Autocar Focus ST road test

[s m]

Full test of the new model in today's issue
0-60 in 6.3 ( old 6.9 )
0-100 in 15.0 ( old 16.8)

30-70 5.1 (6.4)

ss 1/4 14.8 @ 99.6

Kerb wt 1362kg ( 1429kg )

Quick steering rack at 1.8 turns

Test average mpg 30.1mpg ( 30% better overall on test fuel economy than last model )

[off_again]

Sounds like progress to me! And the Sweeney use one - what could be better?

[Hub]

Impressive figures. The only thing missing of course is probably the character and smoothness of the old 2.5, which amounted to a lot of the appeal of the old model!

[Lazadude]

Shame about FWD though....

[s m]

The dry handling circuit time was 1:16.7 for the Focus ( Renault Megane 250 Cup 2010MY was 1:16.4 )
They said the Focus overheats its fronts and brakes quite quickly compared to rivals though.

The wet handling time was quite a bit slower than the Megane but they did caveat that the circuit they use for that is 'going off' wrt grip

[stuckmojo]

Lazadude said:

Shame about FWD though....

yes, and the basking shark yawning "mouth". the standard Focus is much prettier for me.

[Magic919]

Hope the turning circle has improved.

[s m]

Hub said:

Impressive figures. The only thing missing of course is probably the character and smoothness of the old 2.5, which amounted to a lot of the appeal of the old model!

It did mention that there's a pipe to take induction noise to the back of the dash where it resonates and creates quite a pleasing note

[s m]

Magic919 said:

Hope the turning circle has improved.

12 metres

( Skoda Yeti 10.0m, Skoda Superb 10.8m )

[Magic919]

So the turning circle has got worse, yikes.

[s m]

Magic919 said:

So the turning circle has got worse, yikes.

Can't be helped by the 235/40s on 8.5s only allowing limited lock. Is it worse than a 306GTi-6?

[LuS1fer]

off_again said:

And the Sweeney use one - what could be worse?

EFA

[Magic919]

s m said:

Can't be helped by the 235/40s on 8.5s only allowing limited lock. Is it worse than a 306GTi-6?

Never driven one, but I gather they are similar. I thought the old Focus ST was bad, but this new one adds a metre to an already poor turning circle.

[Dunebasher]

On Top Gear they said it was a 1.6 Focus dressed up as the new ST, was that a joke or for real?

[J3PTF]

s m said:

Full test of the new model in today's issue
0-60 in 6.3 ( old 6.9 )
0-100 in 15.0 ( old 16.8)

30-70 5.1 (6.4)

ss 1/4 14.8 @ 99.6

Kerb wt 1362kg ( 1429kg )

Quick steering rack at 1.8 turns

Test average mpg 30.1mpg ( 30% better overall on test fuel economy than last model )

Some interesting figures there. I didn't think the new model felt any quicker than the old one. The power delivery wad perhaps a bit less peaky, but the old one felt better to drive.

I'm surprised to see the turning circle has got worse. This felt like a big improvement, but that might be down to the incremental malarkey they've done.

[J3PTF]

s m said:

It did mention that there's a pipe to take induction noise to the back of the dash where it resonates and creates quite a pleasing note

Sounded very nice, but only really noticeable in 1st & 2nd gear, and in a limited rev range at that.

[Gompo]

Just needs a 3-door or faux 'coupe' based thereon. Quite impressive though, 1/4 seems a bit slow?

[s m]

Gompo said:

Quite impressive though, 1/4 seems a bit slow?

I guess it depends on what you drive!

[DanDC5]

Dunebasher said:

On Top Gear they said it was a 1.6 Focus dressed up as the new ST, was that a joke or for real?

It was a dressed up one, the ST wasn't released when it was being filmed so all they had were mock ups. And they were cheaper...