale trim is called “Titanium” in Europe, and it’s hard to imagine that the base U.S. model, which should still retail around the current car’s $16,690 price, will look as stylish.

With options such as a rearview camera, a blind-spot warning system, keyless ignition, a nav system with an eight-inch screen, and an upgraded version of the Sync infotainment system (dubbed MyFord), we can see a Focus stickering well into the $20,000s. Hughes clarifies: “Although we’re trying to maintain the base price, we think there will be pull from people coming down from C/D-segment cars [think Honda Accord, Ford Fusion] to C-class cars—people are downsizing vehicles but not their expectations.”

That’s a prevailing view at Ford these days. But it’s also one fraught with difficulty. People will pay $18,000 or more for a Mazda 3 or a VW Golf or a Honda Civic, but that’s because those cars carry so much brand equity. The average transaction price of a Toyota Corolla is less, and a Focus’s is way lower. No matter how good the car is—and Mark Fields, president of Ford of the Americas, says, “We won’t dumb this one down for the U.S.”—will American consumers pay more money for this latest Focus? If a domestic small car has a chance at challenging the Mazda 3 and the Golf, it’s this one.

Price in UK:
Ford has released list of 2012 Ford Focus UK Price. 2012 UK Ford Focus 5-door model prices start at £ 15 995 TI-VC version 1.6, and lies on top of £ 23 995 2.0 TDCi Titanium X model Ford Focus station wagon version of the 2012 UK prices start rising to £ 17 095 25 095 GBP titanium powered by a 2.0 TDCi.

Attachment – All-new Focus powertrain and pricing overview

Engine PS CO2 All-New Ford Focus
Duratec Petrol 5-dr/Est Edge Zetec Titanium Titanium X
5dr Est 5dr Est 5dr Est 5dr Est
1.6 TI-VC 105 136 / 139 £15,995 £17,095 £16,995 £18,095
1.6 TI-VCT 125 136 /139 £17,495 £18,595 £18,745 £19,845
1.6 Ecoboost
(Start-Stop) 150 139 /139 £19,745 £20,845 £21,245 £22,345
Duratorq Diesel
1.6 TDCi
(Start-Stop) 95 109 / 109 £16,995 £18.095
1.6 TDCi
(Start-Stop) 115 109 / 109 £17,495 £18,595 £18,495 £19,595 £19,745 £20,845 £21,245 £22,345
2.0 TDCi 140 129 / 129 £19,495 £20,595 £20,745 £21,845
2.0 TDCi (Powershift Auto) 140 139 / 139 £20,745 £21,845 £21,995 £23,095
2.0 TDCi 163 129 / 129 £22,745 £23,845
2.0 TDCi (Powershift Auto) 163 139 / 139 £23,995 £25,095

2012 Ford Focus.