Test drive Ford Focus st 5 doors 2005 - 2007 hatchback

Dolphins and sharks

Is there a differential blocking in the new Focus S? The project manager Paul Waigers smiles: no. We wanted to leave ST quite friendly to the driver. And uncompromising cars that require racing skills are our RS series. We can say that RS is sharks, and ST these are dolphins.
P the previous Focus ST 170 did not use a few popularly a few popularity in Russia. But the point here is not at all in the car, just our customers were not ready to purchase charged hatchbacks. The new ST should disperse in our country with a much larger circulation, because in addition to the second generation Focus ST, which changes for the better, and in itself is much more different from the basic model than its predecessor.
Appearance
Designers managed to make the appearance of the car more sports, while avoiding excessive aggressiveness. A new front bumper with a large trapezoidal yawn air intake, threshold lining, a rear bumper with imitation of a racing diffuser and a developed rear spoiler gives the impression that the car has become larger. The proportions and front of the Focus II and in standard design look very good, but the view of the back of ordinary cars is boring. But you can’t say this spoiler about ST, the wings overlays and the bumper create a pleasant frame that reviving a simple type of stern of a standard machine. Well, of course, 18-inch alloy wheels of original design add a sports charm.
Salon
The interior of the car was also subjected to cosmetic changes. A new steering wheel with a ST logo, more convenient and pleasant to the touch, aluminum pedals and good seats with developed lateral support that has already become familiar to a set of differences in hot versions from their standard counterparts. The bauble is also noteworthy, which are so loved by various tuningers: three additional devices in a separate building on the front panel. The turning point of the pressure of the boost, pressure and temperature of the oil on such a machine is unlikely to really help to go faster, but it is so nice to tell everyone how the pressure in the intake manifold jumps when you press the accelerator pedal! In general, these tiders warm the soul.
It is a pity that the limits of adjusting the driver's seat in height are small. A high -growth driver will inevitably encounter a problem of limited visibility. Even with the most lowered pillow, the intra-axial rear-view mirror is at the eye level, and when turning the right you have to bend and look from under the mirror. With peripheral vision to control the situation ahead on the right and it is impossible to see only a mirror. It is a pity, if not for that, there would be no more claims on ergonomics.
Usual life
We did not seek to ensure the rapid passage of the northern loop of Nyurgizing due to a significant decrease in comfort precisely this phrase, which sounded at the presentation, very accurately reflects the real state of things. In the new Focus ST, even on ordinary roads, it’s not that it doesn’t shake the soul, but in general it is almost not shaking. In Ford Team RS, which created this car, they approached the suspension setting very interesting. The fact that the stiffness of the front and rear springs and the stabilizer rigidity will not surprise anyone by 30%. Like the fact that the clearance has become less than 15 mm. But the fact that at the same time the general course of the suspension increased, a surprise. Thanks to the increased hitch, the wheels, even in maximum modes, do not lose contact with the road, the car behaves stably, clinging to the asphalt to the last. On ordinary Focus ST roads, it is very good. The five -cylinder turbo engine gives out the maximum torque already at a mark of 1600 rpm, so overtaking even in the mountains of particular difficulties is not a car is well accelerated from almost any transmission. Power 225 hp With small weight, Focus S, accelerates to hundreds per 6.8 s, while everything happens quite smoothly and comfortably. A lot has already been said about the Focus II chassis, the allegations that it is one of the best in controllability class is absolutely fair, and the version of ST, which is additionally polished, is even better. For those who certainly want to feel like a rider, one fashionable little thing with Jaguar migrated to Focus ST. In order to be more able to enjoy the voice of the motor and the whistle of the turbine, a special tube with a membrane translating the sounds of a motor compartment into the salon is displayed from under the hood to the cabin. This is for perfect gourmets. But, frankly, the sound of the in -line five installed under the hood is harsh, and the chassis is so comfortable that this broadcast seems superfluous to me. If I bought a Focus ST for myself, then, perhaps, I would have shut up this tube with a cork and flew along the roads almost in complete silence. In a word, a fast, comfortable machine, very pleasant when driving along ordinary roads.
Unusual life
On the first day on ordinary roads, we did not experience all the nuances of controllability, because we knew the program of the second day. We were proposed to check all the combat regimes in the ideal conditions of the Paul Rikor test autrod, on which tests are also held by the formula-1 commands. Huge security stripes on this track allow uses to say that you can get to the chipper here only if you pre -pour a full tank. Otherwise, gasoline is not enough. On the Focus ST racing track, he was no longer quite at ease. In principle, there are no complaints about him. A well -balanced chassis that makes it possible to go quite accurately and quickly, a powerful motor that provides a decent dynamics even for a racing track, a well -working gearbox is undoubted advantages. In the fastest turn of the track, which can be passed at a speed of 180 km/h with full gas, the car is easily controlled, and a small insufficient rotation is more likely a benefit for beginner riders. Moreover, in the stilettos, it does not manifest itself overly the car does not drag the nose out of turn, unless, of course, make frank nonsense.
 
In general, even along a racing track on Focus ST you can drive quite calmly, without a hassle and a permanent battle with a car. But for an even asphalt of the autrod, it is soft, the reactions on the steering wheel are very weak, and if you go to the limit, then there will be no feeling that you can go along the blade. Simply because the blade is hidden in the case, so that it is not by chance cut. Yes, and the differential lock is not enough if the gas is added at the output from the turn, the inner wheel immediately breaks into the slip and the anti -boom system comes into effect. In general, not a racing car. But the stabilization system works very well. In the same chassis, I once entered a little sharper, deliberately violating the balance of the car. The back axis immediately went into a skid, but after a moment the balance was restored, while the speed fell fifteen kilometers. Without any participation of the driver. From the car it seemed very everyday and completely safe, but on the pit lane I was asked not to do it anymore apparently, from the outside all this did not look so harmless. By the way, the stabilization system is completely turned off, so amateurs can obscure this quite can afford it. The behavior of a car with turning off the stabilization system does not change, just when you make an error you will have to catch the car yourself. Three particularly talented journalists from previous groups overestimated their forces so much that they still reached the wall, breaking three cars, which in the book of reviews on the autrod there is a corresponding entry: thanks everyone! Everything is great! The pillows are soft, the body is strong! We believed our colleagues for a word, and in our group no one began to put such experiments.
Conclusion
Paul Waigers is absolutely right. Focus ST really resembles a dolphin. Powerful, fast, dexterous, beautiful and not angry. To communicate with him, and if you are not extreme, but just want to drive a comfortable fast machine, which, with all its speed, will protect your spine and drum membranes, ST is very suitable. Moreover, it costs not very expensive $ 29950 for a 3-door version and 30950 for 5-door, which is not many for a 225-horsepower car.
Technical characteristics Ford Focus st.
Dimensions, mm 4362x1840x1447
Base, mm 2640
Front/back, mm 1535/1531
The diameter of the turn, m 11.7
Equipped mass, kg 1392
Type of engine gasoline in row 5-cylinder
Working volume, cubic meter. cm 2522
Max. Power, L.S./rpm 225/6000
Max. moment, nm/rpm 320/16004000
Mechanical transmission 6-speed
Front -wheel drive
Tires 225/40 R18
Max. Speed, km/h 241
Acceleration time 0-100 km, with 6.8
Fuel consumption (EU), l/100 km 13.8/6.8/9.3
Tank volume, l 55
Leonid Klimanovich
Photo by the author
and manufacturer firms
 
 

A source: Avtopanorama magazine