New Ford Focus ST (2019)
20.05.2019
D he fans of sporty Ford models should get their eyes shining when studying these key data: The new version of the ST version has a 2.3-liter turbo gasoline engine, as it was in the old Focus RS and currently in the Mustang for Use comes. However, the engineers have tamed the engine a bit. In the ST, it has 280 hp and sends a maximum of 420 Newton meters to the front wheels. For comparison: In the Mustang 2.3 Ecoboost, the four-cylinder has 290 hp and 440 Nm. Nevertheless, the power is enough to make the newcomer the most powerful Focus ST of all time. The two-liter four-cylinder of its predecessor delivered 250 hp and a maximum of 360 Nm as a gasoline engine.
New in the gasoline engine: 'Anti-Lag' function
A novelty of the turbo gasoline engine is the ' Anti-Lag “function, which originally comes from the Fiesta WRC rally car and is already used in the GT and F-150 Raptor. The trick: when upshifting, the throttle valve remains open a little even if the driver takes off the accelerator. This means that the blades of the twin scroll loader keep turning and the turbo engine responds faster the next time you accelerate. Speaking of accelerating: it should go from zero to one hundred in less than six seconds. Exactly homologated performance is not yet available.
As an alternative, Ford continues to offer a diesel version of the Focus ST. It takes over the engine from its predecessor, but in a modernized version. Using variable turbine geometry and some internal engine measures, Ford has optimized the combustion processes in such a way that the compression-ignition engine now meets the Euro 6d-Temp emissions standard. It has also become a bit stronger: it now has 190 hp, the predecessor had 185. The maximum torque of 400 Nm remains the same.
Automatic only for the petrol engine
Ford
The chassis has tighter and stifferDamper, an electronic limited-slip differential should provide traction.
The standard manual six-speed gearbox has been equipped with a few gimmicks by Ford engineers . On the one hand, the shift travel is seven percent shorter than in the tamer Focus versions. On the other hand, the ST receives an automatic speed adjustment when downshifting. The double-declutching function is part of the performance package in the case of manual petrol engines, as is a gearshift point indicator. Those who prefer to shift gears can have the gasoline engine coupled to a seven-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, which permanently aligns their shift strategy to the driver's driving style.
The spring specification is taken over by the new ST from the Focus sister models, but the center of gravity is ten millimeters lower. Ford has retuned the shock absorbers: They are 20 percent firmer at the front and 13 percent stiffer at the rear. The performance package includes electronic damper control that continuously adapts its identifier to the driving situation. In addition, it includes the “Race Track” driving mode, while the standard Focus ST only has the “Slippery”, “Normal” and “Sport” programs. The adjustments affect, among other things, the gas pedal characteristic, the steering, the ESP, the electronic engine sound amplifier and the setting of the air conditioning. The petrol engines include a Launch Control function in the sport mode.
Electronic limited slip differential for the petrol engine
Also the electronic limited slip differential from Borg Warner, which is placed directly in the drivetrain, but only for the petrol engine Use is influenced by the driving modes. It works with hydraulically activated clutches that control the torque transfer between the front wheels and can direct up to 100 percent to the wheel with the currently better traction. Spinning wheels when accelerating should be a thing of the past, also because the system can preventively optimize the torque distribution thanks to a lot of sensor data. Incidentally, the diesel uses torque vectoring technology, which influences the driving dynamics by applying the brakes on the inside wheel.
The power steering of the new Ford Focus ST works electromechanically. It is 15 percent more direct than the normal Focus and should even outperform the smaller Fiesta ST in terms of directness. The changed geometry with which the steering is connected to the front axle and the improved software, which is intended to minimize drive influences, should also have a positive effect. The front brake works with 330 millimeter discs, which are gripped by two-piston calipers. The rear discs have a diameter of 302 millimeters.
New rear axle geometry for the ST
Of course, the Focus ST tournament also has all these extra features on board. And a few moreParticularities. These not only affect the larger trunk, although this difference is quite remarkable: In normal conditions, the tournament is in front with 608 to 375 liters, with the rear seats folded down it is 1,635 to 1,354 liters. In addition, Ford has changed the rear axle geometry of the ST tournament and moved the dampers a little so that the car loses as little of its agility as possible even with a higher load.
The Recaro sports seats are available with several covers: Leather, leather fabric or the “Dinamica” option in suede look. The sports steering wheel is flattened at the bottom, the gear lever has an aluminum knob. There are also various decorative elements and ST logos in the interior. The displays typical for the model variant for boost pressure, oil pressure and oil temperature are still there. However, they are now digital and are displayed on the 4.2-inch TFT monitor of the on-board computer. The command center of the Ford Sync 3 infotainment system is an eight-inch touchscreen. Apple Carplay and Android Auto are also on board, as is a WLAN hotspot, which can be used to connect up to ten devices to the Internet.
Wide range of driver assistants
Different from the outside the ST with differently shaped radiator grills as well as wings and spoilers (on the front bumper and on the rear edge of the roof) from the more well-behaved siblings. The two exhaust tailpipes frame the diffuser element in the rear bumper, which for the first time can also be fitted with a trailer coupling. The Focus ST rolls on 18-inch rims as standard, while Ford offers 19-inch rims as an option. They are always covered with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires. Seven body colors are available: performance blue, tropical orange, frost white, magnetic gray, race red, ruby red and iridium black.
Ford
The previously analog displays for boost pressure, oil pressure and oil temperature are now shown digitally in the on-board computer display.
The ST takes over the assistants from the normal focus. These include the traffic jam assistant with stop-and-go function and steering intervention, an adaptive cruise control, a camera-based cornering light with traffic sign recognition, the parking assistant plus, which automaticallysteers, brakes, accelerates and selects the gears, the avoidance assistant and a head-up display.
The new Focus ST is no longer as cheap as it used to be. As a five-door model with a diesel engine, it costs 31,900 euros, a good 5,000 euros more than its predecessor. The 280 hp petrol variant is another 1,000 euros more expensive. For the Ford Focus ST tournament, 33,100 and 34,100 euros are due. At the end of July, the model rolls to the dealers, the petrol engine with automatic not yet priced in will follow in November. The really true top focus, the RS, shouldn't come onto the market until 2020.
