Wednesday 23rd November 2011

ST becomes the Focus of The Sweeney

A hot hatch? For Regan and Carter? Doesn't sound quite right to us...

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So. An all-new film version of The Sweeney is set to star the new Ford Focus ST when it hits screens next year.

Flying Squad detectives Jack Regan (Ray Winstone) and George Carter (Ben Drew, aka Plan B) will squeal their way around London in a black Focus ST chasing baddies.

According to Ford's press bumf, the 250hp hot hatch is "a hugely exciting car for Ford with terrific dynamic credibility. It will be a car for real driving enthusiasts, so Regan and Carter won't be disappointed."

"It was important for me to collaborate with Ford on The Sweeney as their legacy with the original TV show is so strong - they're the perfect partner. I like the Ford Focus ST so much, I want one!" says the film's director, Nick Love.

Here at PH Towers, we're not so sure. Is a hot hatch really suitable wheels for the likes of Regan and Carter, who originally screeched about in velour-tastic Granadas, Consuls and Capris. Maybe if they re-made The Professionals the ST would find a more apt home.

Having said that, we're not sure exactly what cars would be the spiritual successors to the 70s originals, and as long as Winstone can pull off 'get your trousers on; you're nicked!' with sufficient aplomb, we'll be happy enough...

[onyx39]

Not sure what else they would use, no direct replacement for the Granada... a Mondeo perhaps? Regan = Mondeo man? not sure that would work either... I guess if they wanted to stay with Ford, they would have little other choice.

[E-B]

But will they be crashing through strategically placed piles or empty boxes as they race around the industrial wastelands of London? And will the villians be driving old Jag's?

[LuS1fer]

Useless without RWD but that's hard to get without losing the blue collar touch, ruling out M5s and AMGs - so it would have to be a black VXR8 or maybe a Jag XFR.

[G0ldfysh]

That 70's retro gold colour would make more sense for a Sweeney refake.

[SSCooperS]

Words cannot describe how much I despise the gopping grille on that car.

[Simbu]

SSCooperS said:

Words cannot describe how much I despise the gopping grille on that car.

It is so very Peugeot. Not a good thing.

[JameshGT]

Now Say AHHHHHHHH

[Vipers]

Little chuckle to myself when I saw the title


Over the years I have asked numerous people if they knoe why it was called the Sweeney, surprisingy enough, a lot them had no idea honest Guv!

[The Loon]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N-7foZhjgM

[AA355]

So what would be the perfect cars for them to use? They would have to be cool for today so I dont think a Ford would work. What is in at the moment but stil connects with us as a cool car?
My vote would be Bodie and Doyle in a Maserati GTS and a QP GTS, whilst the baddies are in a Porsche Panamera.

Edited by AA355 on Wednesday 23 November 09:21

[RichardD]

onyx39 said:

Not sure what else they would use, no direct replacement for the Granada... a Mondeo perhaps? Regan = Mondeo man? not sure that would work either... I guess if they wanted to stay with Ford, they would have little other choice.

A large saloon with a decent sized "V" engine in it....

Import a Ford Falcon from Aus and put in a Mustang engine ?

[SSCooperS]

Simbu said:

It is so very Peugeot. Not a good thing.

Yep. At least we now know where the ex Peugeot designer went...

[PaulMoor]

M5. Given that the fuzz have replaced Mondaos with BM's, and "Mondao man" has become "3 series man" the M5 would be far mor appropriat than a Focus ST.

[fathomfive]

G0ldfysh said:

That 70's retro gold colour would make more sense for a Sweeney refake.

Whack a brown vinyl roof on it too for good measure.

[Changedmyname]

I would have thought another Audi RS4 no?

[Oddball RS]

What a crap idea, lets hope there are no car chases in the wet...... (Understeers straight into que at bus stop)

Sorry but i can only think of an XFR, quick, right size and BRITISH! a BMW?? for christ's sake.

[georgetuk]

Film sounds awful.

Plan B should stick to music, he is much, much better at that.

[Ryvita]

Almost better to take the hit to verisimitude in the characters than the car choice. i.e. have a previously unrevealed passion for classic cars rather than use something modern.

Plus it means you can have them tooling around most of the time in something old but normalish like a sierra, then when the plot inevitably calls for a car chase, they go down to some dingy lock-up under the arches and pull out a mint Capri with some stupid engine in it.

[Chapppers]

LuS1fer said:

Useless without RWD but that's hard to get without losing the blue collar touch, ruling out M5s and AMGs - so it would have to be a black VXR8 or maybe a Jag XFR.

This, this and a thousand times this.

[Rs2oo]

Another blatent case of someone in the TV/Film industry knowing nothing about cars/Police/life in general. If they wish to copy or emulate the original characters then put them in a Jag.