I'm really curious about the active grillel, cause from what I have been reading there have been multiple dealers that seem to be promoting them. Would be nice to have some confirmation.

 

Looking at the dealer esource book the 17" tires for the SEL 302A/303A package and Titanium are 215/55R17. Low profile 235/40R18 tires come with the Titanium Handling Package not the Parking Technology Package. My guess is splitting is not an order option and would have to be done after the sale. It seems Ford is very calculated on option packages. I want the upgraded stereo and power seats, two different packages so more money to purchase.
Information on the Active Grille Shutter is hard to find, but from all I have read, it appears it is only available on the SFE package. That's too bad, seems like a great fuel saving device for all trim levels.

 

Information on the Active Grille Shutter is hard to find, but from all I have read, it appears it is only available on the SFE package. That's too bad, seems like a great fuel saving device for all trim levels.

It is quite interesting how hard it is to figure this one out. I was pulling my hair out trying to find the answer to this very question until the official EPA ratings came out. If for some bizarre reason the active grille shutters do not come on the Titanium trim (for example), the fact that the higher trim level, with all the bells and whistles still gets 38 hwy mpg rather than the 40 on the SFE, is well worth the sacrifice in my opinion. My main argument on why it should be on at least the titanium trim, is that not only would it boost mpgs, but performance as well. Leave the low resistance tires and plastic rims for the SFE package. I really don't see why a new technology wouldn't be at least an option on the highest trim level. Just doesn't make sense to me.

There's a good chance that I'm going to head to a dealership tomorrow that has two hatch's in stock already. I'll take a flashlight with me and scope out to see if the grille shutters are installed on them, although none of them are titanium trim.

I'll report back,

-B

 

So if I understand your reading of the dealer resource book, even the high-end 302A and 303A packages on the SEL roll on 215/55R17 tires?

 

Now I don't know. I looked at Tire Rack this morning and they list the optional equipment for the SEL and OE on the Titanium as 215/50/17. Neither the Ford site or the esource book mentions the smaller profile tire. The esource book I have was printed in Oct. 2010, maybe the tire decision wasn't made at that time. I also live in a pot hole region and would prefer the larger profile tire.

 

I'm looking at my order sheet from the dealer and I'm seeing 215/50R17 wheels on my 303A SEL, not the 55's.

Anyone know what brand the tires are? Praying they're not Continentals...

 

According to Tire Rack they are Continential ContiProContact.

 

*sigh* Yep... looks like Conti's. I only got about 30K on Conti's on my G6 and I do nothing but highway commuting. They're not my favorite brand tire.

If you check some spy shots you'll see the Conti's on SEL 17's and Michellin tires on the Titanium 18's.

 

I just read a bunch of reviews on Tire Rack for these tires. Generally the reviews were good, but nearly all the reviews from locations that get snow rated them poor in light and heavy snow with poor grip, cornering and traction. That worries me a little, especially after this past winter. I wasn't all that impressed with the Continentals on my 2005 Freestyle and that was a much heavier car.

 

Driving to my dealer today. They have SE's and SEL's. I'll check tires,wheel size and shutters.

 

Your best options are to practice parallel parking in your old car until you understand how to do it, or budget enough money to purchase new wheels and tires within a few months of owning the vehicle. Yeah I hate options. It confused me when I ordered my car- believe what you see on Ford's website- not what your dealer says. I wanted side bumpers on my car painted body color- my dealer swore up and down I'd be getting those, and I didn't.

 

Went to the dealer to check but they must have all three locked up inside the garage. [screwy]

 

According to my dealers website they have a Black 12' Hatch SE but I checked and it's nowhere to be seen. My thoughts are that it must be in the garage as well.

 

We have three dealers in the area and they all got at least one. I think they got them in the very end of this week and haven't cleaned them up yet. I'll look or give a call to my salesman the beginning of the week.

 

Yeah, the one that we got here appeared listed only yesterday so it must have been delivered fairly recently.

 

All-New Aero Hero
The all-new Focus features a highly aerodynamic shape that contributes to advancements in fuel efficiency. With a Cd as low as 0.297, the new model is 7 percent slipperier – and that pays off at the pump:
A-pillar molding optimized for Sideview mirrors optimized for reduced drag and wind noise
Active grille shutters improve aerodynamics at higher speeds while reducing underhood temperatures at low speeds
Sealed front end to reduce drag
aerodynamic and water management
Optimized wheel deflectors reduce drag Engine undershield to
improve under-car airflow

On my computer I have a download from Ford Media entitled Green Ford. I can't post attachments so above is a copy/paste from that document. Note the mention of grille shutters. There is an image of a hatchback with an arrow pointing to the front grille. I'm not sure this answers the question, or makes it even more ambiguous.

 

I can't imagine this would be a good idea for us in the North. The ice build up from a truck in front of you get on your grill would build up and freeze the shutters closed. I have to imagine that would eventually wear out the motor?

(I say truck only because like logging trucks, ALWAYS cause ice build up all over the front. Cars seem to not throw enough to been an issue)

 

I am really heartened to hear that a number of people on this thread are going to check the '12 Foci at their dealer's lots for tire size and aspect ratio. Good job!

A number of people have also mentioned that the OE tire brand may be Continental...I had OE Continentals on both my Taurus and my Fusion and my experience with them on these other vehicles was dismal. As always, YMMV. I do hope the '12 Focus gets something else though.

The backup camera is a safety idea whose time has arrived. Once you've driven a car with a good backup camera, it becomes something you'll really want.

It would truly be a shame if, after touting its fuel efficiency benefit, Ford does not install the active grille shutters on the high-line '12 Foci.

So let's hear back from those folks lucky enough to live near dealers with '12 Foci already on the lot...

 

The backup camera is a safety idea whose time has arrived. Once you've driven a car with a good backup camera, it becomes something you'll really want.

QFT. Used them before and lot nicer to have than you would think. MUCH easier to spot anything directly behind you than scanning the mirror. Also it has kind of a Fisheye lens on it so you can see things walking into your path before you would spot in the rearview.

 

As for grill shutters, what I was told by somebody in the press, but haven't been able to confirm is that

All of Cali gets them
All SE SFE get them
SEL and Titanium trims in unspecified 'Cold climate states'

 

Interesting.....[scratch]

 

I wonder if the grille shutter cold climate states are the same states that have the factory block heater installed?

 

I hope not, cause that's a pretty short list, heck Michigan isn't a cold weather state to them - clearly they've never been to the UP.

 

e30og, It's only money. [poke] [cheers]

 

For those wondering, the cold weather states are AK, MN, ND, SD, MT, WI and WY. I have been to the Ironwood, Wakefield area many times and I'm also surprised MI isn't included.

 

How the heck did WI get labeled but not the UP. Haha nice.

 

For those wondering, the cold weather states are AK, MN, ND, SD, MT, WI and WY. I have been to the Ironwood, Wakefield area many times and I'm also surprised MI isn't included.

Yeah, I went to school up in the Keweenaw (the peninsula that juts out into Lake Superior) for 5yrs. It always kinda annoys me that MI isn't a 'cold weather state' to them. I know people in the UP who get their cars dealer traded in from WI/MN (my current car was from MN).

The problem is that a very small population in MI lives in places where it gets consistently very cold, probably <5%, and I think that part of it is that all Ford people are from 'Michigan', but mostly from SE Michigan, which is much warmer then the northern parts, and they just don't think about it...

 

I live in the Keweenaw. Have been since 1998. And you are right, the entire UP has 1 zipcode and our biggest "city is Marquette at somewhere in the 20k range. Houghton/Hancock (I live 3 miles from Hancock) are 16k combined.

Unfortunatly we are about as minority as you can get in this state. At one point Detroit had a larger population then the whole of the UP. So no one ever thinks about us

 

I live in the Keweenaw. Have been since 1998. And you are right, the entire UP has 1 zipcode and our biggest "city is Marquette at somewhere in the 20k range. Houghton/Hancock (I live 3 miles from Hancock) are 16k combined.

One area code, make zip codes

I went to MTU, and lived in Hancock for a number of years. I loved taking my ATV out on the tails up there - I love industrial ruins.

 

Oh sorry, area code. Haha that would suck more if we were one zipcode.

If you have an ATV or Snowmobile you'll find something to do. But thats about it!

(exgf)

 

Oh sorry, area code. Haha that would suck more if we were one zipcode.

If you have an ATV or Snowmobile you'll find something to do. But thats about it!

This first one was taken right behing your exgf:


And then me on my ATV in a old pit


Sorry everybody else - we did a little topic-off-roading.

 

Ahh what more could they talk about in this thread anyhow [grinking]

 

About a 20-30 minute ride from Houghton.

10 minute jog from my old house, probably 15-20 minutes from where I'm at now.

And the new toy. That from some strange reason we kept breaking every ride. lol...

 

Can somebody now report back what tire size(s) they found on 2012's at their local dealer's lots?

 

I just took delivery yesterday of a Blue Candy Metallic 5-DR SEL with the 302A package. The 17" wheels came supplied with 215/50 ContiProContact tires. I split my time between Birmingham, Al and Panama City Beach. Car swallowing potholes are not a problem here. Sand and gravel in unexpected places create alot of road rash for the 2 wheelers down here. My 2 hour test drive included railroad crossings, sand and gravel covered twisties, and the requisite interstate sections (no out of round problems detected). I was amazed at the road handling capability, smoothness, and tightness of my new Blue toy. I have no idea as to the durability of the Contis, but they seem to be an excellent match for the road conditions I expect to encounter.

Now, if I can just get my Focus back from my wife!

 

*bump* Anyone with tire sizes?

 

The 18"'s are 235/40R18.

 

Just another article that doesn't clarify anything about the grille shutters.

It's almost like they're trying to keep this confusing.

http://usedcar-sales.org/2012-focus-technologies-active-grille-shutters


What you guys think about this? It's a work in progress...

-B