Ford has a new 2012 Focus entering the car market in early 2012 and this car is “Built to Sell” and I say that with total confidence in this new car. The current Focus is a solid vehicle with an outdated design that is more than holding it’s own. The 2012 Focus will have a very attractive, current and smooth design with all of the features that make Ford interiors some of the best in class. Also, This baby is clocking in at 40m.p.g. on the highway which put’s the 2012 Ford Focus at the top of the class. Great looks, well thought out interior and 40m.p.g. make for a scenario were the 2012 Focus will be flying off the lots as the assembly lines in Michigan will be roaring!

From the Detroit Free Press:

Ford expects that the 2012 Focus set to go on sale early next year will get 40 m.p.g. on the highway, an 18% improvement over the current model.

That puts the Focus on track to be the most fuel-efficient car in the compact class as it tries to conquer more market share.

Ford showed the sedan, hatchback and wagon versions of the Focus on Wednesday in conjunction with the Paris Motor Show — the first time the full lineup has been seen together. Ford will build both the hatchback and the sedan for the U.S. market at its Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne.

The European Focus shares 80% of the same parts with the version to be sold in the U.S. Ford plans to produce 10 cars or crossovers from the Focus platform with a global volume exceeding 2 million by 2012.

Read the entire article here.

This spanking new offering from GM appears to be the right car at the right time. This is the car that could put GM back in the minds and wallets of those looking for efficiency, fuel economy and some styling to go with a small car. There has been a lot of hype around the partially electric Volt but the Cruze is the car that can make or break GM with a new generation entering the market for vehicles.

Even though I’m not sold on the styling yet, at 40m.p.g. on the highway and more trunk space than it’s competitors the Cruze has a real chance to be a top seller for the new GM.

From the Detroit Free Press:

Chevrolet has built a better mousetrap. The 2011 Cruze sedan gets better fuel economy than most subcompacts and offers the passenger and luggage space of a midsize sedan.

Those achievements will mean nothing unless Chevrolet convinces customers to check out the Cruze before they buy a better-known model like the Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra and Toyota Corolla. Years of reliability and fuel-efficiency give those models credibility with small-car buyers.

Chevy can’t match that history. The mousetrap needs cheese.

“Our job is to tell buyers why they have to look at the Cruze: fuel economy, safety, refinement and quality,” said Margaret Brooks, Chevrolet director of small-car marketing.

Read the full article here.