2013 Ford Focus ST
We’re at Roebling Road Raceway near Savannah, Georgia, to find out if the 2013 Ford Focus ST does indeed deliver world-class performance for bargain basement prices. So let’s download the data before we dive in to that.
Starting under the hood, you’ll find Ford’s now very familiar 2.0-liter EcoBoost I4 engine, but it’s a high output version for the ST with an over-boost function that bumps horsepower up to 252. Torque remains the same at a very vigorous 270 lb-ft. Transmission is a 6-speed manual only and also gets specific ST updates.
The chassis adds some additional firming, while suspension and steering have all been re-calibrated. The ST rides almost half an inch lower than its more pedestrian siblings.
Atop all of that hardware, sits a 5-door hatchback body that gets a muscly makeover that transforms this compact from kitty cat to rip roaring' tiger. Specifics include a wide open, one piece, black trapezoidal grille, rocker extensions, and a diffuser-style rear bumper with venting and a cutout for the center-mounted dual exhaust. It wouldn’t be a hot hatchback without a prominent spoiler up top.
18-inch alloy wheels sport Good Year Eagle F1 rubber, with the two up front handling both steering and power distribution, as rally-car like all-wheel-drive is not on the menu. Manual transmission and hatchback only? Sure sounds European! ST, created by Ford of Europe’s Sports Technology division, is a true Euro-style performance car following in the path of the Volkswagen Golf R. And much like the Golf R, at the track, it ate up asphalt like few other front drivers can do. It was super easy to find the ST’s limits and push them right to that point corner after corner.
The front strut suspension and control blade independent rear have been perfectly stiffened, and the ST comes with unobtrusive stability control that can be disabled, and Torque Vectoring Control which uses selective braking to tighten turns. Steering is nice and direct, and while speed sapping front drive understeer is still an issue, a little lift-off-the-throttle oversteer counters it nicely.
As for complaints, if you’re not used to slinging compact, hot hatches around the track, you’ll feel like you’re sitting right on top of the front wheels, and the Sound Symposer which pumps engine noise into the cabin didn’t pump quite enough for track work. A little more exhaust note would go a long way in helping you stay off the rev limiter.
When driven in a straight line, the ST will spring to 60 in 5.9-seconds and complete the ¼ mile in 14.8-seconds at 95 miles-per-hour. Power builds quickly, so keep a hand on the shifter and be ready to move it up; meanwhile, keep a firm grip on the wheel with your other one as there’s plenty of torque steer to go around.
The Focus ST gets a thoroughly transformed interior as well, with a sporty two-tone theme that mirrors your exterior color of choice. Our favorite feature by far is the optional Recaro leather buckets up front, but the thick pedals, steering wheel, shifter, and dash top accessory gauge pack are not far behind. And hatchback versatility is always a plus with rear seats that fold to give you wagon-like cargo room of 44.8 cubic-ft.
Away from the track the ST feels surprisingly docile. The now easier to hear engine and exhaust make a sweet sporty sound when you want them to, and quiet down nicely when you don’t. While the suspension is tight, it’s not uncomfortably so over even rough pavement. Even far from its limits, the ST is a very fun car to drive.
And, it’s a clear winner in value as well, packing all this major performance into a very reasonable $24,495 price. The Recaros are part of a $2,500 package that includes a Sony stereo and dual auto climate and it’s well worth it.
So, the results are in and we feel the 2013 Ford Focus ST fully lives up to its promise by delivering an incredible amount of performance for an almost absurdly low price. With hints that an even more potent Focus RS is in the works, we sure hope Ford stays this global performance course and builds a lot of them.
Specifications
- Engine: 2.0-liter EcoBoost I4
- Horsepower: 252
- Torque: 270 lb-ft.
- 0-60 mph: 5.9 seconds
- 1/4 mile: 14.8 seconds @ 95 mph
2024 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Manthey
An Easy And Effective Way To Get More Extreme With Your GT4 RS
Recently we put to the test a Porsche 911 GT3 with a dealer installed upgrade engineered by the folks at Manthey racing. Their expertise harnessed the power of the wind to make that GT3 stick to a track like never before. Well thankfully, Porsche isn’t confining all of that aero goodness just to the 911, as a Manthey kit is now available for the 718 Cayman GT4 RS. Time for us to hit the track and get a grip.
You don’t have to drive this Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS with the Manthey Kit on a racetrack to enjoy it, but we highly recommend it. High speed track time is what it’s built for after all, as the Manthey Kit is all about doubling the amount of road-gripping downforce in a car that already felt glued to the track.
The added pieces for making all that downforce pressure are obvious, dive planes ahead of the front wheels, an extended splitter up front, and of course you can’t miss those big aero discs on the rear wheels.
The rear wing is 3.4-inches wider, has larger side blades, and more adjustability; the bodywork back here getting some structural enhancements to handle the additional down force pressure. Unlike the 911’s Manthey Kit, here in the 718, you also get a suspension upgrade. That includes a special inverted coilover setup with lots of adjustability.
Without doing a direct back-back comparison, it’s hard to say how much more proficient the Manthey Kit makes the already very impressive GT4 RS, but here around the 2-mile road course at Dominion Raceway it definitely felt stiffer than we remember the last GT4 RS being. But with this car, that’s a bit like comparing a razor blade that was used once, with a brand new one. Is the brand new one sharper? Yes. Are they both insanely sharp? Yes again. Fortunately, Porsche did just such a comparison and the Manthey Kit made GT4 RS 6 seconds quicker around the Nürburgring.
Is the brand new one sharper? Yes. Are they both insanely sharp? Yes again.
It felt so stiff at Dominion we found it best to stay off the apex curbs, as they tended to shoot us back onto the track rather than letting us shortcut. The Manthey Kit does not deliver any additional power, but the 493 horsepower and 331 lb-ft of torque coming out of this naturally-aspirated 4.0-liter boxer-six is more than adequate.
With many cars, you can debate whether they sound better inside or out, but there’s no contest here, inside is where it’s at, with the 4.0-liter nestled directly behind you blasting an endless rush of percussive sound that is music to our ears. Around the track, the PDK did it’s PDK thing, which is basically staying one step ahead of us by always being in the right gear; so, we just left it in auto.
And to give us the best possible performance platform, Porsche added the Manthey Kit to a GT4 RS equipped with the optional Weissach package which uses additional carbon fiber and titanium to reduce weight. Upgraded steel brake lines are also part of the Manthey Kit, and the brakes performed as admirably as we expected.
Fantastic amounts of feel, with no fade; but getting on them hard into corners really requires a firm grip on the wheel as those front tires are being shoved into the pavement so hard, they’re grabbing every track flaw with intensity. Track compound brake pads are an option if you plan on using your GT4 RS strictly for track days.
The Manthey Kit adds $53,946 onto the a GT4 RS’ $167,495 base price, meaning you’re in for at least $221,441 before installation fees, Weissach Package, or any other upgrades. So, it really is only worth spending that kind of cash if you’re truly obsessed with making your GT4 RS a standout on the track and the street!
You could spend a lot of time and effort turning your Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS into the ultimate track weapon, or just turn to the folks at Manthey Racing who’ve already put in the hard work and know a thing or two about creating race winning Porsches. You could say that’s taking the easy way, but we’d say it’s taking the best way.
Specifications
As Tested
- Engine: 4.0-liter boxer-six
- Horsepower: 493
- Torque: 331 lb-ft
- EPA: 15 City | 19 Highway | 16 Combined
- MW Fuel Economy: 14.5 mpg (Premium