2019-04-01 CAR UK (1)

(Darren Dugan) #1

Insider


The third-generation fiery Focus comes from a long
bloodline of fantastic fast Fords. The last one was excellent
but played second fiddle to the straitjacket-meriting RS.
Available this summer as a hatch or an estate, it comes with
twin tailpipes, big wheels and an aggressive front end.

The ST’s 2.3-litre EcoBoost turbocharged inline four is
much like the one used in the previous-generation Focus
RS and current Mustang. A seven-speed auto is now
offered alongside the classic six-speed manual, and there’s
a manual-only diesel that fortunately isn’t called STD. Phew.

Front-wheel-drive ST’s petrol engine has 276bhp (up 29bhp
on its predecessor) and 309lb ft (up 59lb ft) for a sub-6.0-
second sprint to 62mph. Rev-matching is offered as part of
the optional Performance Pack for manual versions; it also
brings the red brake calipers. No one will buy the 187bhp
diesel for its sprint time.

Crucially, the petrol ST has Ford’s first-ever front-drive
electronic limited-slip diff, with the diesel option using
torque vectoring by braking instead. Sport and Track
modes allow a fruitier tone from the exhaust system, and
there’s launch-control tech – just like the hot Fiesta.

Do the maths and the Focus ST adds up to a very attractive
proposition. Almost every version of the current Focus
drives beautifully, and the Fiesta ST’s standout brilliant. So
this should be great, and yet... And yet we find ourselves
counting down the days until the T-Roc R arrives.

Essentially a high-rise Golf R, the T-Roc R is a crossover
that’s eaten a couple of cans of Popeye’s spinach. Arriving in
the UK in September, it’ll double VW’s R performance range
from one (exceptional) car to two. Angrier styling, quad
exhausts and R badging alert innocent bystanders.

Just one engine here, and it’s essentially the Golf R’s: a
2.0-litre turbo four with 296bhp and 295lb ft mated to a
seven-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic and all-wheel
drive for very rapid, fuss-free on-road performance
regardless of the weather.

Just the one engine, as with the Golf R, so no diesel to
muddy the waters. VW claims a 4.9-second sprint to 62mph,
and it will keep going to a 155mph electronic buffer. To put
that in context, that’s 0.3sec slower than a Golf R, but quite
a bit quicker than the Focus. (Ford hasn’t yet quoted a top
speed for the ST, but expect it to match the T-Roc.)

Race mode via the T-Roc’s twiddly drive mode dial and
launch control for the drag race enthusiast included
alongside vast brakes nicked from the Golf R Performance
Pack, fat 18-inch wheels and stability control that can be
switched off. Good.

Are you kidding? The Golf R is a car so outrageously
talented it’s taken all the fun out of working out what your
next car should be – it’s a Golf R, obviously. Except now it
might be a T-Roc R, not least because it means you can have
your crossover cake and eat hot hatch.

A serious
contender
because...?

276bhp
Focus or
296bhp
T-Roc?

What’s
makes it fly?

What’s the
performance
tech?

And the
winner is?

The hot hatch


fights for its life


It’s Ford’s new Focus ST and, in the crossover corner, VW’s feisty T-Roc R. Fight!


FORD FOCUS ST VW T-ROC R


Fast enough
to keep me
interested?

CAR
WINNER

18 CARMAGAZINE.CO.UK | APRIL 2019

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