Ford’s ST range has become an icon in the hot hatch segment,
and the new range continues to build on this legacy. I recently drove the 2013
Ford Focus ST.
Exterior - unmistakably Ford Focus
The new 4-door Ford Focus has a bulky, chiseled chassis, and
though a hatch, is by no means a small car. This gives the car a very powerful
look and instills a feeling of invincibility while driving. My test car came in
Tangerine Scream, the newest addition to Ford’s rather ostentatious orange-palette.
This is arguably the most unique and eye catching colour on the road and,
coupled with the tank-like chassis and the letters “ST” scrawled across the
rear of the car, mean that you are guaranteed to be noticed.
An enigmatic interior
The interior space of the Focus is still a conundrum to me, managing
to create a somewhat intimate and almost claustrophobic feeling for the driver in
what is rather a large space; on attempt, I struggled to place both elbows
comfortably on the armrests simultaneously… they were simply too far away. This
tight feeling is created by the acute angle of the sloping windscreen and snug bucket
seats.
The back seat has ample space, seating three average sized
adults comfortably, and the boot can only be described as cavernous. There is
then, no shortage of space in the Focus.
Focus on technology
The new Focus ST comes with plenty of gadgetry to enhance
the driving experience. The keyless entry and driving system is rather nifty,
and is especially helpful when carrying items to and from the car. The interior
dashboard is full of buttons and dials, resembling the cock-pit of a fighter
plane, and it appears as if there is nothing you cannot do in the car. For the
most part I ignored the dash as it felt like there was simply too much on it,
which was rather intimidating and ironically, as touched on above, it also felt
too far away. There are shortcut buttons on the steering-wheel to access the
onboard computer, but these were oddly placed and difficult to use while
driving.
Unleashing the Focus ST
The new Ford Focus ST is a beast. With a 2.0 litre engine,
184Kw and a six speed gear box, putting your foot down results in the car jerking
forward with such unbridled enthusiasm, that keeping the gears ticking over
becomes a challenge. Gear-up too slowly, a rather common occurrence, and the
car feels wobbly and uncontrollable. Accelerating in the ST can be likened to
taking an excitable Rottweiler for a run, it simply wrenches you along. This feeling
passes as you get into the higher gears, and the Focus ST begins to glide.
It’s no secret, the Focus ST is built for speed, and this it
handles wonderfully. The braking on this Ford is also phenomenally sharp, and
takes a lot of getting used to. On my initial drives, anything left on my
leather seats invariably ended up on the floor due to my rather ambitious use
of the brake pedal.
All in all, the new Focus is immensely fun to drive, and
being an ST, the biggest challenge is trying to stay within the local speed
limit.
Ford Focus ST Conclusion
The Ford Focus ST speaks volumes about its owner and thus
targets a very niche market. If you want a big, bold car with immense power and
all the latest technology, the new Focus ST is definitely worth considering.
Quickspecs: Ford Focus ST vs Notable Competitors
|
|
Ford
Focus ST
|
VW
Golf 7 GTI
|
Opel
OPC
|
|
Price
|
R363,300
|
R368,300
|
R435,000
|
|
Engine
size
|
2.0 Petrol
|
2.0 Petrol
|
2.0 Petrol
|
|
Power
max
|
184Kw
|
162Kw
|
206Kw
|
|
Torque
|
360Nm
|
350Nm
|
400Nm
|
|
Acceleration
(0-100km)
|
6.5s
|
6.5s
|
6.2s
|
|
Top
speed
|
248Km/h
|
246Km/h
|
250Km/h
|
|
Fuel
consumption
|
7.2l / 100km
|
6.0l
/ 100km
|
8.1l / 100km
|
|
Safety
rating
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
Focus ST Rating
Performance - 5
Style - 3
Drive comfort - 4
Running Costs - 3
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