Edmunds Tests 2013 Ford Focus ST, Finds it Slower but with Better Handling than MazdaSpeed3

The fact that Ford did not have an available 2013 Focus ST press car didn't discourage Edmunds' InsideLine from testing the hot hatch in the U.S., as the online magazine went ahead and spent $29,185 to buy a Tangerine Scream example from a local dealer to add to its long-term fleet.

After completing a quick break-in to settle in the mechanical components of the car, InsideLine then took Ford's 252-horsepower hatch to the track.

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Watch a Ford Focus do a 180-Degree Flip after Getting Caught on a Trolley Wire!

Russian dashcam videos never cease to amaze us. Just when you think you have seen it all, along comes an incident that defines the word 'strange'. And guess what; the driver is not the one to blame here…

The man seen in the video driving the previous generation Ford Focus hatchback, was going his way when all of a sudden, the car's front end clipped a street trolley wire that had fallen onto the road.

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This is What Happens When You Try to Pass Traffic from the Side of the Road

You would assume that all drivers with a valid license understand the concept of roads and lanes.

Nevertheless, you will always find a motorist who thinks he (or she) is cannier than the rest and does not need to obey the rules of the road.

Take this Ford Focus sedan driver, for instance. Instead of waiting in line, he decided to overpass the traffic by driving on the unpaved part of the freeway, which worked fine and dandy for a few miles until he failed to see the rail guard rising from the ground…

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Ford Focus ST "WRC Edition" 225Hp

Ford Europe rolled out its second WRC version of the Focus to commemorate the WRC manufacturer's championship title it won in 2006. In case you missed out, about a month ago Ford premiered the Focus WRC-S at the Barcelona show fitted with a 136Hp 2.0 TDi diesel unit. This time however, Ford chose to upgrade the high-performance Focus ST. Powered by a turbocharged Duratec ST 2.5-litre, 5-cylinder engine and equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox, the ST accelerates from 0 to 100km/h (62mph) in 6,8 sec while it’s capable of reaching a top speed of 241 km/h (150 mph). -Continued: Click “Read More…” below

Rally stickers aside, the Focus ST WRC Edition (available exclusively in white), is equipped with an optics pack that includes front and side spoilers, a rear diffuser, chrome-plated exhaust system and delicious 20-inch, white alloy wheels from OZ. Ford also fitted the WRC Edition with an Eibach suspension kit lowering the height of the car by 15mm. Inside, the only difference between the stock ST and the special edition concerns the addition of an aluminium plaque in the centre console signed by Ford’s WRC drivers Marcus Gronholm and Mikko Hirvonen.

For the time being, the Focus ST “WRC Edition” will be available in Austria in a limited number of 50 units with prices set at €36,982 ($51,000) meaning that buyers will pay a hefty €8,042 ($11.000) premium over the base ST.

2008 Ford Focus Facelift - Will It Be This Dramatic?

See the above CGI, well according to Autoexpress this is how the facelifted Focus will look like when it’s presented later on the year. While we’ll validate the fact that Ford will unveil a revised version of the Focus at the Frankfurt Show –not possibly as Autoexpress notes but definitely as our Ford source told us, we seriously doubt that the car is set for such a dramatic mid-life makeover.

Despite its relatively lacklustre looks, the Focus is selling like hotcakes in Europe. According to JD Power (see chart after the jump), Ford’s C-Segment hatch has found nearly 192.000 new owners in the first five months of 2007, placing it in the second place overall. Also, don’t forget that the third-generation is just two to three years away. What’s the point in proceeding to such a costly makeover if you’re only going to keep it in production for half-a-cycle? Maybe a few changes here and there along with a new set of engines, but nothing more in our humble opinion.

Pic via: Autoexpress , Sales Chart: JD Power

Ford Focus WRC-S: Special Version Limited To 666 Units

We know what your thinking, and the answer is no, we haven’t a devils clue to as why Ford decided limit production to exactly 666 units. What we do know though is that the special edition WRC-S was unveiled by Ford’s WRC driver, Marcus Gronholm, at the Barcelona Motor Show (June 6-19) and it’ll be available (for the time being) solely to the Spanish market. Based on the 3door, 136Hp Focus 2.0 TDCi, the diesel powered sport hatch is equipped with the same bodykit as the 225Hp Focus 2.5T ST along with 18-inch rims. The only difference is that it also receives eye popping WRC decoration stickers on both sides along with the production number.

Inside, the WRC-S gets a set of new sporty black colored seats with white lineation and matching floor mats, aluminium pedals and, well that’s about it. No 3-spoke steering wheel by the way. The Focus WRC-S has a base price of €21.595 ($29.000) in Spain, which means it’s €1.430 ($1.925) more expensive than your next-door neighbor’s Focus 2.0 TDCi. -Click “Read More…” below for more pictures

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Ford Focus Coupe 2009

Here’s an interesting proposition for the next generation Ford Focus; a coupe look for the 3door version. But wait, hasn’t Ford already done this? Well, maybe in the US with the redesigned 2008 US Focus, but not in Europe. US Focus similarities aside, we kinda dig Infomotori’s idea (but not the execution), for a coupe-like replacement for the third generation Focus 3d hatch. Although Infomotori suggests that the new Focus is due for a 2008 presentation, we doubt that Ford will change a model four years after its initial debut (2004 Paris Show). Keep in mind that the previous Focus stayed in production for 6 years, so a 2009/2010 date sounds more reasonable to us. Via: Infomotori

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