2013 Ford Focus ST

Chris Paukert — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Hatchback, Ford, First Drives

Screaming Yellow Zonker

We're having a strong sense of déjà vu, and it isn't just because we find ourselves in Southern France. Yes, we've driven these very roads that drape over the region's Edenic mountains like doctors' signatures several times before. They're some of the best in the world, replete with tight switchbacks bookending snaking climbs and descents interrupted only by the occasional masochistic cyclist or tour bus. The Mediterranean vistas don't exactly suck, either.

We've even navigated some of these routes around Nice in a performance-minded Ford Focus. Two years ago, Blue Oval operatives brought us to this same area for an early drive of their C-Max people mover, spicing up the trip by giving us a short stint behind the wheel of their then-new Focus RS500, a limited edition matte-black monster marshaling a scarcely believable 345 horsepower and 338 pound-feet of torque through the front wheels. Today, though, our 2013 Ford Focus ST driving companion is toned-down but no less outré thanks to its Tangerine Scream paint.

Compared to the RS500, the ST drops a cylinder in favor of a less powerful 2.0-liter EcoBoost four generating 252 hp and 270 lb-ft. Fortunately, it's also a lot less costly, starting from just $24,495 delivered - a price that shades the far less powerful 200-hp, five-door Volkswagen GTI ($25,365). In fact, the ST is nearly as powerful as the Golf R while offering more torque (VW's all-wheel drive hot hatch registers 256 hp/243 lb ft) for a lot less money - the R starts around $35k. Subaru's AWD WRX is an interesting option, too, with more power (265 hp) but less torque (244 lb-ft) for more money ($26,345). The ST's closest natural rival, however, is the Mazdaspeed3 - ironic, as it rides atop the last-generation Focus' platform. The Mazda carries a marginally bigger stick, though: 263 ponies and 280 torques, coming in at $24,795.

Continue reading 2013 Ford Focus ST

2013 Ford Focus ST originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

SVT has a future says Hau Thai-Tang

John Neff — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: Ford

Although Ford has never officially said it will be severing its performance arm, insiders have hinted that it was experiencing atrophy after having its lineup pared down to just one vehicle - the Shelby GT500. Not so, says Hau Thai-Tang, Master Chief for an army of 60 engineers currently dedicated to developing SVT products.

Future SVT product will fall into three categories, according to what Thai-Tang told AutoWeek. The first will be the SVT performance division that will grow to two vehicles with an F-150 Lightning replacement currently being developed to join the Shelby GT500. The second will be "race-inspired performance" that appears on halo vehicles like the Ford GT. Finally, SVT's bread-and-butter will be served by developing enhanced performance components for models throughout Ford's product lineup. Think models like the previous gen. Mustang Bullit and Mach 1 and you get the idea.

So despite any contrary reports that have come out in the past, Mr. Thai-Tang and company appears to be pretty busy for the moment.

[Source: AutoWeek]

Related links:
Ford Edge and Fusion to get SVT treatment?
Ford kills SVT - 2007 Shelby Cobra Mustang to be division's swan song
Ford's 'Way Forward' to leave behind GT, Sport Trac Adrenaline and Lincoln LS

SVT has a future says Hau Thai-Tang originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Jul 2006 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments