RE: 2019 Ford Focus ST gets 280hp and eLSD

[nickfrog]

Zetec-S said:

One thing I have noticed (or noticed the lack of) - a proper handbrake

I can't see a lever so surely it has a proper handbrake, as in totally automatic.

[GTEYE]

Lemming Train said:

I didn't notice it particularly at first glance but what the heck is that huge ugly bulge stuck to the bottom half of the doors? It looks terrible.

BMW called it ‘flame surfacing’ - it’s basically a reflection of the light.

In real daylight it doesn’t show.

[Dal3D]

Available in Ruby Red too apparently:



https://twitter.com/Jward35/status/109750490286204...

[dobly]

Can't believe that no-one has commented that it would be so much better as a 3-door.
So I'll make the comment.
It would be so much better as a 3-door.

[A1VDY]

dobly said:

Can't believe that no-one has commented that it would be so much better as a 3-door.
So I'll make the comment.
It would be so much better as a 3-door.

Having to get out of the car and fold seats for rear passengers, never mind trying to install a child seat, most likely why its a five door. The Focus is a family aimed car..

[G.Fraser]

No gauge pod on the dash Overall I quite like it though. Roll on RS!

[RobEB]

That crease down the side looks like love handles..

[dobly]

A1VDY said:

dobly said:

Can't believe that no-one has commented that it would be so much better as a 3-door.
So I'll make the comment.
It would be so much better as a 3-door.

Having to get out of the car and fold seats for rear passengers, never mind trying to install a child seat, most likely why its a five door. The Focus is a family aimed car..

Not all families have more than 2 people.

I still stick with my view that it would be so much better as a 3-door. If the Fiesta can be built in either configuration, why can't the Focus?

Edited by dobly on Monday 18th February 22:20

[IanJ9375]

dobly said:

Not all families have more than 2 people.

I still stick with my view that it be so much better as a 3-door. If the Fiesta can be built in either configuration, why can't the Focus?

It's cheaper - watch how the Fiesta goes 5dr only as well probably next Gen.
3dr hatch cars aren't popular enough in numbers sold, the UK was the last stronghold for them - iirc 80% of the Astra GTC was expected to sell in the UK when it was released

[Onehp]

nickfrog said:

Zetec-S said:

One thing I have noticed (or noticed the lack of) - a proper handbrake

I can't see a lever so surely it has a proper handbrake, as in totally automatic.

That would be a parking brake. A good hand brake engages on the rear and adds another dimension of having fun with a car also when moving, by lack of brake power usually when it is slippery. Especially relevant on fwd that lacks other ways of braking traction on the rear axle. On my diffed fwd it allows for handbrake turns, snow drifting but also fancy parking in wintertime, front end moving sideways on full lock with the handbrake engaged. On rwd or 4wd it allows for proper controlled drifting. However none of the above can be said out loud, because then you are a nutter/rally wannabe on PH, apparently. Subtly suggesting driving (far) over the speedlimit or admitting enjoying the odd powerslide is ok, but enjoying a manual handbrake is... not. (I have been damaged by a discussion on this subject in the Pure M3 thread of all places)..

Edited by Onehp on Tuesday 19th February 01:24

[Onehp]

macky17 said:

E-diff? Is that a physical, mechanical diff?

Onehp said:

Like it. The BorgWarner FXD° aka eLSD with typical great Ford set-up should be a peach in the twisties. Didn't like the torque vectoring and strange anti-torquesteer epas on the previous one, this should put it ahead again.

Now an estate and the RS version preferably with this eLSD and GKN:s twinster in the rear, now that would be the ultimate modern 4wd drive ...


°as fitted to the GTI PP, Clubsport, CS, TCR, Leon Cupra (fwd) and i30N Performance.

That was a somewhat cryptic description one page before giving the answer, which is yes. The Borg Warner FXD is a physical multi plate wet clutch than can physically lock between 0% and 100% very quickly and is electronically controlled. Given the advanced predictive electronic control, it should be superior to a purely mechanical diff that only reacts once there is grip loss and/or a speed difference between l/r front wheels, and only has a limited locking %.

This in combination with the rear drive system from the RS (different manufacturers unfortunately) would be my dream awd setup for a relatively light family/rally estate...

[GTEYE]

dobly said:

A1VDY said:

dobly said:

Can't believe that no-one has commented that it would be so much better as a 3-door.
So I'll make the comment.
It would be so much better as a 3-door.

Having to get out of the car and fold seats for rear passengers, never mind trying to install a child seat, most likely why its a five door. The Focus is a family aimed car..

Not all families have more than 2 people.

I still stick with my view that it would be so much better as a 3-door. If the Fiesta can be built in either configuration, why can't the Focus?

Edited by dobly on Monday 18th February 22:20

The last gen Focus wasn’t available as a 3 door either.

And when there is a free choice (e.g. Golf GTI/R), very few people choose the 3 door. So you can’t blame them - they make what will sell.

I would be very surprised if VW didn’t follow the trend and Audi have already ditched the 3 door A3. Is there going to be a 3 door new 1 Series?

[JulianHJ]

David87 said:

I think it’ll be about £31k starting. My wife has got a (fairly high-spec) Focus on order and the list price with options is not far off £30k.

The mk3 ST-3 estate with every option ticked had an RRP of about £32k, so I’d expect a mk4 ST-1 hatch to be comfortably under £30k.

[JP.Racing]

Lemming Train said:

Terrible news! Everyone that bought a coal powered ST should be shot dead imo. The power output on this and the mk3.5 was pathetic and not even worthy of wearing an ST badge.

I've got one

[POLARBLUE]

Having been a lifetime XR and ST fan and had 5 of the last Fiesta ST in four years and 2 Mk 2 Focus RS because they were that good and you could spot one a mile away. This car looks more like can you tell it’s an ST at fifty yards. Ford I can only hope for the RS you bring four pumped up arches and big spoilers

[nickfrog]

Onehp said:

That would be a parking brake. A good hand brake engages on the rear and adds another dimension of having fun with a car also when moving, by lack of brake power usually when it is slippery. Especially relevant on fwd that lacks other ways of braking traction on the rear axle. On my diffed fwd it allows for handbrake turns, snow drifting but also fancy parking in wintertime, front end moving sideways on full lock with the handbrake engaged. On rwd or 4wd it allows for proper controlled drifting. However none of the above can be said out loud, because then you are a nutter/rally wannabe on PH, apparently. Subtly suggesting driving (far) over the speedlimit or admitting enjoying the odd powerslide is ok, but enjoying a manual handbrake is... not. (I have been damaged by a discussion on this subject in the Pure M3 thread of all places)..

I suppose if the public road is where you have fun, then I can (just about) see where you're coming from. Personally, I use tracks for fun driving.

I don't think people would think you're a nutter/ rally wannabe, but they'd think you're a total moron to use your "parking brake" (there is a hint in the name) to enhance your driving experience.

[Onehp]

nickfrog said:

I suppose if the public road is where you have fun, then I can (just about) see where you're coming from. Personally, I use tracks for fun driving.

I don't think people would think you're a nutter/ rally wannabe, but they'd think you're a total moron to use your "parking brake" (there is a hint in the name) to enhance your driving experience.

Just for reference, this is a car for the whole world, and where I live, Scandinavia, with months of slippery roads every year, most car interested people learn to use whatever the cars offers to have fun. One of those ingredients is most certainly a manual handbrake. And during summer we have gravel roads. Also here, it can be nice to have a hand brake. I imagine they exist in rural UK also.
All this of course in appropriate places and times. We're car and driver enthusiasts, not destroyers of lives. For doing the latter, absolutely no hand brake is required... So stop being so pedantic/hypocrite and let those who want bemoan the departure of the manual handbrake. At least on cars that have potential to be flicked around so to speak...

(edit: some bad energy there, not entirely directed at you )

Edited by Onehp on Tuesday 19th February 11:43

[anonymous-user]

I like the car but I'm really put off by Ford making the diesel look identical to the petrol. It irritated me when I had the mk3. Image isn't the top of my priority list but when spending my own money I wouldn't want to give a perception that I'm a company car driver.

[Rawwr]

RaymondVanDerDon said:

I like the car but I'm really put off by Ford making the diesel look identical to the petrol. It irritated me when I had the mk3. Image isn't the top of my priority list but when spending my own money I wouldn't want to give a perception that I'm a company car driver.

I don't get this. If you like the car you're driving, why does any other car have any kind of impact on that?

[nickfrog]

Onehp said:

So stop being so pedantic/hypocrite

- I am pedantic??

Onehp said:

nickfrog said:

I can't see a lever so surely it has a proper handbrake, as in totally automatic.

That would be a parking brake.

No hypocrisy either, I didn't mention loss of lives, you did - in a UK public road context, drifting with the hand brake will result in a dangerous driving conviction pretty quickly. Not an opinion, just a fact.

A time and a place, a race track or a frozen lake.

Edited by nickfrog on Tuesday 19th February 11:48