Big power upgrades on both Focus and Fiesta ST

[Werner]

Things are hotting up at Ford! Blue oval bosses are finalising plans for a pair of upgraded ST models which will go on sale later this year. And there’s good news for existing owners too, because they will also be able to have the dealer-fit package retrospectively installed on their cars.

The tuning kits have been developed for the Fiesta and Focus STs by race engineering firm Mountune from Maldon, Essex. These are covered by a full Ford warranty, even though all of the work needed to fit them will be carried out by a dealer.

First to arrive will be the Fiesta ST 185, which goes on sale at the end of this month. As the name suggests, it packs a real punch – a mighty 185bhp, thanks to a reworked version of the 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that powers the regular model.

Although exact details are yet to be confirmed, the ST 185 is likely to get a tweaked engine management system, uprated cylinder head, different camshaft and new exhaust. The upgrade costs £950 and boosts power by 37bhp over the regular Fiesta ST’s 148bhp. With that extra pace on tap, the ST 185 should shave around half-a-second off the base car’s 0-60mph time, dropping it to eight seconds.

Top speed is boosted to 130mph, – a rise of 5mph. As well as the increased power, the modified Fiesta ST will be available with a host of alloy wheel options, allowing buyers to sharpen up the looks of their car, too. However, fast Ford fans after even more pace should look to the Focus ST 260. Exact details are yet to be confirmed, but it will have a sports air filter, revised engine management system and sports exhaust, which combine to boost power from 222bhp to around 260bhp.

That will slash a second off the 0-60mph time, dropping it to 5.5 seconds and taking the top speed to 155mph. More importantly, with the modifications increasing peak torque to in excess of 400Nm, the ST 260 will be even more responsive in the gears, offering storming overtaking performance. And thanks to that sporty exhaust, it should sound even more characterful, too.

As with the Fiesta, buyers will be able to choose from a range of optional alloys, but the basic price of the performance package will be around £1,500. It goes on sale in summer.

As a result of the ST 260’s launch, it’s likely that the forthcoming RS – previewed in Issue 992 – will boast closer to 300bhp to put some breathing space between the two machines. Auto Express has also learned the flag- ship Focus is likely to be front-wheel drive, with a clever differential ensuring all the power reaches the road.

The transmission is expected to be a six-speed twin-clutch semi-automatic with steering wheel-mounted paddles. Set to be revealed at the British Motor Show in July in the form of a concept, the RS will go on sale in 2009 priced at around £25,000.

Source: Auto Express

i'd love to have that fiesta

[MadCow809]

*nod* *nod*

the more the merrier. The Fiesta has always been one of my fav cheap run-abouts, it should be even better after the engine upgrade.

[anti-net]

260BHP...Thru the front wheels? It'll handle like the VXR

[Dsemaj]

Not exactly. The Saab 9-5 Hot Aero has 250HP and it's not even nearly as bad as the Astra VXR.

[IceBone]

Or not. Remember that the old Focus had an advanced front differencial which handled the power quite well (on the track).

[static]

"The transmission is expected to be a six-speed twin-clutch semi-automatic with steering wheel-mounted paddles. Set to be revealed at the British Motor Show in July in the form of a concept, the RS will go on sale in 2009 priced at around £25,000."

- -

So the new RS doesn't even have a manual option, only the flappy padel gearbox? With a proper manual it could be not only more fun but cheaper as well. Bah, boring.
I hope the hot ST could be bought with normal gearbox.

But on the up side, that new KinEtIc design looks much better on this steroid-focus. I wonder how much more will it cost than current Focus ST.

[Dsemaj]

Originally Posted by IceBone

Or not. Remember that the old Focus had an advanced front differencial which handled the power quite well (on the track).

Yeah, but that'll be RS only, I bet. I remember that the old one was pretty much unlivable in the real world, mainly because of the advanced front differential.

[static]

Originally Posted by Dsemaj

Yeah, but that'll be RS only, I bet. I remember that the old one was pretty much unlivable in the real world, mainly because of the advanced front differential.

Well that's that TopGear-provocation, once you take a ride in RS you know it's not more "unlivable" as current Seat Leon Cupra.

[chaos386]

185 bhp and the 0-60 time is still eight seconds? What's the Fiesta made out of, lead?

[bartboy9891]

Originally Posted by chaos386

185 bhp and the 0-60 time is still eight seconds? What's the Fiesta made out of, lead?

The stock Fiesta ST has a 0-60mph time of around 8 seconds and a 0-62mph (0-100kph) time of around 8.5. The thing is, it weighs a little more than 2500 lbs (~1137 kg). I would have expected it to be faster than that stock let alone after adding some more power.

[otispunkmeyer]

i find it slighty funny that the company responsible for the tuning kit is from essex! home of the boy racer and his fast ford

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally Posted by static

"The transmission is expected to be a six-speed twin-clutch semi-automatic with steering wheel-mounted paddles. Set to be revealed at the British Motor Show in July in the form of a concept, the RS will go on sale in 2009 priced at around £25,000."

- -

So the new RS doesn't even have a manual option, only the flappy padel gearbox? With a proper manual it could be not only more fun but cheaper as well. Bah, boring.
I hope the hot ST could be bought with normal gearbox.

But on the up side, that new KinEtIc design looks much better on this steroid-focus. I wonder how much more will it cost than current Focus ST.

on the contrary it is technically a proper manual since it uses a clutch (or clutches). ford call it power shift and basically its a VAG DSG clone, but IMO they are the best types of these paddle shifts so i cant see it being too bad. im sure manual will be an option though, id imagine that for the ST the Powershift box will be an option, with the 6spd manual being standard...... cant see why they wouldnt offer the 6spd option on the RS either. the PS box will be standard on top spec models

Originally Posted by bartboy9891

The stock Fiesta ST has a 0-60mph time of around 8 seconds and a 0-62mph (0-100kph) time of around 8.5. The thing is, it weighs a little more than 2500 lbs (~1137 kg). I would have expected it to be faster than that stock let alone after adding some more power.

Originally Posted by chaos386

185 bhp and the 0-60 time is still eight seconds? What's the Fiesta made out of, lead?

i have always wondered this too, its not that heavy of a car and its 0-60 times are dog slow. either that or they are wrong. engine might not have much torque or has a hole in the torque curve or something

Originally Posted by anti-net

260BHP...Thru the front wheels? It'll handle like the VXR

this is ford europe were talking about here, not GM. they add the power and sort the rest of the car out. GM just like turning the volume up to 11. there hasnt been a bad handling ford in any power trim for a good long while now, i dont see that changing. they know what theyre doing.

[Cobol74]

Got Jackie Stewart as a consultant - I remember seeing him on a TV program discussing with the German engineers of the Focus that they must have independent suspension on the car.

[thedguy]

Originally Posted by otispunkmeyer

this is ford europe were talking about here, not GM. they add the power and sort the rest of the car out. GM just like turning the volume up to 11. there hasnt been a bad handling ford in any power trim for a good long while now, i dont see that changing. they know what theyre doing.

Funny thing is GM USA has done a damn fine job of keeping torque steer to a minimum on their newer cars. It's why they can offer a 300hp engine in a FWD car.

I wonder how much of the Focus RS' problem with being undrivable was chalked up to the diff but actually just the tires following every rut in the road?

[marcos_eirik]

Originally Posted by thedguy

I wonder how much of the Focus RS' problem with being undrivable was chalked up to the diff but actually just the tires following every rut in the road?

EVO has wondered about that too. Apparently it's the suspension settings and the sports tyres it was wearing. On the press cars the suspension was rock hard and the car was brilliant on the track but oversensitive and tramlining like hell (not torque-steering) off it. The customer cars, wich they borrowed in various tests afterwards were all much nicer to drive.

The tramlining is of course something you have to live with if you want a good steering-feel and cant spend gazillions of money on the suspension like Porsche does and retain the steering feel but loose the tramlining (see 997 GT3 RS) Track biased 911s of old (primarily the RS-models) all used to have this problem, the 964 Carrera RS was notoriously hard on unsuspecting drivers.

[Orange1984]

Nice, 5.5 secs to 60 in FWD. Nice

[Deanodriver]

Originally Posted by IceBone

Or not. Remember that the old Focus had an advanced front differencial which handled the power quite well (on the track).

And only 212hp.

Then again, could be worse, Toyota sell a FWD 322hp supercharged V6 here (TRD Aurion, essentially a restyled Camry with some chillies up its arse).

[tigger]

Originally Posted by chaos386

185 bhp and the 0-60 time is still eight seconds? What's the Fiesta made out of, lead?

That's what I was thinking. It weighs about as much as my Celica, has 40 more hp, and it's slower? I don't really have much love for high horsepower FWD cars, but I'm looking forward to the Focus RS.

[dinp]

They could do with giving the Fiesta a 6-speed gearbox, I used to have the 1.6 Zetec-s and it had a 5-speed box which was great for acceleration round town, but on the motorways it would rev like a bitch and it only had a small fuel tank. A 6th gear would have contained the revs nicely so u didnt have to keep filling up!

[Cobol74]

Anything with a smallish engine that is to be used on a Motorway (Freeway) alot benefits greatly from the 6 speeder.