2012 Ford Focus Will Feature Torque Vectoring Control as Standard

Ford has announced that every new 2012 Focus will hit dealers early next year fitted with the company’s new "torque vectoring control." The system actively split power between the two driven wheels to maximize traction and increase performance. This is the first time such a device has been fitted to a Blue Oval car in North America.

"The new Focus is the first North American Ford vehicle to offer torque vectoring control.This is a technology that has been offered on high-end sports cars, yet Ford is making it standard on their new small car," said Rick Bolt, program manager for the Ford Focus.

The company’s press release press release tells us how Ford engineers were inspired by “downhill skiing and snowboarding moves,” but what torque vectoring control actually does is brake the inside wheel when the car is cornering in order to reduce a front-wheel drive car’s tendency to understeer. When the imperceptible degree of braking is applied to the inside front wheel, more torque is sent to the outside one, providing additional traction, better grip and improved vehicle handling.

"Because torque vectoring control is on all our Focus models, it will elevate skill sets across a broad range of drivers. The new Focus is differentiated from other vehicles in the segment by style and design, the technology it contains and the superior driving experience it provides,” said Bolt, who unsurprisingly a downhill skier.

The system is designed to delight experienced and enthusiastic drivers but also to provide less-experienced drivers with confidence and a better sense of vehicle control, especially in difficult driving conditions. The all-new 2012 Ford Focus will go on sale across North America in early 2011.