Latest news is that Ford has just been pushed down to the fifth spot among automotive manufacturers as the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group has produced 8000 more vehicles than Ford in the first half of 2009. A feat unimaginable prior to the current turbulent economic climate. 

And it was only five years ago, Toyota sent tremors across the automotive world by displacing Ford as the world’s second largest automaker. Here’s hoping that Ford can stop the rot soon.

 

It’s hard to believe that the Ford Focus is already five years old; perhaps the (initial) bland styling did help withstand the impact of time. Visually, this week’s featured car, the revised Focus ST features a much freshened up fascia. 

The headlights and sculpted nose is sharper and more dynamic and the overall look remains cohesive. By removing the tacky platinum-esque surrounds of the front and rear fog lights: the Focus ST’s facelift is quite simply a job well-done.

Clearly Ford had most of the money and resources poured into freshening up the visuals as they have left the chassis and engine alone - and justifiably so, because there was really no need to. 

Start the Focus ST, via the new transmission tunnel-mounted ‘Ford Power’ button and you will immediately be treated with a deep bassy woofle note from the characterful turbocharged 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine, sourced from Volvo.  Should the 222bhp be not enough, the patient ones can wait for the Focus RS with a higher tuned version of the same five-cylinder engine. 

“Muscular” is how you would describe the turbocharged engine as it gets into a big, linear surge into driving license revoking speeds via the chunky sweet shifting six-speed manual gearbox. The century sprint certainly feels swifter than the 6.8 secs claimed by the manufacturer. 

However the five-cylinder engine is a huge drinker for premium unleaded despite the 9.3 litres per 100 km which the manufacturer has lay claims to. In the real world, it would be hard to resist flooring the throttle when the opportunities arise; you burble along with a quiet whistle from under the bonnet when you put your foot down or an occasional pop from the exhaust when you lift, you just don’t care.

It's for certain that everyone will enjoy the hallmark Ford school of dynamics: supple damping with weighty and communicative steering. Granted that the Focus ST allows too much road noise into the car over rough roads and road imperfections, but this is quite simply the best riding sports-orientated hatchback on sale. 

The Ford Focus is already 5 years old and we should be “kind” to the Focus ST’s interior, but it is simply quite desperate in here compared to newer rivals.  The main moulding for the dash top is soft-ish to touch but the rest of plastics are hard and insubstantial feeling. 

However, there are three extra dash-top dials which are a nice touch, the six-speed manual is slick and the Recaro seats are excellent. Not forgetting the bassy factory fitted sound system. Crucially, this is a well thought-through interior design; hence it covers all the practical aspects life can throw at you.  

Perhaps the biggest problem could be the “baggage” that the colour choices the Focus ST comes with. Only four to choose from; “electric orange”, “colorado red”, “performance blue” and “panther black”. Seemingly, it’s either loud or black. 

Would you wake up the following Monday thinking what the f..K were you thinking when you choose to go “electric orange”, while you attempt to match your wardrobe with your new striking to look at Focus ST ?    

Priced at a completive S$101,999, the Ford Focus ST is a steal if you can overlook the slightly iffy interior and potentially high running costs. With cars as good as the new Fiesta and the Focus, how on earth did the Koreans get ahead of Ford?

Engine	2521 cc, 5-cyl DOHC, 20 valves turbocharged
Transmission	6-speed manual
Wheels Driven	front
Max. Power	225 bhp @ 6000rpm
Max. Torque	320 Nm @ 1600-4000rpm
0-100 km/h	6.8 secs
Top speed	241 km/h
Fuel Economy	9.3 litres per 100 km
CO2 Emissions	244 g/km
Dimensions (L x W x H) / Weight	4357 X 1839 X 1497 / 1408kg
Price with COE*	S$101,999