Few of the fleet of little competitors that arose in the early 2010s generated as much discussion—or controversy—as the 2012 Ford Focus transmission. It was fundamentally intended to be a step forward: a dual-clutch design that combined the convenience of an automatic with the efficiency and driving experience of a manual. It was Ford's bold response to the growing need for fuel efficiency without compromising the involvement of drivers. Though its idea was unquestionably audacious, its actual performance swiftly revealed a more nuanced story.