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In Focus: MkIII Focus Active Grille Shutter system

Many things have changed on the Focus since I bought my first one in May 2000. I'll cover some of the technologies that have made their way into the MkIII Focus, that is 2012 and newer in the North American market.

One of the things that seems to spur a bunch of controversy is the "Active Grille Shutters" (note the UK English spelling)

The shutters sit about 6 inches behind the front bumper's superficial grill, and directly in front of the radiator. They slightly resemble venetian blinds. Not every 2012 Focus has this system, but most do. I believe all 2013 Foci come standard with Active Grille Shutters.

Here they are in action on my own 2012 Focus SE Hatchback:

These shutters are designed to keep air from entering the engine compartment while driving unless the engine actually needs cooling. This means that the front fascia is more aerodynamic and the air under the car is less turbulent with the shutters closed. This is part of how Ford significantly improved the Focus' drag coefficient compared to previous generations and is just one of many design features that give the new Focus better fuel economy while still squeezing more power from 2 liters. Indeed, on a recent road trip that was almost entirely highway, I saw 39.6 MPG. Impressive, considering the fact that I wasn't babying the throttle by any means.

In researching this shutter system, I ran across much vitriol and confusion in online forums and video comments. "It's another thing that can break!" and "Just wait until your car overheats!" among them. Given the relative complexity of all modern automobiles, this system doesn't seem any more prone to failure than some of the other systems that are employed in the name of fuel economy and convenience. As an added bonus, the shutters will likely stay closed far more often in cold weather, allowing for quicker warm-ups.

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