2012 Ford Focus
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- New Ford Focus combines expressive design with an exceptional array of smart new technologies, high levels of craftsmanship and occupant safety
- All-new Focus delivers up to a projected 40 mpg on the highway, while offering the driver engaging performance and handling
- Focus production has started at the companys Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Mich.
- North American Focus hatchback and sedan models will go on sale in S, SE, SEL and Titanium trim series levels at Ford dealerships soon
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 24, 2011 The all-new Ford Focus sets a new standard in the small car segment in North America, offering more technology and features than more expensive European cars, while delivering up to an expected unsurpassed 40 mpg with an automatic transmission. A sporty five-door Focus hatchback and a sleek four-door Focus sedan are offered.
Focus brings a desirable combination of dynamic design, outstanding driver engagement, unmatched levels of technology and impressive fuel economy, said Mark Fields, president of The Americas. The new model should expand Focus appeal to a whole new generation of customers.
Focus is Fords most significant global nameplate. With more than 10 million units sold since launching in 1998, Focus has become a sales leader with consumers worldwide for its outstanding value, comfort, safety, technology and driving dynamics.
Following an unprecedented global development program under the companys One Ford strategy, the all-new Focus is set to continue its successful tradition. Focus demonstrates how Ford can scale to meet the universal needs of worldwide customers, while fine-tuning to suit regional preferences.
In every world market where Focus competes, customers are looking for expressive design, meaningful technologies, responsive performance and exceptional fuel economy, said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president of Global Product Development. Focus will set new standards for these comparatives and offer a class-leading range of standard and available content, enabled by its global scale.
Distinguished by its sleek and sporty design, the new Focus is packed with more affordable technologies and features than the Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla or even larger competitors such as the Honda Accord or Toyota Camry. In addition, Focus offers high standards of quality and craftsmanship and class-leading fuel economy, and it takes driving dynamics to a new level.
One of every four new vehicles sold in the world today comes from this small car segment, which we anticipate will see further growth in North America, said Jim Hughes, chief engineer. Were aiming to stretch Focus brandwidth by adding a premium Titanium series with luxury levels of convenience and comfort, appealing to an ever-expanding spectrum of buyers.
Developed in Europe and soon to be sold in more than 120 markets worldwide, the all-new Focus is a key element of the North American Ford product portfolio. Building on the quality leadership of the previous model, the all-new Focus range has been expanded to include a high-series Titanium model that will please drivers shifting from larger and luxury-class vehicles.
Striking, streamlined design
Both new Focus bodystyles share a sporty character, marking the next evolution of Fords acclaimed kinetic design form language. With its striking front end, sleek profile, dramatic rising beltline and athletic stance, the new Focus offers a rewarding experience for drivers.
The all-new Focus four-door has a drag coefficient as low as 0.295, compared to the current models 0.320. This is a lower drag coefficient than Chevrolet Cruze and Volkswagen Jetta. The streamlined Focus shape and steeply raked windshield contribute to significantly reduced drag. Optimized aerodynamics help to reduce Focus wind noise at speed and contribute to improved fuel efficiency.
The all-new Focus features new active grille shutters to block airflow through the cooling system when not required. In addition to an aerodynamic improvement at higher speeds, active grille shutters reduce underhood temperatures at low speeds, increasing thermal efficiency.
Noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels have been reduced and driving dynamics improved by the increased stiffness of the body structure, with 30 percent greater rigidity than the previous Focus model.
Stylish, functional interior
The dynamic quality of the exterior is reinforced by the distinctive design of the interior. Focus has a modern, cockpit-style interior, with a stylish center console.
The most significant interior innovation is SYNC with MyFord Touch, which replaces many of the traditional vehicle buttons, knobs and gauges with clear, colorful liquid crystal display (LCD) screens and five-way buttons. The screens can be personalized to display information relevant to each driver by using a simple button click, voice command or touch screen tap. MyFord Touch is powered by a new generation of the companys award-winning SYNC system, which includes a sophisticated voice control system for vehicle functions, connected Bluetooth devices, a Wi-Fi hotspot, MP3 players and a wide variety of external media.
The interior combines functionality with outstanding craftsmanship. The cabins bold and contemporary graphics, the sculptured shape of the soft-touch instrument panel and the choice of superior trim materials combine to give occupants a premium-class experience.
Focus brings C-car interior space to a new level, rivaling larger vehicles. It offers more shoulder room than an Audi A4 and more front headroom than a Toyota Camry. In the spacious second row, the new Focus provides more hip room than the Audi or Toyota.
Smart technology for safety and practicality
The worldwide scale of Fords C-car program makes additional technologies and features more economically viable than ever for cars in this segment. This enables Focus engineers to make a wide range of innovative technologies available to please global consumers.
While the number of features offered in each market will vary according to local customer demand and acceptance, the full range of technologies has been engineered for the new Focus, meaning that additional features could be made available to meet changing market requirements.
The new Ford Focus was designed to exceed global safety standards for occupant and pedestrian protection. Featuring next-generation front and side airbag technologies to tailor deployment to individual passengers, Focus also includes side curtain airbags.
The comprehensive range of smart technologies and features available on the new Focus for North America includes:
- Active park assist
- SYNC with Traffic, Directions and Information
- HD Radio with iTunes Tagging
- Ambient lighting
- Torque vectoring control
- Rear view camera
- Intelligent Access with push-button start
- Wi-Fi access
Unmatched driving quality
The original Ford Focus brought new levels of driving agility to this segment of cars. Now the all-new Focus raises the benchmark to target class-leading driving quality, blending communicative steering with significantly improved ride quality. To achieve this, Ford engineers have optimized new designs for the Control Blade multilink rear suspension and semi-isolated front subframe.
According to J.D. Power and Associates research, fun-to-drive is becoming a key influence to brand loyalty. Superior Focus driving dynamics give customers another reason to return to a Ford showroom.
The new Focus chassis design is complemented by a completely new electric power-assisted steering (EPAS) system, which has been carefully tuned to deliver precise response at speed while remaining light and maneuverable for easy parking.
Ford engineers have enhanced Focus cornering stability and agility with an advanced torque vectoring control system, behaving like a limited-slip differential to constantly balance the distribution of torque between the front wheels. This results in reduced understeer, improved traction and better turn-in.
The system is particularly effective as the car accelerates through corners, applying an imperceptible amount of braking to the inside front wheel so that more of the engine torque goes to the outside wheel with greater traction. This makes the car feel smaller, more agile and responsive. Torque vectoring control provides handling characteristics that will flatter novice drivers and reward the expert ones.
Spirited performance with outstanding economy
The engaging driver appeal of the new Ford Focus is magnified by an advanced powertrain delivering spirited performance while targeting class-leading fuel economy.
Focus is fitted with a completely new 2.0-liter gasoline direct-injection DOHC four-cylinder engine that combines high-pressure direct injection and twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT) for enhanced performance and fuel efficiency.
This engine delivers more power than the current 2.0-liter Duratec unit featured in the North American Focus, while contributing to projected fuel economy gains of more than 10 percent.
To maximize its performance and economic advantage, the engine is mated with the latest dry-clutch six-speed Ford PowerShift automatic transmission. A high-efficiency dual dry-clutch design, the transmission alone can help to reduce fuel consumption by up to 9 percent compared to a traditional four-speed automatic. This advanced transmission is also offered with SelectShift Automatic functionality, allowing drivers to manually control gear selection.
For drivers preferring a stick shift and clutch pedal, Focus offers a five-speed manual transmission alternative.
The all-new Ford Focus goes on sale at North American Ford dealerships soon. It is manufactured at Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Mich.
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About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 163,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the companys automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Fords products, please visit www.ford.com.