Ford is unveiling the new four- and five-door Focuses today at the Detroit auto show. The small sedan is a 2012 model and is equipped with a new two-liter four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission. The company wouldn't reveal gas mileage, but said it will be significantly better than the current North American Focus, which gets up to 35 mpg on the highway.The new Focus, due in European and North American showrooms early next year, was designed and engineered to be sold worldwide using almost all the same parts, unlike past versions.
It'll be sold in Asia, the Americas and Europe.
By sharing parts globally, the aim is to keep costs down and make money on small cars, a segment that used to be a loser. The Focus also shows that gas mileage is a prime motivator now for more frugal car buyers, and that small-car owners still want performance, quality and a lot of features. Pricing will be announced closer to the date it arrives in showrooms.
It also has the same electronic-controlled suspension as the European Focus, generally known for better handling than U.S. vehicles.
Tracy Myers, owner of Frank Myers Auto Maxx in North Carolina, said he is excited about the new vehicle being available for his Winston-Salem, NC customers.
"The current body style of the Focus is still a great seller for us but the 2012 has an opportunity to be even better. It certainly has a lot more "curb appeal", he said. "Acoording to representatives from Ford, the vehicle itself will also be very, very comfortable."
The new Focus' interior is slightly larger than the current version, and Ford says it will be quieter than all vehicles in its class and even the larger Honda Accord midsize car.
The Focus styling has a smaller windows and lines that rise from front to back. Hughes said they took steps to reduce wind drag.
