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???

[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?