Wednesday 7th November 2007

Focus Cop-out Special Ed

ST500 chooses show over go

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Still waiting for the official pics...

It seems we are certainly not alone in approving of Ford’s 5-cylinder Golf GTI competitor, as the blue oval has confirmed sales of over 13,500 units of the existing Focus ST model.

To keep attention focussed – see what I’ve done there – on the present car before the new-shape version arrives next year, Ford has announced a special edition ST500 model.

Surprisingly enough the car is limited to just 500 units, is based on the range-topping ST3 model, and comes with no mechanical upgrades at all.

Instead, the special ed concentrates on being painted black with some tasteful silver stripes – apparently designed to echo the look of the LeMans winning GT40.

The car gets a nice red leather interior too and is priced at £20,495.

We reckon this car is a bit of a missed opportunity with Rally GB on the horizon and Grönholm in with a shot of the WRC crown: getting out to the stages in an ST with a tuned induction whoosh and exhaust note bouncing off the trees in true Group B Audi Quattro style might have just provided us with a seminal motoring moment. Oh well.

Update: the photos will be around tomorrow. Ford is having some issues so they've been delayed.

[sosidge]

What would be even more interesting would be a 500bhp ST!

[smele]

sosidge said:

What would be even more interesting would be a 500bhp ST!

And Front Wheel Drive.

[rhinochopig]

http://www.motorsportads.co.uk/car-parts/engines/7...

[HuggyBear]

I have just ordered one of these purely as its ltd unlike the electric orange ST that I bought when that 1st came out and was told it was limited!!

[thekirbyfake]

article said:

Imagine this in black with silver stripes ... the photos will be around tomorrow. Ford is having some issues so they've been delayed

Is the editorial department getting lazier and lazier?

It took less than 30 seconds to get this image from Ford's website and the ST500's official page which has been up for some time.

Edited by thekirbyfake on Wednesday 7th November 11:43

[_Batty_]

thekirbyfake said:

article said:

Imagine this in black with silver stripes

Is the editorial department getting lazier and lazier?

It took less than 30 seconds to get this image from Ford's website and the ST500's offical page

copy right?

[TonyHetherington]

My bro tried to order one apparently they're all sold (long ago)

[HuggyBear]

my mate runs a ford dealership so was able to get one through him-he ordered it ages ago

[Dangly]

[quote]
We reckon this car is a bit of a missed opportunity with Rally GB on the horizon and Grönholm in with a shot of the WRC crown: getting out to the stages in an ST with a tuned induction whoosh and exhaust note bouncing off the trees in true Group B Audi Quattro style might have just provided us with a seminal motoring moment. Oh well.

[/quote]


Couldn't agree more!

[DoctorFan]

Seems to me that Ford are as lazy as Porsche! Wow, a paint job, some leather seats and a couple of Halfords special 'go faster stripes'. Genius Ford, genius. Its not worth it and despite the limited run they won't be any more desirable than the 13000 orange ones on the road. Come on Ford!

[NickFRP]

For sake, i wish Ford would start to improve on the engines rather than improve on the Paint and Stripes on the ST

[baSkey]

..they haven't even changed the wheels..??

i think they should have gone with BBS CHs...

[Chris71]

smele said:

sosidge said:

What would be even more interesting would be a 500bhp ST!

And Front Wheel Drive.

My thoughts exactly

[Martin_Hx]

Well worth it...

[DoctorFan]

NickFRP said:

For sake, i wish Ford would start to improve on the engines rather than improve on the Paint and Stripes on the ST

Ditto!!!!

[Witchfinder]

It's not really surprising though, is it? Ford are selling shedloads of STs, they don't need to do an RS or mechanically uprated ST500 which would cost them a huge amount of money in development for very little sales return.

It's a shame, but they are running a business after all.

[Dibby]

DoctorFan said:

NickFRP said:

For sake, i wish Ford would start to improve on the engines rather than improve on the Paint and Stripes on the ST

Ditto!!!!

I was just thinking that myself. Wondering what you get on your shiney now Ford Rooney apart from the option of having it in black?

Who's going to spend extra cash one something because it's painted differently and has go-faster srtipes?

[DoctorFan]

Witchfinder said:

It's not really surprising though, is it? Ford are selling shedloads of STs, they don't need to do an RS or mechanically uprated ST500 which would cost them a huge amount of money in development for very little sales return.

It's a shame, but they are running a business after all.

Very true, however, the Bugatti Veyron didn't need to be built either but it was and is apparantly sold at a loss even at that price. There's a lot to be said for pushing the boundries.

[thekirbyfake]

NickFRP said:

For sake, i wish Ford would start to improve on the engines rather than improve on the Paint and Stripes on the ST

Well actually apart from the mpg I don't have a problem with the engine although my paint is pretty poor.

Bumpers don't match the car, it chips far too easily and it looks like a satsuma.

[HuggyBear]

lol, i agree that the orange paint chips far too easily, mine was only 2 days old and it got hit by a stone off a rangerover on the motorway-looks terrible as its yellow underneath the orange