Thursday 18th December 2014

Ford Focus ST Mountune: Spotted

As subtle as (very) fast Fords go and a rather appealing package for £10K

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Given there are already more than 160 comments on last week's Focus RS story, it's fair to say that will be a very significant car. Everyone has an opinion on the Focus RS, whether they've owned one, driven one or just pored over road tests. It's just one of those cars.

Tiny yellow badge the giveaway

If there's one thing we can guarantee about the Mk3 Focus RS it's that it won't be a subtle car. That isn't the way with Ford Rallye Sport products, is it? They're loud and proud in every sense. Don't like it? Don't buy one.

So how is this for a best of all worlds solution? A fairly discreet (well, compared with the Mk2 RS) five-door Focus ST with a healthy complement of Mountune extras. On top of the MR290 power upgrade (more on that shortly), there's the six-piston front brake upgrade, Mountune Clubsport suspension, ATB diff with RS clutch and a Mountune exhaust. Oh, and the badge of course.

By all accounts then this is quite a serious Focus. Mountune tends to be quite modest on its power claims so there's every possibility this will match the RS on power. On top of the intercooler, filter and remap of the MP260 upgrade, the MR ('R' for Racing instead of Performance) pack added a cast inlet plenum and host of new exhaust bits. Another tweak of the ECU officially yielded 290hp and 324lb ft. Mountune claims 0-100mph in very brisk 12.5 seconds, which is faster than any figure for the RS and in fact only three tenths slower than the time stated for the MP350 RS upgrade. Hmm...

Well it's officially at 290hp...

You can read the full details of the Clubsport brake and suspension upgrades here. Yes, the car would probably benefit too from the lighter wheels but the standard items help with the subtlety factor. Together you imagine this will be an excellent Focus, perhaps lacking the RS's edge but with some big improvements over standard. That was already pretty good, don't forget.

Moreover, it looks great value. This standard ST is newer but has a higher recorded mileage and is £500 more. The red car has recently been serviced and has four new Michelin Super Sports on it. Yes, the tax and fuel won't be cheap but that was never a strong point of five-cylinder Focuses. If you're going down that route, a little more expenditure on what was already going to be a lot would surely be easier to justify.

There is a downside. Nothing's perfect after all. This ST is in Jersey so it will need registering in the UK. The advert states the required tax has already been paid as this was a UK car but of course that would be worth investigating. The gov.uk website does state: 'You don't usually have to pay VAT if you're importing a secondhand vehicle and the VAT was paid in another EU country.' Which sounds like good news.

Whatever the import situation, the Focus is an intriguing package. Wonder what the MR upgrades of the latest ST will produce?

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FORD FOCUS ST (STANDARD CAR)
Engine: 2,522cc five-cyl turbo
Transmission: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 225@6,100rpm
Torque (lb ft): 236@1,600-4,000rpm
MPG: 30 (NEDC combined)
CO2: 224g/km
First registered: 2008
Recorded mileage: 36,500
Price new: £20,850 (standard ST-3)
Yours for: £10,450

See the original advert here.

[DBRacingGod]

A Mountune RS in a place where the limit is 40mph???

[billy939]

The MP260 STs are very quick anyway so I can imagine MR290 being superb.

My mate has the MP260 ST and its torque is incredible, the shove in your back compared to the standard model is immense.

The reviews EVO did on it against the RS were interesting, and a quote from when the dyno ran the MP260 kit:

"The ST’s advantage became easier to explain a few months later when, dyno sessions completed, we were able to superimpose the power and torque plots. As well as weighing a handy 75kg less, it turned out the ST was developing more power everywhere in the rev range up to the point where the power curves crossed at 4800rpm, from where the RS went on to develop a slightly higher peak output of 294bhp to the ST’s 285bhp. It was a similar story with the torque curves, the ST’s gobsmacking 384lb ft peak occurring at just 3300rpm, leaving the RS back on 370lb ft at 3750rpm."

http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evolongtermtests/2...
http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evolongtermtests/2...


I'd love to drive the MR290 as I'm sure it would be such a good car, but in other ways I think the MP260 kit is probably enough for most people.

[Escort Si-130]

I think you would find a lot of fast cars there. Your statement doesn't realy make much sense, after all how many cars in the UK can go past 100mph and the speed limit is only 70mph.
Its like saying no point in buying a Ferrari as you cant do the max speed on the road.

DBRacingGod said:

A Mountune RS in a place where the limit is 40mph???

[James19181]

DBRacingGod said:

A Mountune RS in a place where the limit is 40mph???

Could be worse, here in Guernsey the highest limit is 35

ETA: And yeah, there is a good proportion of fast cars on both islands

[TNH]

I really like these. But not in red and not with 5 doors!

[White Lightning]

The new Mk3 ST 'MR' package is the MR300. No prizes or guessing it's power output.

[Podie]

billy939 said:

The MP260 STs are very quick anyway so I can imagine MR290 being superb.

I have an MP260 and they're pretty nippy. Not the quickest off the line, but the torque is what surprises people. Havign driven a few 290s, I'm hoping to "justify" the upgrade in the new year as the car already has some of the required hardware.

[DBRacingGod]

Escort Si-130 said:

I think you would find a lot of fast cars there. Your statement doesn't realy make much sense, after all how many cars in the UK can go past 100mph and the speed limit is only 70mph.
Its like saying no point in buying a Ferrari as you cant do the max speed on the road.

DBRacingGod said:

A Mountune RS in a place where the limit is 40mph???

Plenty of people buy Ferraris and leave them in a garage. Fast Fords aren't your typical 'look at me' fare, like your Fezza. I am making sense now, or would you like me to TYPE IN CAPS?

[ST150HB]

Looks great, 5 door practicality would certainly help sway it for me if I was looking to buy. Have driven one in standard form and was really impressed, should imagine this is a riot!

[British Beef]

Terrfic motor and excellent value!!

Plus the engine has 5 cylinder character.

Anyone know what the reliability is like with these MR products as it is pushing out a fair bit more oomph than the standard motor??

[Podie]

Having spoken to Doug at Mountune, the MP kits go through the same testing as Ford's own vehicles due to the warranty requirements.

MR stuff isn't covered by Ford warranty, however it was intimated that they go through pretty similar testing.

[M@1975]

Picked up my 2009 ST2 3 weeks ago after finally letting go of the 911 (sad and painful day but sprog needed somewhere to sit) and I'm just looking at remapping. Good as the Mountune is it is clearly expensive in comparison to other remap packages out there. I completely get it for a new car as it retains warranty etc but if you have something out of warranty then there are huge numbers of remap options out there. Dreamscience or Revo remap, Airtec intercooler and new filter and the gains will be as good if not better for less from what I understand. also Mountune tend to be the thirstiest maps on the market apparently whereas a lot of others improve MPG.
That said the 290 package is probably quite an impressive thing, shame this is one is red and stuck out in what is effectively France.

[KingNothing]

Had mine up to about 320 never bothered with Mountune though, was excellent, back down to standard though now, as I'll likely be selling it next year sometime.

[Carlos24]

If fuel economy is something your bothered about don't modify at all haha... I am running at around the 22mpg mark but that does include a good amount of spirited driving :-) I am running modifications other than mountune but i can vouch for the incredible torque and noise that the ST makes and the rolling speed eclipses most things that you come across on the road!

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

For inspiration... Haha...

Carl

[Justin S]

M@1975 said:

Picked up my 2009 ST2 3 weeks ago after finally letting go of the 911 (sad and painful day but sprog needed somewhere to sit) and I'm just looking at remapping. Good as the Mountune is it is clearly expensive in comparison to other remap packages out there. I completely get it for a new car as it retains warranty etc but if you have something out of warranty then there are huge numbers of remap options out there. Dreamscience or Revo remap, Airtec intercooler and new filter and the gains will be as good if not better for less from what I understand. also Mountune tend to be the thirstiest maps on the market apparently whereas a lot of others improve MPG.
That said the 290 package is probably quite an impressive thing, shame this is one is red and stuck out in what is effectively France.

Don't believe the hype that aftermarket maps give better fuel consumption and more power. That's the way they sell stuff. From owning an MP260 car for 4 years now, with other mods, I can say that the mpg is the same as standard, which is pants. The torque is more useable than an RS ( yes driven an MP375 RS) and off the line the ST is less laggy with the smaller turbo. From a mate going to a shootout with differing maps and cars, he just came back to report that the Mountune was the better, with sensible mapping and not excessive engine melting boundaries that other 'aftermarket' maps were pushing, from the data he was watching.
Currently, I fancy a swop, but I cant think of anything , which is cheap as chips to run , servicing wise, that I could change it for. Possibly the realms of a 335i or S3 Audi are the options I can think of..............So, its going to stay.........

[BowtieBoris]

M@1975 said:

Picked up my 2009 ST2 3 weeks ago after finally letting go of the 911 (sad and painful day but sprog needed somewhere to sit) and I'm just looking at remapping. Good as the Mountune is it is clearly expensive in comparison to other remap packages out there. I completely get it for a new car as it retains warranty etc but if you have something out of warranty then there are huge numbers of remap options out there. Dreamscience or Revo remap, Airtec intercooler and new filter and the gains will be as good if not better for less from what I understand. also Mountune tend to be the thirstiest maps on the market apparently whereas a lot of others improve MPG.
That said the 290 package is probably quite an impressive thing, shame this is one is red and stuck out in what is effectively France.

Not sure where you got the thirsty bit from. I've been a FocusSTOC member for 3 years and that's never been mentioned or discussed. The differences between each tuners map in terms of MPG would be so minimal you wouldn't notice. You'll find a lot of tuners maps are almost exactly the same bar a few tweeks. Not all of them write their own software or know how to.

In terms of the MR290 though, you would be right in thinking it's impressive. I ran it for a year on my 500 and it fantastic. Must more 'grown up' than the MP260 which is a good map, but basically just a big lump of torque in the low/mid range in comparison to the more progressive and effortlessness of the MR290...... surprised a hell of a lot of more expensive machinery.

[trickywoo]

British Beef said:

Anyone know what the reliability is like with these MR products as it is pushing out a fair bit more oomph than the standard motor??

The cylinder liners are known to crack on the Mk2 ST225 engine. Increasing the boost can't help. If it happens its a new block job, so not cheap.

[BowtieBoris]

trickywoo said:

The cylinder liners are known to crack on the Mk2 ST225 engine. Increasing the boost can't help. If it happens its a new block job, so not cheap.

It's rare but yes, you're right. There's been debates on the owners clubs regarding 'which tuners maps cause the most liners to crack'.... and the results are inconclusive. If it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen and the chance is gonna increase with the more stress you put the motor under. It is salvageable with the 'block mod' - shims in between the cylinder bores - if the crack is veeeeery minor and preventable if done before hand.

[Carlos24]

Just as many standard cars have issues with the liners as modified cars, there isn't really any link between the two things and the overall number of cars that have had liner issues does seem to be very small.

[okie592]

I was so close to buying a 3dr red mr290 and then a electric white mr290 but then my head got the better of me. Seeing this artical is making my bank account itch