fusion37

One would hope that an-up-to $28,000-sticker car would have heated seat backs. Sometimes, however, the obvious becomes an oversight or, more likely, a cost-cutting move a company hopes the buyer won't notice.

Any thing new on the hold for My Ford Touch problems, or whatever is causing the shipping delay?

I'm sure my late October (first week) order went as 'retail,' and I think I read on another board that maybe it had to for the $500 tech rebate. While I'd like to be driving the car today, I'm not sure I would want to own the first Focus off the line, or maybe even the 1000th. Give Ford a little time to catch the big bugs. At least, that's my rationalization!

That's good to hear. I'm only 5'7" and drive close to the wheel so my arms aren't extended above the elbow. That always helps rear seat adult passengers.

Ingot silver "S" sedan arrived at my local dealership today. Was great to see this particular model since I've ordered a Titanium sedan in silver. Some observations: Rear legroom is tight. That was my biggest concern, since I'm coming out of a Fusion Sport. Front seats are a bit tight and I'm not very "wide." OK with that, since my wife's Infiniti G35 has very narrow front seats. May be because it was an "S"model but the car looked a little "flat" and uninteresting. It looked the part of an entry-level compact. An alloy wheel will help. Fit and finish inside was good. Dash is nice. Pretty sure the S doesn't have opening & closing grill shutters, but I think we already knew that. Didn't drive the car, but may do so tomorrow. Comments from anybody else who has seen or driven a 2012 Focus.

Thanks for sharing these. Hoping a 2012 Focus of some type will show up this week at a dealership near me. The red Titanium sedan really looks sharp. (Mine will be just like it, except in silver.)

I agree that I don't recall any 'official' dates from Ford and I ordered in late October or the first week in November. What we have here is the blessing and curse of the Internet: after a few days, speculation and opinions from a website, blog or message board are often accepted as fact. No flaming anyone, I do it to. I really appreciate the guys/gals from the Detroit area who post here, as it provides information about what's going on in Ford and at the Wayne plant. Keep the info flowing!

The lights on my 2010 Fusion Sport are really disappointing. I have an SVT Focus with HIDs and traded a V6 Honda Accord coupe for the Fusion. Getting into the Fusion, the difference is very striking. If not HIDs, Ford should do something to improve the lighting, particularly the low beams. After all, this car stickers at nearly $30K.

Thanks for the update. Certainly they need to get them right before they go.

Anything to report on how things are running? Projected ship dates? Holds? Supplier problems?

I hope you won't need that extension but given that shipping hasn't started and that custom orders will not be scheduled until shipping starts, I'm not sure we'll see our cars before April or early May. One thing for sure, I want my car too. I ordered it in the first two weeks after the order banks opened.

Anyone, particularly those in the Detroit area, heard anything about if or when the 2012 Focus will start shipping? My understanding this has to happen before custom orders will receive build dates.

So, after reading the first opinions, what's your take? Seem to be concerns with the PowerShift and the way it shifts or doesn't; MyFord Touch is cumbersome and slow; and steering feel. Threads certainly run through the journalist camp: when one bird flies off the wire, they all do. Anybody got a build date?

Great shots and thanks. This one, however, is troubling. I know the front seats are in the far-back position but I'm worried about the usable legroom for back seat passengers.

I have always had very good luck with Ford's leather seats. I think the major difference in Ford and a lot of other makes is the leather is on the outside of the seat with a vinyl center panel. Lots of others have the reverse, and seats seem to wear more on the outer cushion and seat back from getting in and out of the vehicle. Using leather conditioner helps too. My 03 SVT is showing very little wear, even on the driver's seat.

I ordered in early November and checked with my dealership today. I was told that production for "dealership" cars is underway. When these cars are cleared for shipping, build dates for "retail" or vehicles that have been ordered will be scheduled. The dealer didn't know when the first cars will be shipped.

Thanks for the info on leg room. I had an SVT Contour and it was tight on rear leg room but otherwise was an excellent car. As to production, anybody have a build date yet?

I think these are a year old and some may be of European prototypes. Was thinking there might be a red- and white-black leather seating option in one of the NAIAS models.

If any one gets Detroit auto show photos of the Focus will you post them? I've seen very little about the Focus other than the Electric and ST. Inside shots of a "U.S. production/pre-production" Titanium sedan would be nice!

Thanks for the photo. When will this first Focus find its way to a dealership?

Last thing I saw was that 2012 Focus production was to begin today. Still the case?

How does the scheduling process work? First run for vehicles for dealers' showrooms & custom orders later? A mix of both? Customer orders first? When do you think the first cars will start arriving at dealers' lots?

Did scheduling start on Dec. 9? Anybody got a build date yet?

I believe that is the case on allocations. If there are 5 Mustang allocations, the dealer uses one of those for a special order. But I could be wrong. I think, too, that allocations for specific models are based on sales history of that model. For example, my dealer sells lots of trucks, fewer Mustangs. At one point, he was having trouble getting an allocation for a customer's special Mustang order. Don't know if dealers can trade or swap these like they do specific cars on another's lot.

I wouldn't expect much in the way of discounts or incentives early on. Because of the attention the Focus is getting, there will be usual early enthusiasm, "gotta have it first" environment that accompanies a lot new models. My family & I have bought lots of cars from my dealer and pricing has always been very good. So, I haven't even talked price other than the MSRP. There is, of course, the $500 technology rebate if you order before February xx. Later in the model year, the may be a good interest rate or rebates on the Focus, but the domestic manufacturers have tried to move away from those in the last year or so.