Pipe Dream
Producing an immense bark under load, the
new pipework released even more power from the ST’s two-litre, inline-four
EcoBoost engine (a lump that delivers 25bhp more than its five-cylinder predecessor
in standard guise). As most fast Ford owners know, however, an increase in
stopping power is also a good idea when chasing ponies. It was with this in
mind that Pete contacted AP Racing and asked them to boost his Blue Oval’s
brakes. The car was soon making good use of four-pots, 343mm grooved discs,
braided hoses and Ferodo pads, and the bright red calipers looked great peeking
out from behind the anthracite Comps.
With
the new model generation Ford Focus ST still puts on a proper power shovel
nach.Lieferte the old Focus 04 have a 2.5-liter five-cylinder inline engine 166
kW/225 hp, the new Focus ST from a 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder Turbo-fired
with 184 kW/250 hp. This should be the Ford Focus ST by far the strongest
combination in the compact class.
Unfortunately, Pete was falling out of love
with his ride’s rare rims. “I bought them because the design owed more than a
passing nod to the wheels worn by BTCC racers, yet as time passed, I began to
consider them as inappropriate for a family car that was being built for
spirited road action,” he admits. This was a view undoubtedly influenced by the
dual purpose of the fivedoor Focus, since Pete’s wife, Emily, had adopted it as
the family runabout. “It’s incredibly practical and is the first relatively
sensible car that we’ve owned!” laughs the father of two, acknowledging the
550bhp Mk2 Focus RS sat on his driveway. He wasn’t done playing with the ST
just yet, though...
Gold Fever
A set of 19in RH Alurad NBU Race wheels
were painted in a Honda shade of gold and bolted into each corner, while the
original wrap was replaced with a carboneffect tailgate and bonnet, Demon
Performance Centre graphics, and gold side stripes that wrap themselves around
the Mk3’s distinctive headlights.
A grille sourced from the US domestic
market was applied to the front end and completes the exterior of this Spirit
Blue belter.
The
only differences are some applications of brushed aluminum on the steering
wheel, handbrake and gear knob and leather sports seats and rear seats by
Recaro.
Meanwhile, a Stage 2 Revo map improved
fuelling and gave the car a rolling road readout of 315bhp. It was another good
result, although Pete wasn’t happy with the way that his ST planted its potent
punch. “I could tell that there was potential for more power, but could detect
torque steer when taking off at speed. I decided to install a Quaife ATB limited-slip
differential before any further updates and I’m delighted to report that the
change has transformed the character of the car for the better,” he says.
Different Strokes
Concerns regarding a loss of traction
during sharp launches have been eliminated following the introduction of the
diff to the Ford’s six-speed factory gearbox, and this signalled the green
light for a further hike in horsepower. Pete had his sights set firmly on a
Loba LO370P hybrid turbocharger – a blower that starts life as a brand-new Borg
Warner K04, before being machined to employ a 20 percent larger forged billet
aluminium compressor wheel. It’s an update that claims to offer greater
strength and durability over a cast item and is significantly lighter than the
factory component that it replaces. The end result is improved response, better
efficiency and greater airflow, and the whole unit is balanced to less than
0.05gmm. Impressive stuff.
18-inch
aluminum wheels - Unique Y-spoke design - Equipped with summer tires, for extra
grip at the curves
“The turbine wheel is also bigger than the
standard item and the blades have been clipped to reduce back pressure,”
confirms Pete. An uprated bearing is another key feature of the LO370P, and
interested parties considering the same snail-shaped solution will be pleased
to learn that the turbo is a direct plug-and-play fitment in place of the
standard Focus equipment.
