Trying to be in focus | Bangkok Post: auto

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SHORT DRIVE

Trying to be in focus

Published: 17 Sep 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: Life

Ford's entry-level Focus 1.6 offers quite a decent drive, despite some small issues

WHAT'S NEW?

When we drove the all-new Ford Focus in range-topping 2.0-litre form in July this year, we came away impressed with its stylish package, impressive handling and ride balance, good fuel economy and in-class novel features.

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durieu
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Discussion 3 : 21 Sep 2012 at 10.493
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It exist already a solution for that, the "L" position. If you need more power in town, to accelerate hardly for example, place the gearshift on “L”; it increase immediately the number of tr/nm to reach a minimum of 3500 tr/nm. Therefore, you find a range of a more favorable power. For the rest, yes, a dual-clutch gearbox (VW, Volvo, Ford, Renault, etc) is not smooth like a classical automatic one. But it helps you to save at least 10 % of consumption and it is not so bad in term of sweetness. Finally, it is necessary to say that this type of gearbox is the future…
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robins
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Discussion 2 : 19 Sep 2012 at 05.162
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@discussion 1 Many people will complain if an automatic transmission downshifts too abruptly, so the automakers seem to make them mushy on purpose. Too bad with technology as advanced as it is, you cannot have your transmission programmed for your choice of smoothness or performance, that does not seem like it would be that difficult. But then, most people who really love driving prefer a manual.
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davidh
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Discussion 1 : 19 Sep 2012 at 01.531
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Shame that while Ford (compliments of Volvo) are launching out some wonderful new safety technologies, it produces such a Mediocre automatic transmission for their 1.6 litre models - O.K if you have plenty of time to overtake but the several seconds lag on the kickdown leaves little margin for the Thai in a hurry.

Despite age, the Honda Jazz is a much better product where it counts.
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