Patriot Acts: The Most Important American Cars Of The Past 25 Years Page 5

Marty Padgett

Editorial Director BIO

Marty Padgett is High Gear Media's Editorial Director, overseeing the words that skim across High Gear Media's portfolio of automotive destinations... More

LATEST ARTICLE
30 Days Of 2013 Ram 1500: Photo Gallery
Our month with the 2013 Ram 1500 is about half over, so it's time to switch gears. The Ram's been... Read More

#5LEADERBOARD RANK
5164ARTICLES CONTRIBUTED
111COMMENTS POSTED

3,049 views Jul 3, 2012

Follow Marty

Add to circle

2013 Ford Focus ST

Enlarge Photo

Ford Focus

The Focus has only been around for three generations in the U.S., but each one is noteworthy--and as a whole, the Focus is the best American example of a globally successful nameplate. From 2000-2004, Americans drove a Focus fairly closely related to the European one--a big step toward the stretch goal of integrating European and American product development, to cut costs and improve products at the same time. The second generation, reskinned while Europe's new car moved forward, introduced 35-mpg fuel economy and Ford's Bluetooth-driven SYNC system. Finally, today's third-generation Focus finally brings to fruition Ford's goal of cutting the number of platforms it builds, while making engaging cars to drive. The C-family of cars includes everything from the 2013 Ford Escape to the Volvo C30 to the Mazda3--and it counts among its citizens the 2012 Ford Focus, TheCarConnection's Best Car To Buy 2012.