2012 Ford Focus (5/15/12)
The 2012 Ford Focus, “It’s Just a Ford”, Not at all! Let’s start with the styling. The new Focus In my opinion looks great. The front end looks sharp, with the pointy head lights, the piano black grille and chrome encased fog lights. As you move down the side of the car the body panels have elegant lines that pop out and dip in just the right places. When your eyes reach the tail lights they look like water after you drop a minute rock into its presence (Hatchback model), where the sedan’s taillights look like a powerful eagles wing’s.
When you finally get to opening the door, after drooling and gawking, you step inside to the Focus’s plush and inviting interior. The first question that pop’s into your head is, “How much is this car again?” Because honestly the Focus’s interior feels like it belongs in cars that are in a higher class. Prices start at $16,995. You get two-tone sport bucket seats, a leather wrapped steering wheel, soft touch plastics everywhere you touch, and cloth on the door armrests, and you also getstainless steel accents in the perfect places (sport package on SE)! You get two LCD screens, one between the tachometer and speedometer and another in the middle of the dash, both havegreat graphics. Some features include Sirius satellite radio, Microsoft SYNC, and six 160 watt speakers (upgradeable to 10).
Now don’t fret if you’re worried about not getting this great looking and stylish Focus in your country, because unlike the previous generations of the Ford Focus it will look the same around the world. This is thanks to Ford working towards having a worldwide
market.
When you turn the key you hear the 2.0 liter 160 hp Duratec engine purr. The Focus I tested had the DCT(dual clutch transmission) 6 speed gearbox. I actually quite like the transmission in opposition to most of the other people who reviewed a focus with that transmission. The stuff they say like it switches to the high gears to quick, it lag’s, and jerks in first gear and reverse. This could be a result of most people reviewing the focus in early 2011 when the 2012 ford focus first came out. This didn’t give ford time to work out the kinks in the transmission. All the little mishaps mentioned are true, but they make it sound very bad and over exaggerated. I have experienced all these little quirks, but they areovershadowed by the silky smooth gear changes the DCT transmission can accomplish. The reason that the transmission will choose the highest gear assoon as possible is because it was tuned to reach that amazing 40 mpg. If youwant to drive sporty, slide the shift knob back in to sport mode and the car won’t lag in first gear and you can shift when you want.
Now getting back to the drive! The Focus handles great! It whooshes around corners like a go-kart. This is accomplished by one of the best chassis on the road, independent suspension,and Ford’s torque vectoring control (this is in essence a limited slip diff without the diff). What the torque vectoring does, is gently applies the brakes to the inside front tire to send more torque to the outside front tire to prevent under steer. The powersteering uses an electric motor instead of hydraulics, which gives the perfectfeel of connection to the road. All these little things help the Focus go whereit’s pointed. When you’re going at a good clip there isn’t much tire noise. Andwith 160 hp it go’s like stink when you mash the pedal into the floor. When youtell your feet to think light, you can achieve phenomenal mpg.
So in conclusion the 2012 Focus looks great, drives great, gives a superbly comfortable ride, and is yourpersonal sports car when you want it to and will save your wallet the battle scars at the pump.
- Joe Chaves
When you finally get to opening the door, after drooling and gawking, you step inside to the Focus’s plush and inviting interior. The first question that pop’s into your head is, “How much is this car again?” Because honestly the Focus’s interior feels like it belongs in cars that are in a higher class. Prices start at $16,995. You get two-tone sport bucket seats, a leather wrapped steering wheel, soft touch plastics everywhere you touch, and cloth on the door armrests, and you also getstainless steel accents in the perfect places (sport package on SE)! You get two LCD screens, one between the tachometer and speedometer and another in the middle of the dash, both havegreat graphics. Some features include Sirius satellite radio, Microsoft SYNC, and six 160 watt speakers (upgradeable to 10).
Now don’t fret if you’re worried about not getting this great looking and stylish Focus in your country, because unlike the previous generations of the Ford Focus it will look the same around the world. This is thanks to Ford working towards having a worldwide
market.
When you turn the key you hear the 2.0 liter 160 hp Duratec engine purr. The Focus I tested had the DCT(dual clutch transmission) 6 speed gearbox. I actually quite like the transmission in opposition to most of the other people who reviewed a focus with that transmission. The stuff they say like it switches to the high gears to quick, it lag’s, and jerks in first gear and reverse. This could be a result of most people reviewing the focus in early 2011 when the 2012 ford focus first came out. This didn’t give ford time to work out the kinks in the transmission. All the little mishaps mentioned are true, but they make it sound very bad and over exaggerated. I have experienced all these little quirks, but they areovershadowed by the silky smooth gear changes the DCT transmission can accomplish. The reason that the transmission will choose the highest gear assoon as possible is because it was tuned to reach that amazing 40 mpg. If youwant to drive sporty, slide the shift knob back in to sport mode and the car won’t lag in first gear and you can shift when you want.
Now getting back to the drive! The Focus handles great! It whooshes around corners like a go-kart. This is accomplished by one of the best chassis on the road, independent suspension,and Ford’s torque vectoring control (this is in essence a limited slip diff without the diff). What the torque vectoring does, is gently applies the brakes to the inside front tire to send more torque to the outside front tire to prevent under steer. The powersteering uses an electric motor instead of hydraulics, which gives the perfectfeel of connection to the road. All these little things help the Focus go whereit’s pointed. When you’re going at a good clip there isn’t much tire noise. Andwith 160 hp it go’s like stink when you mash the pedal into the floor. When youtell your feet to think light, you can achieve phenomenal mpg.
So in conclusion the 2012 Focus looks great, drives great, gives a superbly comfortable ride, and is yourpersonal sports car when you want it to and will save your wallet the battle scars at the pump.
- Joe Chaves