We’ve got to wait until next year for the 246 bhp Focus ST, but in the meantime Ford is offering British drivers this S model powered by its latest 180 bhp EcoBoost gasoline engine.
The UK’s hot hatch market is fiercely contested – and with GM’s new Astra GTC arriving a few weeks ago – its a market that Ford is determined to be a key player in. Unlike GM, Ford isn’t offering a three-door, just this five-door and, from February next year, a wagon version as well. The logic behind Ford’s thinking being that as the Focus is a global car, unlike the Astra which is restricted to the UK and Europe; there’s isn’t sufficient demand for a three-door car on a world wide basis.
Be that as it may, this sporting Focus certainly lacks nothing when it comes to on road performance with 62 mph coming up in 7.9 seconds allied to a 138 mph top speed. Average fuel consumption equates to 39.2 (US) mpg.
Ford has loaded the standard car with a full body styling kit, 17-inch alloys, sports suspension, LED rear lamps and sports pedals with an interior trimmed out in Inferno Red partial leather.
Ford’s blown EcoBoost engines prove that downsizing doesn’t mean down powering: the 1.6 delivers 177 lb.-ft. Of torque from 1600 to 5000 rpm, while transient overboost adds another 22 lb.-ft. of torque from 1900 through to 4000 rpm. As a result in-gear overtaking is swift and while it might not be instantaneous, there’s very little hesitation as the engine swiftly picks up as the revs rise.
The sports suspension adds another dimension to the Focus already very good steering, even on the wet roads of the test route, it was easy to swiftly thread the car through a string of ever tightening bends, blind brows and sudden dips with confidence and reassuring feedback through the steering. Allied to high levels of cornering composure and grip all goes to make compelling arguments for the Zetec-S and augers well for next year’s more powerful ST variant.
In a separate development, the Focus has become the first car to be awarded a quartet of EuroNCAP awards for its Driver Alert/Forward Alert, Active City Stop and Lane Keeping Aid. This comes only a month after Ford’s new Ranger became the first pickup to receive a maximum five star safety rating from EuroNCAP.
Related posts:
- Driven: 2012 Ford Focus 5-door Hatchback Titanium
- Ford Focus Driven
- From the Detroit Show: 2011 Ford Focus
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