Ford makes feisty return with the Focus, Fiesta
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
PREMIER Automobiles Sdn Bhd recently launched the latest auto offerings from Ford — the new Focus ST 2.5 and Fiesta ST 2.0. The car dealer describes the latest ST as cars that deliver performance and value.
During the launch of the new cars, the representatives pointed out that the ST stands for "Sports Technologies", and the Focus ST 2.5 and Fiesta ST 2.0 are the first of Ford's Sports Technologies models to feature the new style ST branding. Ford's new "ST" badge uses a central red stripe design inspired by Ford's classic RS "racing stripes" and will be adopted by all new Ford ST models introduced from now on.
"The ST style is more than just a badge, it is a whole new performance and design concept devised by Ford's in-house tuner TeamRS as an ongoing part of its road car programme," explains Jost Capito, TeamRS director of Ford Motors.
"ST should be synonymous with affordable, dependable performance and an ST model should reflect the character of the car from which it is derived," says Capito. "The design philosophy behind the Focus ST 2.5 and the Fiesta ST 2.0 aims to bring out the enthusiast in every driver while being enjoyable to live with as an everyday car."
Ever since the introduction of the Fiesta XR2 in 1981, affordable performance and sheer driving pleasure have become the trademarks of Ford's small car range.
With the introduction of the Fiesta ST into the market, Ford hopes to bring those performances to a new generation of drivers.
Fiesta ST is aimed right at the heart of the popular "junior hot hatch" class and Ford's engineers are confident it will take the class by storm. "Our goal was to make the Fiesta ST the best all-rounder in the class," explains Nick Collins, Ford's project leader.
The Fiesta ST is also the first road car to come from Ford's new TeamRS organisation formed early in 2003 when the company's competition and performance road car engineers were pulled together for the first time to create performance road cars and new competition models.
Fiesta ST is powered by a specially modified version of Ford's 2.0 litre Duratec 16-valve engine, delivering 15OPS and a wide spread torque for flexibility and pulling power. The Fiesta ST gets from 0 to 60mph in just 7.9 sec with a maximum speed of 129mph.
The Fiesta's chassis has been modified to deliver class-leading handling and road holding for the ST. The car's handling is considerably quicker and the brakes have improved in performance, with rear disc brakes fitted for the first time on Fiesta.
Transmission ratios in the five-speed manual gearbox and have been revised and there is a new, short-throw gearshift for ultra-fast, precise gear changes.
A wider and deeper front grille, new bumper mouldings, side skirts and functional rear spoiler complement its low stance, and handsome multi-spoke alloy wheels with low profile, specially turned Pirelli P Zero tyres gives the Fiesta ST its sporty appearance.
The cabin has also been given the ST treatment. The front sports seats are trimmed in black leather with bold red or blue cloth centre sections and the distinctive ST logo. Other interior detailing includes a thick, leather-wrapped steering wheel, unique gear lever, metal foot pedals and ST branded scuff plates.
The Fiesta ST won the "Winner of Business Standard Motoring Jury Award, 2006", "What Car's Best Used Supermini for 2006", and "Winner of Brazilian Auto Esporte magazine car of the Year in 2006 (Fiesta Sedan)". Premier Automobile representatives say that the Ford Fiesta has the capability to allow its owners to save up to 50 per cent on the fuel bill, thanks to its standard 1.4L TDCi diesel engine. More units are expected to be made available in Brunei by the end of the year.
In 2005, Ford unveiled a hot hatch version of the Mk 2 Focus. Called the Focus ST, it is now available in either three- or five-door hatchback variants. The car uses the same T5 engine from the Volvo S40/V50 T5 models — a turbocharged 2.5 L 5-cylinder engine producing 225hp. The Focus Mk 2 ST is also known as the XR5 Turbo in Australia and new Zealand, but is sold as a five-door hatchback only.
The Mk 2, named C307, uses the Ford C1 platform which is shared with the Volvo S40, V50 and C70, Mazda3 and Focus C-MAX models. Ford calls this platform sharing programme "Global Shared Technologies".
The basic suspension design, which contributed much to the Mk 1's success, has been carried over largely unchanged from its predecessor which, along with a 10 per cent stiffer body shell, offers even better handling and ride, according to Ford. The same body styles as the Mk 1 Focus were offered, though the saloon did not appear until mid-2005.
The Focus Mk 2 is much larger than its predecessor with a 25mm increase in wheelbase, 168mm longer, 8mm taller and 138mm wider. As a result the interior and boot space has increased. New technologies include a KeyFree system, a solar-reflect windshield, adaptive front lighting. Bluetooth hands-free phones and voice control for audio, telephone and climate control systems.
It also features either a Durashift 6-speed manual, 4-speed automatic transmission, the all-new advanced transmission or just the standard manual.
The Mk 2's styling features the same design found in the Mondeo and Fiesta.
The interior dashboard follows on from the Mk 2 Mondeo and is constructed from higher quality plastics than before.
The new car has gained the best ever EuroNCAP ratings for its class (five stars for adult protection, four of five for child protection and two of five for pedestrian protection), as well as full marks (16/16) for the front impact test.
Auto Express in 2005 hailed the European Focus Mk 2 "Supreme Champion" in its New Car of the Year awards. The Focus also won the subcategory of Best Compact Family Car in the same awards.
The Brunei Times
During the launch of the new cars, the representatives pointed out that the ST stands for "Sports Technologies", and the Focus ST 2.5 and Fiesta ST 2.0 are the first of Ford's Sports Technologies models to feature the new style ST branding. Ford's new "ST" badge uses a central red stripe design inspired by Ford's classic RS "racing stripes" and will be adopted by all new Ford ST models introduced from now on.
"The ST style is more than just a badge, it is a whole new performance and design concept devised by Ford's in-house tuner TeamRS as an ongoing part of its road car programme," explains Jost Capito, TeamRS director of Ford Motors.
"ST should be synonymous with affordable, dependable performance and an ST model should reflect the character of the car from which it is derived," says Capito. "The design philosophy behind the Focus ST 2.5 and the Fiesta ST 2.0 aims to bring out the enthusiast in every driver while being enjoyable to live with as an everyday car."
Ever since the introduction of the Fiesta XR2 in 1981, affordable performance and sheer driving pleasure have become the trademarks of Ford's small car range.
With the introduction of the Fiesta ST into the market, Ford hopes to bring those performances to a new generation of drivers.
Fiesta ST is aimed right at the heart of the popular "junior hot hatch" class and Ford's engineers are confident it will take the class by storm. "Our goal was to make the Fiesta ST the best all-rounder in the class," explains Nick Collins, Ford's project leader.
The Fiesta ST is also the first road car to come from Ford's new TeamRS organisation formed early in 2003 when the company's competition and performance road car engineers were pulled together for the first time to create performance road cars and new competition models.
Fiesta ST is powered by a specially modified version of Ford's 2.0 litre Duratec 16-valve engine, delivering 15OPS and a wide spread torque for flexibility and pulling power. The Fiesta ST gets from 0 to 60mph in just 7.9 sec with a maximum speed of 129mph.
The Fiesta's chassis has been modified to deliver class-leading handling and road holding for the ST. The car's handling is considerably quicker and the brakes have improved in performance, with rear disc brakes fitted for the first time on Fiesta.
Transmission ratios in the five-speed manual gearbox and have been revised and there is a new, short-throw gearshift for ultra-fast, precise gear changes.
A wider and deeper front grille, new bumper mouldings, side skirts and functional rear spoiler complement its low stance, and handsome multi-spoke alloy wheels with low profile, specially turned Pirelli P Zero tyres gives the Fiesta ST its sporty appearance.
The cabin has also been given the ST treatment. The front sports seats are trimmed in black leather with bold red or blue cloth centre sections and the distinctive ST logo. Other interior detailing includes a thick, leather-wrapped steering wheel, unique gear lever, metal foot pedals and ST branded scuff plates.
The Fiesta ST won the "Winner of Business Standard Motoring Jury Award, 2006", "What Car's Best Used Supermini for 2006", and "Winner of Brazilian Auto Esporte magazine car of the Year in 2006 (Fiesta Sedan)". Premier Automobile representatives say that the Ford Fiesta has the capability to allow its owners to save up to 50 per cent on the fuel bill, thanks to its standard 1.4L TDCi diesel engine. More units are expected to be made available in Brunei by the end of the year.
In 2005, Ford unveiled a hot hatch version of the Mk 2 Focus. Called the Focus ST, it is now available in either three- or five-door hatchback variants. The car uses the same T5 engine from the Volvo S40/V50 T5 models — a turbocharged 2.5 L 5-cylinder engine producing 225hp. The Focus Mk 2 ST is also known as the XR5 Turbo in Australia and new Zealand, but is sold as a five-door hatchback only.
The Mk 2, named C307, uses the Ford C1 platform which is shared with the Volvo S40, V50 and C70, Mazda3 and Focus C-MAX models. Ford calls this platform sharing programme "Global Shared Technologies".
The basic suspension design, which contributed much to the Mk 1's success, has been carried over largely unchanged from its predecessor which, along with a 10 per cent stiffer body shell, offers even better handling and ride, according to Ford. The same body styles as the Mk 1 Focus were offered, though the saloon did not appear until mid-2005.
The Focus Mk 2 is much larger than its predecessor with a 25mm increase in wheelbase, 168mm longer, 8mm taller and 138mm wider. As a result the interior and boot space has increased. New technologies include a KeyFree system, a solar-reflect windshield, adaptive front lighting. Bluetooth hands-free phones and voice control for audio, telephone and climate control systems.
It also features either a Durashift 6-speed manual, 4-speed automatic transmission, the all-new advanced transmission or just the standard manual.
The Mk 2's styling features the same design found in the Mondeo and Fiesta.
The interior dashboard follows on from the Mk 2 Mondeo and is constructed from higher quality plastics than before.
The new car has gained the best ever EuroNCAP ratings for its class (five stars for adult protection, four of five for child protection and two of five for pedestrian protection), as well as full marks (16/16) for the front impact test.
Auto Express in 2005 hailed the European Focus Mk 2 "Supreme Champion" in its New Car of the Year awards. The Focus also won the subcategory of Best Compact Family Car in the same awards.
The Brunei Times
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