2012 Ford Focus: Peppy but not Cutesy
The standard powertrain of the 2012 Ford Focus is a new 2.0-liter EcoBoost gasoline direct-injection, DOHC four-cylinder engine that produces 160 horsepower and 146 lb.-ft. of torque- this is 20 more horsepower than the previous generation model. This motor can be matched to a five-speed manual transmission or a fuel-economy-enhancing, dry-clutch six-speed automatic transmission, with Power Shift manual-mode shifting. A turbocharged ST model and a hybrid are expected to be on the market in 2013.
The new Focus also gets ‘stop-start technology’, which shuts down the engine when the vehicle comes to a stop, a boost to fuel economy, especially in city driving.