Ford Focus ST M330 | Spotted
The best fast Fords are always better for a trip to Essex - so what better ST than Mountune's own?
Ask people about the fast Ford’s glory days and many will point to rear-wheel drive Escorts, RS-badged hot hatches, Sierra and ST saloons, that sort of thing. But there was a wonderful period much more recently as well, back in the time of the Mk7 Fiesta ST and Mk3 Focus ST - and the Mountune upgrades that retained their factory warranty.
It really was the best of both worlds, stout turbocharged engines brought to life with the manufacturer’s approval. For just a few hundred quid, too. It was a mark of how highly regarded Mountune’s work was; the M215 and M275 upgrades looked modest on paper, but they ensured a rambunctious Fiesta ST felt even cheekier, and a burly Focus even more barrel-chested.
Then the collaboration ended (Mountune of course continued to warranty its parts), and the latest generation of cars became pricier. Something of the happy-go-lucky appeal had been lost. The upside, of course, was that Mk8 Fiesta ST and Mk4 Focus were even better sorted hot hatches out of the box - giving Mountune an even better base to work from. ‘For less than two per cent of the £32k asking price, you can take the Focus ST from first-rate to fantastic’ was our verdict of an M330 in 2020.
The quality of the most recent Focus ST tends to be forgotten, for the simple fact that it was easy to be distracted by everything else going on. There wasn’t going to be an RS, for one thing, and the demise of all Fiestas dominated Ford headlines for yonks. Every hot hatch discussion was about how great the Civic was, or how unresolved the Mk8 Golf was.
But the Focus ST, if not perfect, was huge fun: taking the muscular engine and playful chassis formula that has characterised the car for so long, then refining the details. It kept on improving, too, with cars like the Edition and the Mk4.5 you see here. Only this isn’t the average Mean Green Focus ST. It has benefitted from a host of Mountune parts - the 330hp calibration, the lowering springs, the exhaust, the must-have mats - and is actually being sold by the Essex-based tuner. This was the Focus ST used by Mountune to develop its latest range of bits, which is quite a cool little claim to fame.
And this is no high-mile hack, either, boasting just 2,500 miles since last year and looking like it’s just left the showroom. For £33,000, too, which means it isn’t even the most expensive Focus ST in the classifieds. Perhaps an ideal spec would have the Edition wheels and suspension, but they could perhaps be sourced at a later date. As it stands, Mountune’s Focus ST boasts plenty of the desirable extras on a forgotten gem of a hot hatch. Don’t buy anything C-segment shaped without considering this.
SPECIFICATION | FORD FOCUS ST M330
Engine: 2,261cc, turbocharged four-cyl
Transmission: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 330@5,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 380@3,000rpm
MPG: 35.7 (standard car)
CO2: 179g/km (standard car)
Year registered: 2025
Recorded mileage: 2,500
Price new: £36,410 (2022, before options)
Yours for: £33,000
Really great car and really capable on road and on track. Considering the huge gap in cost between this and the CTR I'm surprised it wasn't more popular.
Really great car and really capable on road and on track. Considering the huge gap in cost between this and the CTR I'm surprised it wasn't more popular.
Difficult to judge given I see zero FL5s and also zero other Track Packs.
Difficult to judge given I see zero FL5s and also zero other Track Packs.
He has tracked it a couple of times, it has coped well with it, only niggle is the diff, it can be a bit noisy but Ford gave him a go in another one which was the same, just the way they are, and part of why you can put 330 bhp through the front wheels.
Even more so, the torque goes from 310lb/ft to 380lb/ft (more than the Audi RS3 or BMW B58 at the time). That diff really kept things under control.
I moved on to a CTR FL5, but the Focus was noticeably faster in the mid range and more laugh out loud fun! It's a shame Ford threw in the towel there...
What's the point of a warmed up family hatchback that can't still do family car things like tug a trailer?
What's the point of a warmed up family hatchback that can't still do family car things like tug a trailer?
I don't tow very often (probably been ~8 years since I last towed) but what I *do* use it for is a bike rack or extra luggage rack (the dog occupies 1/3 of the boot so if we take him camping we need extra luggage capacity!)
ked things up with their European range. Such a shame.
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