Test drive Ford Focus 5 doors since 2010 hatchback

Ford Focus ST. Bright and universal

Two mutually exclusive concepts? I thought so too. In any case, to the test of the new Ford Focus ST. No, my opinion has not changed dramatically, but it turned out that a compromise.

Ford Focus ST. Price: from 1 220,000 p. On sale: since August 2012

Stanislav Shustitsky, journalist, 58 years old, driving 27 years, travels to the Chevrolet Lacetti.

The need for a compromise was even implied by the lines of the official press release. This is the same car that fans of sports models Ford around the world have been waiting for, the chief engineer of sports models Ford Europe Matias tons claims. In the case of Focus ST, this is the opportunity to enjoy driving, and get to work with maximum comfort, according to the head of Ford Team RS, Dieter Schwartz. By the way, the current Focus ST first global sports model Ford, which will be sold in 40 countries of the world. Moreover, in Europe, and in North America, and in the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, this will be the same version with similar packages of configurations. But this is what Focus St in the back of the hatchback. And for Europe, the station wagon is also prepared!


Already a meeting on clothes again made me think that a compromise is possible. The design of the front is quite calm, even peaceful. At the back and licked lines of the lanterns, and the cracks of diffusers near the bumper, and the spoiler all attributes of the charged hatchback. But the door panels with an arrow -shaped stamping in the lower part and the rapid line of windows not only organically bind the front and back, but create an absolutely whole look. And what is interesting: the station wagons standing here also confidently support the general design line of the new Focus ST. The first thing you pay attention to in the cabin is the magnificent chairs developed by the Ford and Recaro alliance. Very convenient, with an extended volume of adjustments. True, the owners of a couple of extra pounds will have to take fitness developed side support of the pillow and back of the seat are focused on a relatively slender figure. It is well filled and the steering wheel. Yes, I almost forgot: the dashboard is crowned by a triptych scales indicating the temperature of the oil, the pressure of the boost and the pressure of the oil. But what about without them in a sports car? Otherwise, the salon is made in a traditional Ford style. From my point of view, there is an excess of lines and surfaces, small, not always convenient buttons. But you pay attention to all this until the moment when you set off. While I get out of the suburbs of Nice, I note a good setting of the clutch mechanism, to which you quickly adapt to the work algorithm, and a clear inclusion of gears with a 6 -speed mechanical KP. There is no particular sports in it: both the worships are long, and the programs themselves are by no means short. But working with such a KP is nice. Of the entire FOCUS gamut, only the new ST is equipped with a 250 -horsepower 4 -cylinder (in the previous version it was a 5 -cylinder unit) with an Ecobust 2 -folly 250 liter turbo engine. With. Acceleration to 100 km/h takes 6.5 seconds in passport. If we compare the current ST with the predecessor, then the engine power increased by 10%, and CO2 emissions and fuel consumption were reduced by 20%.

Acceleration occurs under a kind of accompaniment: the engine responds with a pleasant sports roar to press the accelerator pedal. And even if this is not a special configuration of the exhaust system, but only the work of an acoustic symposer integrated into the intake manifold. It doesn’t matter that this is not a living tool, but only a melody of a synthesizer, you still get pleasure. In addition, the sound effect is maintained by the action, since the turbine begins to work from the bottom and then everywhere the maximum torque is achieved starting from 1750 min-1, and then has an even shelf to 4000 min-1. Neither gambling stakes during acceleration, nor turbo when pressing the accelerator pedal after gas reset. A very balanced unit.


The salon is convenient, but with a traditionally overloaded interior

But you get real pleasure from driving a Focus ST on serpentines of mountain roads, of which there are a great many in the vicinity of Nice. Moreover, roads are very diverse: with climbs and descents, with quick and closed, blind turns, with long straight, ending studs. Just the perfect place to check the car! And if in the first part of the test I paid the main attention to comfort and ergonomics, then the second one was supposed to answer the question whether this car corresponds to Sport Technologies studio. And the answer is unequivocal. Firstly, the Ford Team designers offer lovers of active ride to the work of the stabilization system: when a civilian drive, ESP in the event of an emergency, instantly mobilizes all their functions, and in the sports mode leaves the driver a certain freedom, activating the system only when the situation begins to get out of -under control. And you can completely turn off the system. But it is better to carry out experiments with free flight on racing tracks with their security stripes or on open areas on the twisted mountain roads of the azure shore, the disables of the electronic assistants will probably make the speed trumply. Secondly, the same electronics just allows you to enjoy fast driving along roads with a complex profile. Crossed with gas at the entrance, and does the car show insufficient rotation? The traction control system will subtract the inner wheel and help to fill the car into the turn. In this case, the system of control of insufficient rotation immediately compensates for the reactive moment provoking the change in the course. All this works in absolute harmony with special suspension settings. In both the hatchback and the station wagon, the design of the pendants are identical and differ only in the upper points of the fasteners of the rear shock absorbers, which made it possible to increase the volume of the trunk in the variant of the station wagon. Moreover, in two days of tests, I tried to understand the difference in the behavior of the hatchback and the station wagon. Moreover, it is from the point of view of driver ambitions. And practically did not find. Bravo, developers from Ford Team RS! Thirdly, a rail with variable gear ratio was used in the steering. The sharper the turn, the smaller the angle to which you need to turn the steering wheel. Thus, even steep turns can be passed without intercepting the steering wheel. At the same time, the work of the adaptive steering mechanism is very delicate, and you turn the steering wheel exactly as much as necessary.


Hatchback exterior without aggression, but balanced and moderately stylish

I go down from the mountains to hospitable Nice. The memory still stores the studs in which the 18 -inch buses of Goodyear Eagle whistled, cut off narrow tunnels, strings of cyclists, knitting along the serpentines of their Mecca Red light of the traffic light, a sweet smile of a girl from a cobot on a nearby lane, leisurely pedestrians at the crossing of a green light, first Transfer, second, turn on the direction of the navigation system, another turn, traffic light and now the same mountain road is erased from the memory, and the word adrenaline is identified only with the name of the energy drink. I am becoming a city resident running on a standard route by car in which I am comfortable. Bright and universal two excluding concepts? My opinion has not changed dramatically. But in the case of Ford Focus RS, I was convinced that such a compromise is possible.
 
Our verdict
Everything that was conceived by Ford engineers in the Focus ST model is implemented at a high level. Not a lighter? So not RS, but a universal car. Not in the sense of the type of body, but in terms of concept. And with the station wagon, it turned out to be a great family to take the family to the cottage, and on the way back you can realize your drivelings. The price is considerable, but the basic equipment is not bad ...
 
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
+
With the sports concept of the Ford hatchback, everything is clear, but for the bold decision to attach a hand to the station wagon, Ford Team RS experts deserve applause.
-
The interior of the salon ... added a sound synthesizer in order to emphasize the sports essence of ST. And in the salon there is only a nameplate on the steering wheel and pedal. True, also seats ...

Driving
The management is good. And ESP operations provide a significant degree of freedom.

Salon
In the interior from Ford I would like novelty.

Comfort
Everything is not bad, but I'm afraid for our roads the suspension will be harsh.

Security
Traditionally, Ford Focus has a very good level of security.

Price
I would like cheaper, but already in the database the car has a fairly decent package.
 
We do not love
Stylish
The middle scale indicates the pressure of the boost. Still, Sport Technologies ...
Spacious
The wagon trunk has a volume of 490 liters.
And with folded rear seats 1516 liters.
Conveniently
Recaro seats are simply luxurious. True, the driver will have to follow the figure ...

SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions 4362 (4566)*x1823x1484 (1505) mm mm
Base 2648 mm
Equipped mass 1362 (1368) kg
Full mass
2050 kg
There is no data clearance
The volume of the trunk is 363 (490)/1148 (1516) l
Fuel tank volume 55 liters
Benz engine, Ecoboost, 4-cylinder., 2000cm3,
250/5500l.s./Min---1, 360/17504000 Nm/min---1
Transmission Mech., 6th., Front drive
Dynamics 248 km/h; 6.5 (6.6) SDO100km/h
Fuel consumption 9.9/5.6/7.2 l per 100 km
Competitors Mazda 3 MPS, Renault Megane RS, Opel Astra OPC
 

A source: Magazine 5 wheel [August 2012]