2013 Ford Focus ST

Tingling insides, jaw dropping performance display, girlfriend uncontrollably yelling at me. It’s not hard to find your favourite moment in a car when all three of those things happen in one turn. The 2013 Ford Focus ST is a hot hatch that makes Ford a legitimate leader of this class and will partially satisfy the die hards who have been crying for the RS since the early 2000’s. I say partially because European Ford lovers can still get the Focus RS, now at 305hp, while we here in North America get “stuck” with the ST. Yes, we are a hard done by lot.

Just like cable season premieres the ST didn’t disappoint and made the wait worth it. Well most cable premieres (looking your way “The Walking Dead”). Now you can say the wait for the ST was the worst, second only to waiting for me to get to that punch line.

It is apparent immediately upon trying to get into the car that it’s for performance and fun with comfort taking a decently sized backseat. The Recaro racing seats hold you firmly in place and do provide some comfort for driver and passenger. I did notice however a direct correlation between the room and long term comfort of the seats and the fact that I pluralize several parts of my face. Getting in and out of the seats took some getting used to but once you do learn it can be easier then getting into a lot of trucks and “regular” cars. I think my ease and comfort ability of the seat, entry and exit of the vehicle says a lot about Ford and Recaro engineers. I am six feet tall and 240 pounds, as my mother would say though “a husky 240 pounds” and it took two hours of driving before I began to notice some discomfort.
Staying with the interior, the driving experience and driving position is top notch. All required switches and buttons are well within reach of the driver and the computer spits out enough information to render those A pillar gauges extinct. The throws of the six speed transmission are smooth and forgiving yet never feel sloppy. Staying with forgiveness the ST has a great clutch that was precise but didn’t necessarily require the driver to be the same with their clutch and gas feet. This little detail can really impact market share and accessibility as it welcomes the competent pro and jittery novice alike.
The information system keeps the driver up to date and really solidifies the feeling between car and driver. Navigation and the climate system are strong but the media system leaves the driver a little frustrated. The touch screen is always appreciated and adds to the appearance but the Microsoft system that Ford uses, SYNC, could use improvements. At times it seems like the screen requires different amounts of pressure to make the buttons “work”. Sometimes a feather like touch seems to fly through menus, even those you don’t want, while other times it requires pressure that would make many worry about breaking something. It’s not a deal breaker but definitely an area to focus on in future editions.
The tester model was bathed in the not so stealthy Tangerine Scream colour which completely fits the car. The blends of yellow and orange create an eye catching combination that will likely be used for project cars new and old and seems to explode under sunlight. While the tires keep the car glued to the road the wheels keep eyes glued to the car, they are big but not silly and performance driven but not boring. Simply put the wheels are eye catching, unique and negate the need for any kind of “what aftermarket wheel should I get?” discussion.
The exterior package and stance give this car the appearance of a squat bulldog ready to attack. I would like to congratulate Ford designers with creating an enticing and aggressive package and I’m sorry that it has to be partially ruined by front license plate laws in some provinces.
As the awesome and rarely used cliché dictates we should “save the best for last”. Remember that feeling you got when you first got your license, that one where it didn’t matter what you were driving because it was so much fun to drive? The Ford Focus ST brings that back and will do it the entire time you drive this car. The turbocharged 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine produces 252 horsepower and 270 lb/ft with the peak torque figure being achieved in overboost mode. The ST has lots of available power through every gear and the ability to break traction in third and throw you back in sixth. As part of the performance package a tuned version of the Torque Vectoring Control found on other models is used. Based on the cars under steer the tuned vectoring will apply steering pressure more aggressively and adds cornering control to create the yaw effect during the above mentioned under steer. A new anti roll bar design, Ford’s Sport Steering System, upgraded shocks, springs and a chassis that sits 10 mm lower complete the performance options.
The Ford Focus ST Canadian MSRP is $29,999 and it boasts a fuel economy of 8.9L/6.2L/100km (city/highway). The computer also offers a variety of displays that will allow the driver to fine tune their speed and acceleration on the go and get the most out of a tank of gas.
In conclusion the Ford Focus is a car to watch, to consider and one that brings excitement back to getting from point A to point B.