Ford Focus ST Media Launch

[russellw]

LW Focus ST Media Launch
October 9th 2012



Firstly, thanks to Ford for inviting us to the ST Focus Media Launch; the Feathertop Winery at Bright (our lunch hosts) for their hospitality and my partner in getting ourselves lost on the drive route, Jason from Tech AU, for filling in my knowledge gaps on the Focus technical features.

For those who don’t want to read this lengthy thread in its entirety, here is the executive summary version of my review

Not perfect but a great drivers car.

Those of you still reading obviously want to know more, so we’ll start with the factual stuff.

Overview

New Focus ST’s available in new signature colour Tangerine Scream.

Recommended Manufacturer’s List Price for the new Focus ST is $38,290.

The new Focus ST goes on sale in Australia from October.

The new Ford Focus ST is Ford’s first global performance car; delivering an outstanding package of performance, handling, refinement and style to more than 40 countries around the world, including Australia.

“Keen Australian drivers have a real love of the ‘hot hatch’ genre,” according to David Katic, General Marketing Manager, Ford Australia. “Focus XR5 and Focus RS were tremendously successful vehicles for Ford Australia and carved out a cult following. The Focus ST not only continues this tradition of hot hatches from Ford, but takes it to a new level.”

The ST (Sport Technologies) badge was introduced first in Europe in 1997 and is reserved for sports-tuned variants of key Ford models. Customers have come to appreciate that cars carrying the unique Ford ST badge balance high performance with real-world practicality and refinement.


Specifications



This produces a power to weight ratio of 7.82 kg/kW and a torque to weight ratio of 3.99 kg/Nm – to put those numbers into perspective the FG XR6 has 8.60 kg/kW and 4.16 kg/Nm and it’s not generally considered a slouch.

Claimed 0-100 km/h time is 6.5 seconds and we recorded a best of 6.6 seconds without any practice and without trying too hard as shown in the graph below taken from the VBox.



The claimed fuel economy of 7.4 l/100 km for the ADR81/02 combined cycle is credible when we returned a trip computer average of 9.1 l/100 km during our 300 km of (mostly) ‘spirited’ driving.





The new Sport Steering System variable ratio steering rack helps to reduce steering sensitivity when driving in a straight line and increase sensitivity when cornering. The steering wheel can be turned to almost full lock without the driver needing to remove either hand to change position; providing more control through tight corners and hairpins.

Torque steer is managed by the Electronic Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) system that is specially calibrated for the new Focus ST and detects and counters torque steer using a more aggressively pitched version of Ford’s Torque Steer Compensation (TSC).

The Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) offers three distinct settings - drivers can turn DSC on for a tuned version of the system found throughout the Focus range; a reduced or wide-slip mode disables traction control and activates DSC only when absolutely necessary; and finally, DSC can be switched off altogether.

The Focus ST also features Torque Vectoring Control (TVC); this applies brake torque to the inner wheel through a corner to help reduce under steer. Cornering Under Steer Control (CUSC), applies torque to create yaw torque based on the vehicle’s under steer behaviour prior to DSC, both in power-on and power-off conditions.

The suspension setup of the new Focus ST complements the advanced driver assistance features and the specially-developed Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres fitted to Focus ST specific 18-inch alloy wheels. Cornering precision is enhanced by the introduction of uprated shock absorbers and springs, which lower the chassis by 10mm compared to other Focus models.

The rear suspension has also been revised with a number of new parts developed specially for the Focus ST. The uprated suspension knuckles and an all-new anti-roll bar design provide outstanding feedback and control.







Unique ST styling

The new Focus ST will be available in Australia as a five-door hatchback and adds a muscular presence to the kinetic design of the standard Focus. Tangerine Scream, the new signature colour, matches the Focus ST’s character. Spirit Blue, Race Red, Black, White and Silver are also available.
The Focus ST’s aggressive and aerodynamic design features a one-piece interpretation of Ford’s signature trapezoidal grille, bulging side skirts and dynamic rear bumper with prominent diffuser-style vents in the lower fascia. The roof spoiler helps to improve high speed stability and reduce drag.



Stylishly sporty interior
The Focus ST features a specially-designed steering wheel, gear-shift and pedals. The darker headlining and trim on the interior pillars, an integral part of the ST’s design DNA, adds to the performance driving feel.
Ford worked extensively with seat manufacturer Recaro to provide Focus ST customers with ultimate comfort and support.
Lowered partial leather seats offer exclusive premium features including length adjustment and cushion tilt. An all-new bench, made with special foam, makes sure there is no compromise for rear passenger comfort.

For Australia, Focus ST offers partial leather Recaro seats with cloth inserts matched to the exterior colour, dual zone climate control with cabin filter, Thatcham alarm, ST spoiler, automatic Bi-Xenon HID headlamps, auto-dimming rear view mirror and rain sensing wipers as standard.





Ford Media supplied images of each colour can be found in this GALLERY. Please note that the images in that gallery of the Tangerine Scream car are not a very good reproduction of the car.

The Drive

The drive route took us on a mix of open and tight winding roads as we circled Mt Beauty via Tangambalanga, Bright, Beechworth (for those who didn’t get lost) and Yackandandah. After working out where the start button was (not immediately obvious), the first part of the drive was a relaxed cruise over open flowing roads that allowed us to get comfortable with the controls and have a play with the various features of the car before a driver change and brief photo opportunity. As passenger during this leg it was an opportunity for me to enjoy the comfortable and supportive Recaro seats and the quiet, controlled ride even on some prime examples of our poorly repaired country roads.

The interior looks sporty, the blue inserts of our car didn’t work quite as well as the Red or Tangerine ones in the other cars present but they still added a touch of colour to an otherwise dark but sporty cabin. Quality of the switchgear and interior plastics is excellent.

The next stage was an absolute blast up the Great Alpine Road. 40 kilometres of short straights, tight corners, local traffic, a mix of good and not so good surfaces and just about anything else you’d expect to find in a challenging drivers road.

In the driving seat this time, it was here that the Focus showed me what it was really made of. It makes all the right sounds for a car with sporting overtones – there is a whole lot of technology that has gone into making it sound the way it does but whatever they did, it was worth the effort.

The ergonomics work brilliantly with the (light) gear shift falling nicely to hand and excellent feel and feedback through the thick rimmed steering wheel. There is power to burn simply by flexing the right foot and flexing the right foot is worth doing just to hear the induction roar and exhaust note.

It handles confidently with superb grip from both ends of the chassis and the brakes pull you up strongly without any sign of fade – not surprising when the front rotors are bigger than those on a Territory!

In short, the car goes hard, points accurately and the chassis is benign right up to the (very high) limit. Once that limit is reached it's an under-steerer as you'd expect but it also tucks back into line with a gentle lift of the throttle. Torque steer, that bane of front wheel driven cars, is only noticeable when the surface is uneven and you are caning it very hard otherwise it's effectively non-existent.

The Technology

The Focus ST is equipped with Ford SYNC which provides hands-free, voice-activated in-car connectivity. Key SYNC features include:

- USB and Bluetooth®connectivity including Bluetooth®music streaming
- Access contacts stored in a connected phone via simple voice commands
- Access music from a connected USB or iPod device via simple voice commands or steering wheel control
- View music and call information as well as phone battery and signal level on SYNC’s in-dash display.

AppLink ( which allows SYNC to access compatible mobile applications on iPhone, Android and BlackBerry smartphones) and 000 Assist are not yet available in Australia but are being worked on and will be capable of retro fitment.


The Verdict

As stated in the executive summary that started this review the Focus ST is a great car and it deserves to find a place at the top of the hot hatch market here in Australia. It isn’t perfect but the negatives are few and mostly minor in nature anyway. Amongst the quibbles:

- It may have been the car we had but the voice activation system was slow to respond and certainly more so than I've experienced in previous use of the system in various Mondeo models.

- The gear shift is probably the biggest negative. It is not as precise as it should be in a car of this type - it is light but changes from 3/4 back into the 1/2 plane can be a bit hit and miss which can be either embarrassing or downright unnerving dependant on when it happens and what you are doing at the time. No doubt this would improve with familiarity but it isn’t up to the standard that the rest of the car is.

- The stop/start button isn't immediately obvious but that's only a first time use issue as is the fact that reverse gear requires a lock-out ring to be lifted before selection which my co-driver found out while doing a three point turn on a country road!

None of these are enough to spoil the experience - I'm happy to trade the odd missed gear-shift for the superb chassis balance and the rest simply don't matter.

Overall verdict:

Images taken by us on the day can be found in this GALLERY where (amongst other things) the Tangerine Scream is a bit more realistic in colour representation.

Ford supplied media images for Australia can be found in the GALLERY here.

Sound Symposer

I made mention of the aural pleasure provided by the Focus ST earlier but here is the Ford supplied explanation of what it is and how it works.

While the sound tube concept has been used on Focus XR5 in the past, the sound symposer used in Focus ST is unique because of its electronically controlled valve that opens and closes based on driver inputs – engine speed, accelerator pedal position and gear selection.

In lower gears in the Focus ST, the valve is mapped more aggressively, while in higher gears the effect is dialled back to enable quieter cruising. This is not possible with conventional, passive sound tubes. Part of the reason Ford implemented these changes is that on Focus ST, for the first time, the symposer is attached directly to the intake manifold (as opposed to between the manifold and air intake).

Ford has engineered the symposer both to dial up the sporty sounds EcoBoost delivers under the bonnet but dial back the interior sound volumes at part throttle. The turbo on the 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine provides plenty of power across the rev range, but it presented a special challenge to Ford engineers from a sound perspective as it absorbed much of the desired engine note. The symposer helps bring out the throaty engine sounds that drivers love.
The secret to getting this right was developing the perfect paddle to naturally amplify the ST’s great engine sound. Ford engineers tested several different paddles. Eventually, a paddle was developed with the correct stiffness that yielded the best acoustic response and ultimately, the best “flutter” and low-end frequency sound.
Work on the symposer involved an international team from suppliers of the intake manifold, battery tray, electrical hardware and software, and electrical connectors who all worked in collaboration with Ford engineers. All in all, 30 engineers from five countries had to balance noise, vibration and harshness issues, materials, manufacturing and assembly considerations to bring the symposer to life. The electronically controlled, active sound symposer gives the Focus ST an aural split personality. In everyday driving, the car is composed and refined. But under full throttle, the engine note is highlighted.

[Franco Cozzo]

Same shifter it looks like as my TDCI Focus, is it a long throw? The best shift action Ford has on its manual cars has to easily be the WS/T Fiestas.

184KW O_o, Torque is same as my diesel too, 340NM.

I reckon it has to be on the list though for my new car come 2014.

[DJM83]

Shifter is the same as outgoing ST.

I drove a manual WS Fez and it was crap, nothing on my XR5.

This car looks better and better with everything i read.
Did they mention anything about the overboost function?
It extends peak torque for up to 15 seconds at a time, meaning torque is extended from 3000rpm through to 4500rpm.

Nice write up too.

[galaxy xr8]

How many of these are out on the road's just now, as I was comming home from the Great Ocean Road yesterday and past one of these in the same colour as above just past the Bell's beach turn off.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by DJM83

Shifter is the same as outgoing ST.

I drove a manual WS Fez and it was crap, nothing on my XR5.

This car looks better and better with everything i read.
Did they mention anything about the overboost function?
It extends peak torque for up to 15 seconds at a time, meaning torque is extended from 3000rpm through to 4500rpm.

Nice write up too.

Shift action on my WS Fez is a crapload better than my TDCI Focus, its a bit sloppy, not talking about if its a faster car.

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Shift action on my WS Fez is a crapload better than my TDCI Focus, its a bit sloppy, not talking about if its a faster car.

Yeah I wasn't comparing pace I was comparing shifter action, the manual fez I drove was like a spoon in a bowl of ice cream.

[stevanford]

Saw one yesterday on the M5 followed by a Renault Megane Sport. Magazine feature ?

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by DJM83

Yeah I wasn't comparing pace I was comparing shifter action, the manual fez I drove was like a spoon in a bowl of ice cream.

O_o thats odd mine is pretty damn good, short throw and slots into gears nicely.

RRP $39K, so possible to be drive away $45K I reckon.

[Luke Plaizier]

Mate at work bought the first ST to land in Newcastle at Klosters, so I've been getting a chance to ride in it lately.

Very firm suspension. But nice.

From inside the cabin, does anyone else think it sounds very reminiscent of the old SOHC 2 Litre Escorts when at wide open throttle?


Lukeyson

[Kizza675]

I'm planning on this as the upgrade from my 2010 Zetec next year, got taken for a spin in one in Perth (Wouldnt let me take it as I'm still on P's)
But still slightly tempted by the GTI, thoughts?
Also, any ideas on what the prices are likely to be looking this time next year?

[Powdered Toast Man]

Originally Posted by Kizza675

I'm planning on this as the upgrade from my 2010 Zetec next year, got taken for a spin in one in Perth (Wouldnt let me take it as I'm still on P's)
But still slightly tempted by the GTI, thoughts?
Also, any ideas on what the prices are likely to be looking this time next year?

I'd test drive both (when you actually can ) and make a decision. From what I read the GTI is the more supple all rounder and the ST a bit more performance focused, but still regarded as a very good all rounder.

I havent driven an ST but did test a couple of XR5s last year, and based on what they were like I'd say you cant go wrong either way, since the ST is supposed to be much better and the XR5 was bloody nice already.

As for price, I would think still very similar to now. They are in demand.

[p.laver]

Does anyone know how accurate the spec's are!!!

First time I've seen min fuel 91 RON, I thought the ST was 98/95RON only.

[russellw]

They are the official specifications provided by Ford at the launch and backed up by the information supplied in the factory workshop manuals.

Cheers
Russ

[pajoda]

Originally Posted by p.laver

Does anyone know how accurate the spec's are!!!

First time I've seen min fuel 91 RON, I thought the ST was 98/95RON only.

If I open my fuel door it clearly has E10 capable showing, I have never used it though, it has had 95 without a problem, but primarily drinks 98.

Come to think of it, its a bit like me, I could survive drinking Pure Blonde, have had Tooheys New without a problem, but primarily drink Tooheys Old.