2010 Detroit Auto Show: 2011 Ford Focus

Making its world premier at the North American International Auto Show, the new Ford Focus shreds the small car rule book and rewrites it full of style, technology, efficiency and - most significantly and unexpectedly - desirability. You heard that right - the new Ford Focus is actually desirable. Now ask yourself, when was the last time you could say that about a small American car? "Never" comes to mind. And if you happen to be in the market for this new Focus, good luck deciding which one to get, as the four-door sedan looks as good as the five-door hatchback!

Both new Focus models show off the latest evolution of Ford's Kinetic Design form vocabulary, and as the name suggests, the car is full of dynamic shapes, lines and graphic elements. In fact, if forced to find an area to criticize, we'd say the styling is a little bit busy, with straked, false intakes at the front, a few too many character lines on the body side and overly stylized taillights - especially on the hatchback - although again, both cars still look fantastic.

An area that has been easy to nit-pick in the past - the car's interior - makes the biggest strides. A ton of energy has gone into improving material, sound and even smell quality, according to Ford. The story gets better when you consider the unprecedented levels of technology available on the Focus, including t an 8-in. touchscreen that controls a wide variety of functions and is complemented by Ford's impressive SYNC connectivity package. There's even an available parallel parking system that steers the car into the spot, a feature only found in high-end, premium vehicles until now.

Whether you prefer the sedan or the hatchback, at least there won't be any decision making necessary in terms of power-plants, as both models will be powered initially by a two-liter, direct-injected 4-cylinder producing 155 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque, making it both more powerful and more economical than the outgoing Duratec two-liter engine. Ford's state-of-the-art EcoBoost turbocharged 4-cylinder is set to debut later at an unannounced date. Choosing between the 6-speed manual and the new PowerShift 6-speed dual-clutch transmission however might again induce some head scratching.

With the possibility of a three-door hatchback and a two-door coupe joining the already impressive lineup at a later date, as well as an electric version and a hybrid - both confirmed by Ford for 2012 - the new Focus represents a huge shot-in-the-arm for the American auto industry and is our pick as the Most Significant car from the Detroit auto show.

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