Getting your player ready...
Greeting the more than 100,000 people attending the Denver Auto Show two weeks ago, right up front at the Colorado Convention Center, was the redesigned 2012 Ford Focus, a red one.
Up front is where this one belongs. I was provided one of the new ones last week. Ford has improved its style, handling and ride, and economy is high.
The one given me, a four-door sedan, was silver; no matter the color, the Focus is one of the most exciting small cars I’ve driven in several years.
It has a lower roofline and it rides on a wider track. It is 3 inches longer in overall length, with an increase of 1.5 inches in wheelbase and 3 inches in width. The lower stance complements the Focus’ sporty new style, including a distinctive grille and headlights which sweep into the kinetic sides. The car was designed and engineered in Germany. Shutters inside the grille can close to control airflow. A spoiler and large wraparound taillights enhance the rear. The Focus is also offered in hatchback form, the first for this since 2007. The Focus has been on the market since 2000. Tuscany red leather-trimmed seats, soft to the touch, highlighted the review model’s interior, for which fit and finish were impressive. Seats, both front and back, offer excellent support and comfort. Integrated “fish-eye” images in the sideview mirrors help reduce blind spots to the rear sides for the driver. Innovative MyFord and voice-activated Sync tech are included. With its cruise control, it is unusual that the same lever is pulled for canceling or resuming the process. If cruise is engaged, a pull cancels it; if the cruise is on but not engaged, a pull resumes speed. Trunk space has been reduced from 13.8 cubic feet to 13.2. I drove a 5-speed manual transmission with the new 2.0-liter direct-injected 4-cylinder, for which horsepower has been increased to 155 from 140 previously. Interestingly, the engine with the manual tranny is rated at 36 miles per gallon on the highway, while a match with a 6-speed automatic raises the figure to 38 mpg. The average I posted, with somewhere near 70 percent of the driving on the highway, was 33.3 mpg. Capacity of the fuel tank has been reduced by slightly more than a gallon. With four-wheel-independent suspension and electric power steering adding to good handling, a new feature called torque vectoring control varies amount of power between the front wheels to improve cornering and reduce understeer. The ride was quiet.
The SE review model carried a base price of $17,995. Sticker price increased to $21,450 with addition of such options as the MyFord technical upgrades, Sirius satellite radio, heated seats, the leather seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter knob, 16-inch alloy wheels and the spoiler.
Power windows/locks/mirrors, air conditioning, rear defroster, message center and curtain airbags are standard. Notes from e-mail Q: Bud, I enjoyed your Saturday Drive note about the Subaru Legacy 2.5GT, as well as several automobile magazine articles including a one-year drive. But when I went to a Subaru dealership, I was told 2.5GT is an order-only car, with no test drives. Seems only Subaru executives and undeserving journalists get to drive this great car. – B.A. A: You’re on my list of persons to call, should I get another Legacy GT, Bill.
Q: Bud, just so you know, regarding one of your articles in the Denver Auto Show program, inflatable seat belts have been in Cessna aircraft (and I’m sure other general aviation manufacturers’ airplanes) since at least 2005. I can attest to this, since I have flown 2005 and 2006 model Cessna 182s equipped with the inflatable belts. I seem to recall when Ford was in town maybe a year ago, Ford made it appear that this was their innovation, but I don’t think that is accurate. – M.G.
A: I’m sure you’re right, Mike; it wouldn’t be the first time aerospace innovation added to comfort or safety for the auto industry.
Q: Bud, I laughed over your “strong on snout, short on stout” assessment of the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport in last week’s Post. Would you recommend it for consideration among some of the other smaller SUV crossovers? – R.T.
A: Sure, Robert, it should be checked out if price and fuel mileage are prime considerations. I averaged 25.4 miles per gallon with the Sport, which is rated at 29 mpg on the highway. There’s not much else out there to compare with that. And, it’s a decent five-passenger model for sticker price of $25,000. Don’t kid yourself, though, there are going to be times when its lack of acceleration will be frustrating, temporarily though it may be.
2012 Ford Focus SE
$21,450
(price as tested)
MPG City 26 Highway 36
Vehicle type: Compact four-door sedan
Wheelbase: 104.3 inches
Length/Width/Height: 178.5/71.8/57.7 inches
Weight: 2,918 pounds
Engine: 2.0-liter 4-cylinder
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Fuel mileage: 33.3 mpg
Fuel tank: 12.4 gallons
Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles basic; 5/60,000 powertrain
Competitors: Chevrolet Cruze, Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra
Built at: Wayne, Mich.
Parts content: U.S./Canadian 80 percent, Germany 12 percent
THE STICKER
$17,270 base
$1,385 MyFord, Sync, cruise control, Sirius satellite radio
$1,130 Rear spoiler, sport suspension, leather seats
$570 Heated seats, power heated mirrors
$725 Destination
PLUSES
$21,000 sticker price
33.3 overall mpg
Exterior style
Interior finish
MINUSES
Trunk space lessened
Small fuel tank
It has a lower roofline and it rides on a wider track. It is 3 inches longer in overall length, with an increase of 1.5 inches in wheelbase and 3 inches in width. The lower stance complements the Focus’ sporty new style, including a distinctive grille and headlights which sweep into the kinetic sides. The car was designed and engineered in Germany. Shutters inside the grille can close to control airflow. A spoiler and large wraparound taillights enhance the rear. The Focus is also offered in hatchback form, the first for this since 2007. The Focus has been on the market since 2000. Tuscany red leather-trimmed seats, soft to the touch, highlighted the review model’s interior, for which fit and finish were impressive. Seats, both front and back, offer excellent support and comfort. Integrated “fish-eye” images in the sideview mirrors help reduce blind spots to the rear sides for the driver. Innovative MyFord and voice-activated Sync tech are included. With its cruise control, it is unusual that the same lever is pulled for canceling or resuming the process. If cruise is engaged, a pull cancels it; if the cruise is on but not engaged, a pull resumes speed. Trunk space has been reduced from 13.8 cubic feet to 13.2. I drove a 5-speed manual transmission with the new 2.0-liter direct-injected 4-cylinder, for which horsepower has been increased to 155 from 140 previously. Interestingly, the engine with the manual tranny is rated at 36 miles per gallon on the highway, while a match with a 6-speed automatic raises the figure to 38 mpg. The average I posted, with somewhere near 70 percent of the driving on the highway, was 33.3 mpg. Capacity of the fuel tank has been reduced by slightly more than a gallon. With four-wheel-independent suspension and electric power steering adding to good handling, a new feature called torque vectoring control varies amount of power between the front wheels to improve cornering and reduce understeer. The ride was quiet.
Power windows/locks/mirrors, air conditioning, rear defroster, message center and curtain airbags are standard. Notes from e-mail Q: Bud, I enjoyed your Saturday Drive note about the Subaru Legacy 2.5GT, as well as several automobile magazine articles including a one-year drive. But when I went to a Subaru dealership, I was told 2.5GT is an order-only car, with no test drives. Seems only Subaru executives and undeserving journalists get to drive this great car. – B.A. A: You’re on my list of persons to call, should I get another Legacy GT, Bill.
