The Ford Focus ST Edge Auto Piston Review
The new Focus ST is a sporty compact car with a supercharged engine. It’s also a great value for the money. The steering feels incredibly precise, while the engine is loud and overactive. In this review we take a look at what makes the ST so good.
It’s super-precise
The Ford Focus ST is an excellent car to drive. Its turbocharged engine delivers 450 horsepower and is paired with a powerful transmission. Its auto piston is super-precise, and the suspension is firm. But the car lacks the raucousness of its counterparts, such as the Fiesta ST. While it stays level in fast sweepers, it does lose its good manners at high g loads. Also, it has a tendency to understeer in corners, making it harder to drive aggressively. Similarly, it is a bit sluggish on downshifts, which makes it less thrilling than some of Ford’s other top-end performance products.
Another benefit of the Ford Focus ST is its manual transmission. It offers better mileage than the standard ST, with 21mpg in the city and 246mpg on the highway. The ST features a manual ‘box, shift lights, and rev-matching.
It’s noisy
The Focus ST is equipped with a 252-horsepower turbocharged inline-four. The car is built to be both functional and loud for use on the track. The noises produced by the turbo engine are amplified at high speed and by speakers installed on the car. Some owners are critical of BMW Active Sound Design for its inauthenticity, but that isn’t the only complaint about the Focus ST.
Some Focus ST models equipped with 2.0L GTDI engines may exhibit an audible ticking noise when the engine is idling at normal temperature. This is a normal characteristic and should not be repaired. However, the problem may be more serious and warrants further investigation. Gary at Collins Performance says he’s seen the problem on some other mapped cars. One customer has a Focus ST with 170,000 miles on an untouched bottom end.
It’s overactive
The 2019 Ford Focus ST is the middle child of the ST family. It thrives in its mid-level position and offers plenty of mid-level mayhem. It also offers a smooth ride, though it lacks the smoothness of a Civic Type R. While steering is precise and the steering wheel turns heavily, it’s not as smooth as it should be. The result is a car that feels nervous, but is nonetheless very fast.
It’s Ford’s first front-wheel drive car with an electronic limited-slip differential
An electronic limited-slip differential, or LSD, sends more torque to the wheel with the most traction. Different types of LSDs function differently. Some use viscous coupling that relies on friction caused by fluid heating, while others are electronically controlled. A modern example is the Renault Megane 275 Trophy, which has a computer-operated clutch.
The new Focus ST is available in five-door hatchback and wagon body styles and features a new engine line-up. The Focus ST is powered by either a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine or a 1.7-litre diesel tuned for 187 horsepower. Ford has improved torque levels by 17 per cent, while the car’s traction control system now features a new electronic limited-slip differential. This technology improves cornering and response time to changing grip levels and driver inputs.
Electronic limited-slip differentials have many advantages, including increased traction, increased fuel efficiency, and increased safety. The technology is increasingly replacing mechanical actuators in the automotive industry. Toyota has had problems with unintended acceleration due to throttle control software. However, the company has since fixed this problem.
