Tuesday 24th June 2014

Ford facelifts Formula Ford and Focus ST

New styling for the fast Focus, quite a lot more for the race car...

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For nearly 50 years now, Formula Ford has been recognised as one of the best feeder series into Formula 1. Since 1968 James Hunt, Ayrton Senna, Mika Hakkinen, Damon Hill and Jenson Button have all raced in the championship on their way to F1 success.

See it in full at Goodwood

For the 2015 season the series will adopt the Formula Four regulations which means the car will use a carbon chassis, front and rear wings, slicks and a paddleshift auto. It makes for a very different Formula Ford than we've become used to, much more junior F1 in appearance than the very basic original design. But with the FIA planning to create a clearer path for young drivers looking to progress through the Formula ranks, that's sort of the point.

The 1.6 Ecoboost engine from Fiesta ST stays. The cost target for the new Formula Ford is 38,000 euros for a rolling chassis with data logging; once testing has been completed over the summer we can expect further technical details and firm pricing.

Ford has also confirmed a revised Focus ST will make its debut at the Goodwood Moving Motor Show this week. There's only a single image at the moment, showing the different headlights from the updated standard Focus. Given the comparative lack of fanfare from Ford about the ST we'd assume it's mostly as before, albeit with the styling and equipment enhancements from the facelift. Now watch as Ford reveals it with more power, new suspension, bigger brakes...

Hopefully the ST's relative affordability will continue unchanged though. An RRP of £21,995 means the earliest used cars are now available at £15K. More price and spec details as they arrive.

[Sources: Ford, FIA]

 

 

[Ali_T]

Test drove a Focus ST at the weekend and, have to say, it's a hugely enjoyable analogue thug in this digital obsessed world! Far more fun at normal 7/10ths driving than the Golf R or A45 were. Interesting to see what it looks like and if they up the bhp a little to keep pace with Renault and Vauxhall. Rumour seems to be that there won't be an RS this generation but will be early next, so the ST Mountune is the fastest Euro Ford for a few years.

Edited by Ali_T on Tuesday 24th June 11:52

[Podie]

Unlikey to be much increase in power, as Mountune have a power pack - http://www.mountune.com/index.php/services/perform...

[Ali_T]

Maybe they'll make it standard? Though the second and third gear torque steer are impressive enough in the dry even with "only" 250!

[Podie]

Ali_T said:

Maybe they'll make it standard? Though the second and third gear torque steer are impressive enough in the dry even with "only" 250!

That'd take Mountune's market - and there is clearly an agreement in place.

Rumours of an MR300 (not warranty friendly) for the Focus ST.

[Ali_T]

Local dealer seemed to think the 300 kit was going to be warrantied. The torque steer will be Saab Viggen levels!

[robertpaulson]

"Hopefully the ST's relative affordability will continue unchanged though. An RRP of £21,995 means the earliest used cars are now available at £15K."

which looks wildly optimistic given that drivethedeal emailed me last week with a new focus ST at 16,9k, cracking value at that price though, what else can come close new?

[iloveboost]

Ali_T said:

Test drove a Focus ST at the weekend and, have to say, it's a hugely enjoyable analogue thug in this digital obsessed world! Far more fun at normal 7/10ths driving than the Golf R or A45 were. Interesting to see what it looks like and if they up the bhp a little to keep pace with Renault and Vauxhall. Rumour seems to be that there won't be an RS this generation but will be early next, so the ST Mountune is the fastest Euro Ford for a few years.

Edited by Ali_T on Tuesday 24th June 11:52

I've seen a few reviews that say the Focus ST feels good on the road (some say it even feels a bit twitchy). Also the engine is a torque monster but it does torque steer a bit. Some say it's a bit vague or soft on a track compared to the Megane but on the road it's arguably better, and better value. I still think it looks a bit strange but the facelift should fix some of that.
I think you're right about the Focus RS they are launching the new Mustang next year with the engine the next Focus RS will use - it would be silly to launch the new RS then. The internet seems to think 2016 for the new RS and that makes a lot of sense.

[Beefmeister]

Ford are releasing a diesel ST as well apparently, with the 184bhp unit. They really needed it in the fight against the Octavia vRS.

And no, I don't think it'll be called the STD.

[Podie]

Ali_T said:

Local dealer seemed to think the 300 kit was going to be warrantied. The torque steer will be Saab Viggen levels!

MP (Mountune Performance) kits are warranted, MR (Mountune Racing) kits are not. Whether the 300 turns up as an MP or MR is up for debate. I would suggest it would be an MR300.

[Ali_T]

The ST did feel slightly underdamped at times on a favourite Scottish B road (the sales guy was more than keen which was a refreshing change), though not remotely as badly judged as the M135i! A45 was better but that just felt hard everywhere else, and the Golf R wasn't a great deal better on standard non-DCC shocks. It felt properly old school, but in a good way. After all the uber confident cars that have impressed but left not one iota of a smile after the test drive, it was refreshing to drive a properly honest hot hatch! Though, sad confession, the thing that impressed me most was the door protector! Brilliant little touch! It seems Henry at Evo was equally impressed....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0Z3Fz6Q7Ro

And, as for the RS, 2016 was mentioned, as well as a hatch, estate AND coupe!

Edited by Ali_T on Tuesday 24th June 12:40

[Ali_T]

Beefmeister said:

Ford are releasing a diesel ST as well apparently, with the 184bhp unit. They really needed it in the fight against the Octavia vRS.

And no, I don't think it'll be called the STD.

They're now referred to as STIs in medical circles! Which really rubs up Subaru owners!

[dukebox9reg]

Hope they sort out where the bonnet meets the bumper. On the current ST it looks like somebody hasn't closed the bonnet properly.

[designndrive62]

Completely ruined Formula Ford now. I suppose they had to tie up with FIA F4 to keep surviving but its such a shame to see its roots as a proper junior formula to learn cars and handling without having to worry about downforce being abandoned. Nothing really differentiates it from any of the other formulas out there now

[Steve vRS]

Ali_T said:

They're now referred to as STIs in medical circles! Which really rubs up Subaru owners!

Coincidently, I would have thought rubbing up a Subaru owner was a sure fire way to get an STI

Steve

[lord summerisle]

designndrive62 said:

Completely ruined Formula Ford now. I suppose they had to tie up with FIA F4 to keep surviving but its such a shame to see its roots as a proper junior formula to learn cars and handling without having to worry about downforce being abandoned. Nothing really differentiates it from any of the other formulas out there now

was thinking the same thing - adding the wings loses the point of the series for me.

[oobster]

dukebox9reg said:

Hope they sort out where the bonnet meets the bumper. On the current ST it looks like somebody hasn't closed the bonnet properly.

Yep, I own a current-shape ST-3 and the bonnet gap is ridiculous.

My wife owns a 2013 Fiesta and the gap between the bonnet and front bumper is miniscule. Can't understand why Ford allowed the Focus to leave the factory like that.

[Ali_T]

Steve vRS said:

Coincidently, I would have thought rubbing up a Subaru owner was a sure fire way to get an STI

Steve

That would assume the Subaru owner has had sex at least once, probably whilst still wearing his bobble hat and branded jacket...

[Otispunkmeyer]

robertpaulson said:

"Hopefully the ST's relative affordability will continue unchanged though. An RRP of £21,995 means the earliest used cars are now available at £15K."

which looks wildly optimistic given that drivethedeal emailed me last week with a new focus ST at 16,9k, cracking value at that price though, what else can come close new?

Thats a good price indeed! I've been looking at orange MKII's (facelifts) on Autotrader and am aghast at how much people think they are worth. a 10 plate 5 door in orange (admittedly with low miles) and they want nearly £16k for some of them. It can't have been much more when it was new 4 years ago!

I Think most of the prices for the orange face lift are a little bit nonsense. But then maybe they are sought after in that colour. After all the new one is hardly a looker and they toned down the orange!

[Otispunkmeyer]

dukebox9reg said:

Hope they sort out where the bonnet meets the bumper. On the current ST it looks like somebody hasn't closed the bonnet properly.

Strange that you mention this. I've seen a few ST's now (13 plates in white mostly) where the bonnet gap is perfect. They must have fixed it? or people have DIY'd it.

[Podie]

Otispunkmeyer said:

Thats a good price indeed! I've been looking at orange MKII's (facelifts) on Autotrader and am aghast at how much people think they are worth. a 10 plate 5 door in orange (admittedly with low miles) and they want nearly £16k for some of them. It can't have been much more when it was new 4 years ago!

I Think most of the prices for the orange face lift are a little bit nonsense. But then maybe they are sought after in that colour. After all the new one is hardly a looker and they toned down the orange!

ST-3 was around £25k list in 2010.

Some of the prices are comical. I picked up a facelift ST-3, 58 plate last year, with 26k and the MP260 for just over £10k. Took some finding though...