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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, February 15, 2012 · 14 Ford reinforces its Focus on compact cars By Jim Robinson Metroland Media Carguide Magazine When I did a First Drive of the 2012 Ford Focus last year I made sure that any subsequent road test would be thorough and for a good reason. I won't bore readers with the story yet again, but I once owned a 2001 Ford Focus that was, in a word, terrible. So this time around I spent not one week but two, driving a SEL and a Titanium. As part of the "new" Ford strategy of "One World" cars, we get the same 2012 Focus available around the globe. Now it is made in Michigan, not Mexico, where Ford struggled with quality control issues with the first generation. My 2001 Focus besides being mechanically weak had odd styling. Not bad mind you, but odd with ellipses competing with straight lines for visual attention. The 2012 Focus was styled by Morey Callum, an old acquaintance, who keeps coming up with fresh new designs. As head of Ford styling for the Americas, Callum has introduced what he calls "kinetic design" on the new Focus. When I attended the initial press launch last year, Callum was in attendance and described the overall look as starting with a striking front end with a very pronounced beltline running from just behind the front wheel well to the rear making it look taut and fun to drive. But there is more to it than that. The new Ford design language is also highly aerodynamic. For instance the drag coefficient on the 2012 Focus is 0.297 compared to 0.320 for the current model. There are many contributing factors to this such as a steeply raked windshield, but a key is the grille. Using new active grille shutters, they close when airflow to the radiator is not required. This has the added bonus of improving aerodynamic efficiently at higher speeds and, at the same time, reducing under hood temperatures at low speed that, in turn, increases thermal efficiency. It's what you call a win-win. The 2012 Focus is powered by a gasoline direct injection inline, four-cylinder engine producing 160 hp and 146 lb/ft of torque. This engine is a great advance over what has gone before. For instance the 2.0-litre four-cylinder used in my 2001 Focus made 135 hp and 130 lb/ft of torque. More to the point the 2.0-litre used in the 1993-1997 Ford Probe mustered only 118 hp. There are no less than four ways to go when it comes to fuel economy. The base five-speed manual is rated at 7.8/5.5L/100 km (36/51 mpg) city/highway. The six-speed automatic gets 7.3/5.2L/100 km (39/54 mpg) while the six-speed PowerShift automatic returns 7.4/5.4L/100 km (38/54 mpg). If you want to better that, the six-speed PowerShift automatic with SFE Package is rated at 7.2/4.8L/100 km (39/59 mpg). The optional SFE Package includes low rolling resistance tires, special spoiler and wheels that reduce drag. A five-speed manual transmission is standard with a six-speed automatic optional at $1,250 and $1,450 with Select Shift. The automatic with Select Shift is standard on the Titanium models but an option on the SEL. Select Shift is a dual dry-clutch design that reduces fuel consumption by up to nine per cent compared to a traditional fourspeed automatic. It also allows the driver to shift in a manual mode. Continued on page 16 The best therapy for the winter blues? German engineering. 2012 Jetta Trendline+ Lease from only 2012 Golf 3-door Lease from only APR The All-New 2012 Passat per month for 48 months* The new 2012 Tiguan per month for 48 months* $189 per month for 48 months* 2.9% $229 per month for 48 months* 2.9% APR $229 Lease from only 2.9% APR $329 Lease from only 2.9% APR Winter's here. It's dark and it's cold. Luckily, the worst winter weather brings out the best in our affordable German engineering. Each innovative feature is designed to keep you safe ­ eight of our models were awarded a 2012 IIHS Top Safety pick ­ and comfortable as you drive away those winter blues: · Available heatable front seats & washer nozzles · 4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) · Electronic Differential Lock (EDL) · Electronic Brake-pressure Distribution (EBD) · Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR) · Electronic Stability Control (ESC) · Brake assist system Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick 2012 Jetta / 2012 Golf 5-door / 2012 Passat / 2012 Tiguan 2012 Motor Trend Car of the Year® 2012 Passat Ask about your Bonus Fuel Savings Card!** 1355 North Service Rd. W. Tel: 1-888-948-5548 www.Oakvillevw.com **Fuel Savings Card is available to those who purchase from dealer in-stock vehicles. "Gas Savings" card is $0.20 per litre, 1,250 litres total, Maximum value of card is $250. See an Oakville VW Sales rep. for further details. Petro-Canada is a Suncor Energy businessTM. Trademark of Suncor Energy Inc. used under licence. *Limited time lease offer available through Volkswagen Finance, on approved credit, based on a new and unregistered 2012 Jetta 2.0L Trendline+ / 2012 Golf 3-door 2.5L / 2012 Passat 2.5L / 2012 Tiguan 2.0T base model with 5-speed/5-speed/5-speed/6-speed manual transmission. $1,365/$1,365/$1,365/$1,580 freight and PDI included in monthly payment. 48-month term. $1,272/$2,023/$723/$2,206 down payment or equivalent trade-in, $250/$280/$350/$380 security deposit, $29 EHF (tires), $100 air conditioning levy, $5 OMVIC fee, $46 PPSA, up to $499 dealer administrative fee and first monthly payment due at lease inception. Total lease obligation: $10,344/$13,015/$15,075/$17,998. 64,000 kilometre allowance; charge of $0.15/km for excess kilometres. License, insurance, registration, options, TFFC, if applicable, and other applicable taxes are extra. Dealer may lease for less. Dealer order/trade may be necessary. Offers end February 29, 2012 and are subject to change or cancellation without notice. Visit vw.ca or your Volkswagen dealer for details. Models shown for illustration purposes only. Vehicles may not be exactly as shown. Some features may be optional on some models or may be part of an options package, available at additional cost. "Volkswagen", the Volkswagen logo, "Jetta", "Golf", "Passat" and "Tiguan" are registered trademarks of Volkswagen AG. Motor Trend® Magazine is a registered trademark of Source Interlink Magazines, LLC. © 2012 Volkswagen Canada.