For the people who consider that the European Ford Focus ST to be bordering on perfection, Loder1899 is trying to tip the scales with its new customization kit for the stylish hatchback. This consists of a new suspension kit that lowers the vehicle for better handling, a new stainless steel sport exhaust system, a new set of 20 inch “IRA” wheels.
Probably the best part is the engine management system upgrade and a new sports air intake. The 2.5-liter engine now makes an extra 45 hp, bringing the total to 270.
Ford UK revealed today the sporty Zetec S. The car is now on sale at Uk dealers and is priced £750 above the equivalent Zetec derivative.
The Ford Focus Zetec S is available in three-door and five-door versions and is offered with the same wide choice of engines as the existing Focus Zetec with the addition of a 1.6 Ti-VCT 115PS petrol unit. Other available engines are the 1.8 125PS and 2.0 145PS petrol units and the diesel 1.8 TDCi 115 PS, 2.0 TDCi 136PS, and 2.0 TDCi 136PS with diesel particulate filter (DPF) which can also be specified with Ford’s acclaimed six-speed PowerShift automatic transmission.
Where the extra money goes for in the Zetec S comes with front and rear spoilers with lower sill extensions, 17" alloy wheels and aluminum-style foot pedals and hand brake cover.
For a teenager, there’s nothing like the feeling of independence that comes from hitting the open road. But now Ford is saying not so fast, Junior (literally). Ford’s new MyKey system (standard on the 2010 Focus coupe and optional on other models) allows parents to program a specific car key to play Big Brother. When used to start the car, the MyKey can limit top speed to 80 mph (as well as chime at speeds as low as 45), mute the stereo until a seatbelt is fastened, give early low fuel warnings, and perform other mothering tasks that will be sure to get your kids to give you the “that’s, like, totally unfair” look.
If Ford really wanted to do parents of teenagers a favor, they would set the system to warn if the car detected it was parked in the woods with two (or more—woohoo) occupants. But I guess for services like that you would need to get the trunk monkey.
Ford added today a new performance package for the Focus ST. The Mountune Performance package will retail at £1,120 and consists of a larger intercooler, a high-flow air filter and revised engine calibration. Together, this lifts power output from Ford’s potent 2.5-litre Duratec ST engine from 225PS to 260PS at 5,500rpm and from 320Nm to 400Nm at 2,500rpm.
The upgrade reduces the 0-60mph sprint by 0.6sec to 5.9sec, and the 0-100mph time by 1.9sec to 14.1sec.
Ford will invest at least $75 million to begin converting a Michigan SUV plant to small car production as part of its strategic shift to sell more of the fuel-efficient vehicles in North America. The 51 year old plant is located in Wayne, Michigan and is currently used to build the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs. Begining in November, Ford will start moving equipment to build the big SUVs to the Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, which currently makes Super Duty F-series trucks. The move will clear space for Michigan’s truck body shop to be retooled to make Focus bodies. The Michigan factory will be converted entirely to a car plant in 2010.
The changes are part of Ford’s plan to build more small cars in response to the rapid U.S. market shift away from trucks and SUVs. For the past few months, Ford has said it has not been able to build Focuses fast enough.
