FirstDrive: Ford Focus ST
Ford's Focus has been a hugely successful car in its first and second generations but there has been something missing.
There was no image-building affordable 'hot' model - unlike the old days when the much inferior Escort predecessor boasted the XR3i and its smaller Fiesta sibling came with the XR2i designation. Ford simply didn't match competitors like Volkswagen and Peugeot with their familiar GTi badges.
Now however, there is a machine which Ford hopes will reinvigorate its reputation as a maker of premium hot hatches. GTi in Ford-speak is ST and the Focus ST joins the Fiesta ST, a 2.0 litre 150bhp four-cylinder affair that went on sale earlier this year and was reviewed in Motors on August 10.
ST incidentally, stands for Sports Technologies and not Special Tuning as some have incorrectly assumed.
A good amount of "heat" difference exists between the two. The Focus has a turbocharged Volvo-derived 2.5 litre five-cylinder engine, boasting 225bhp and offering a top speed of 241km/h (almost 150mph) with a 0 to 100km/h time of just 6.8 seconds.
Possibly a more compelling statistic relates to its torque credentials, achieving 320Nm of torque at just 1,600rpm. Ford's proud claim is that, helped by the six-speed close ratio gearbox, it beat the lap time at the Nurburgring of the supposedly faster rally-bred Focus RS by ten seconds.
We tested the Focus ST at another circuit, Le Castellet near Marseille - otherwise known as the Paul Ricard circuit - and on the everyday roads of southern France.
Almost a year earlier we were on the same circuit, trying out the Ford's arch rival, the VW Golf GTi which was getting its own considerable hot hatch reputation back after some doldrum years.
The Golf comes with two-litres, four cylinders and 200bhp, hardly surprising then that it's just a tad slower, getting to 100kph over seven seconds.
Focus ST makes its Irish debut in January in three and five-door forms with respective ex-works prices of €35,385 and €35,985. That's €470 more in three-door format than the equivalent Golf GTi. In five-door, the price difference is only €50. The nub of the matter is specification and the Focus does appear to be better kitted.
The expectation is that around 100 Focus STs will be sold on the Irish market, available in five colours with hyped-up names like Performance Blue, Panther Black and Electric Orange. As for the driving, it's all about stunning pace and agility and a reassuring driving feel with not a hint of nervousness. Brakes, throttle and gearshift all work in a perfect complementary fashion. Most complementary of all is the precise interaction between engine and gearbox, a box by the way that sets new standards for slickness and refinement. Handling is in a class of its own too, helped by stiffening work on an already accomplished chassis.
The Focus ST is convincing in fast hot hatch role, being quiet and restrained but also responsive when lower end power is needed.
Ford people were pushing everyday practicality at the international launch last week. "You can make it do the shopping or the school run and you won't feel too conspicuous," remarked Jost Capito who is the Ford Team RS director. "But you will do these chores with a smile."
Some of the colours may be glaring but it doesn't look over the top. Hot hatch followers will notice it if only because of the special body styling that includes 18-inch alloy wheels, chrome-tipped double tube exhausts and the ubiquitous rear spoiler. Internal cosmetic touches are the Recaro sports seats, a three-spoke leather steering wheel and an additional instrument pod showing turbo boost pressure and oil temperature.
Ford in Ireland properly describe Focus ST as "the hottest Focus ever to hit our shores". The ST is great news for the Focus brand but its everyday success has a downside.
Still, the Golf GTi now has a formidable challenger that delivers more power and more punch.
Star performer measures up to Ford's former glories
The Focus ST was the star performer at the Le Castellet circuit last week but Ford, mindful perhaps we needed reminding, showed us some of their performance machines of yesteryear.
There were seven in all, the most venerable being a 1967-built Escort Rally that was converted in 1993 to produce a hefty 200bhp and take part in a re-run in 1995 of the London to Mexico rally. Another "old" Escort that promoted performance in its time was the 1974 Mexico.
It had a mere 25,000 miles on the clock but by today's standards, it was nothing special, a top speed of 159 km/h (99mph) from a 1.6 litre 87bhp engine.
Two 1980s cars, an '85 Sierra RS Cosworth and '86 RS 200 looked more decorous and exciting, as did the 1996 Escort RS Cosworth with a 2.0 litre 227bhp unit. Also on display was the 1999 racing Puma, the first one registered by Ford. It and the 1996 Cosworth had top speeds of 224 km/h (140mph).
But maybe the highlight was the presence of a 2.8 litre 1986 Capri, the last Capri produced by Ford. Developing 160bhp and with a top speed of 203 km/h (127mph), this Capri was notably skittish in wet and indifferent surfaces. We remember the Capri with some affection: it was one of the first car launches we attended all the way back to the late 1960s. It certainly wasn't one of the greatest Fords ever built but it was probably memorable for its marketing. A customer could buy a humble 1.3 litre version, kit it out with special packages from Ford dealerships and make it look for all the world like the fearsome 2.8 that was at Le Castellet.
Factfile: Focus ST
Engine: 2,522cc, five-cylinder, 20-valve turbocharged petrol, six-speed manual transmission; front-wheel-drive
Power: 222bhp@6,100rpm, 320Nm of torque @ 1,600rpm
Performance: 0-1000km/h in 6.5 seconds; top speed 241km/h (150mph)
Fuel economy: combined - 9.3 L/100km (30.4mpg)
Price: Three-door €35,385
Five-door €35,985