February 10, 2011
When Ford Motor Co. set out to redesign its Focus, it did so with a laserlike intensity. Improved fuel economy was the No. 1 priority in replacing its 12-year-old compact — a car that is Ford's global bestseller, even if its U.S. popularity has been on the wane.
Overhauled for the 2012 model year and available this spring, the Focus, like Ford itself, is staging a comeback.
With a sportier body shape and what Ford estimates will be an EPA fuel economy rating of as much as 40 miles per gallon on the highway, depending on the version, the Focus is aimed at value-conscious consumers hoping to avoid the pocketbook pummeling of volatile fuel prices that are now creeping well above $3 a gallon.
Forty miles per gallon seems to be Ford's fuel-economy holy grail, though it's attainable in only one trim. Its Fiesta, introduced last year, also hits that target for its Super Fuel Efficient, or SFE, version, but it's a subcompact powered with a smaller, 1.6-liter engine.
The all-new Focus, with its 2.0-liter engine and increased interior space, targets a slightly older, more affluent buyer. In other words, it's for twentysomethings who've managed to land jobs after graduating from college.
Recognizing that there's a spectrum of low-paying post-graduation employment these days, the Focus comes in four trims, the most basic of which is the S sedan, starting at $16,270.
I tested the most deluxe version — the $22,270 Titanium sedan equipped with a $1,390 handling package that beefs up the stock 17-inch wheels to more substantial 18-inchers; it also stiffens the suspension. For the money, it's more than a worthwhile upgrade. The bargain-basement, entry-level Focus is outfitted with scooter-esque 15-inch wheels.
Three of the four Focus trims are also available as hatchbacks, with either a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. EPA emissions tests haven't been finalized, but the manual is likely to get one to two mpg less than the automatic.
During a daylong drive event through the Malibu canyons, I sampled the five-speed manual along with the six-speed automatic version I was testing. I was surprised to find the manual transmission so lifeless.
Although the automatic isn't sporty, it is more fuel efficient and easy to operate. It's also more satisfying to drive and technologically cutting edge.
Overhauled for the 2012 model year and available this spring, the Focus, like Ford itself, is staging a comeback.
With a sportier body shape and what Ford estimates will be an EPA fuel economy rating of as much as 40 miles per gallon on the highway, depending on the version, the Focus is aimed at value-conscious consumers hoping to avoid the pocketbook pummeling of volatile fuel prices that are now creeping well above $3 a gallon.
Forty miles per gallon seems to be Ford's fuel-economy holy grail, though it's attainable in only one trim. Its Fiesta, introduced last year, also hits that target for its Super Fuel Efficient, or SFE, version, but it's a subcompact powered with a smaller, 1.6-liter engine.
The all-new Focus, with its 2.0-liter engine and increased interior space, targets a slightly older, more affluent buyer. In other words, it's for twentysomethings who've managed to land jobs after graduating from college.
Recognizing that there's a spectrum of low-paying post-graduation employment these days, the Focus comes in four trims, the most basic of which is the S sedan, starting at $16,270.
I tested the most deluxe version — the $22,270 Titanium sedan equipped with a $1,390 handling package that beefs up the stock 17-inch wheels to more substantial 18-inchers; it also stiffens the suspension. For the money, it's more than a worthwhile upgrade. The bargain-basement, entry-level Focus is outfitted with scooter-esque 15-inch wheels.
Three of the four Focus trims are also available as hatchbacks, with either a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. EPA emissions tests haven't been finalized, but the manual is likely to get one to two mpg less than the automatic.
During a daylong drive event through the Malibu canyons, I sampled the five-speed manual along with the six-speed automatic version I was testing. I was surprised to find the manual transmission so lifeless.
Although the automatic isn't sporty, it is more fuel efficient and easy to operate. It's also more satisfying to drive and technologically cutting edge.
Source: LAtimes.com
About Parker Ford Lincoln, Inc.Parker Ford Lincoln Inc., is a multi-President Award-winning dealership in Murray, Kentucky offering new Ford and Lincoln Cars, Trucks, SUVs and Crossovers. Visit us online at http://www.parkerford.com.
My cousin scheduled a test drive last year and fell in love with it and bought it! She is really happy with her car.
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