2013 ford focus manual#

The shifter works well, even if the placement feels a bit far from the hand.

At one point during our drive, an otherwise routine U-turn required three back-and-forths to complete the 180, making the compact Focus ST feel as big as an Expedition. The variable-rate steering works well, too, making easy work of tight, winding switchbacks, though the car's turning radius is abominable. It's also a much more refined ride than the likes of a Mazda Mazdaspeed 3, which itself offers plenty of performance fun but in a rougher-around-the-edges package and without all of the near-luxury features available on the Focus ST. There's plenty of torque to pull you out of corners and up steep mountain passes without pause, and to propel you headlong down the freeway at up to triple-digit speeds in a blink, but there's never a whoosh! moment where you feel the turbo kick in. But unlike a car such as the Volkswagen Golf R-which, despite its slightly lower output is a faster car-the power delivery feels linear and smooth, not peaky, which gives the car a bit of a flying-under-the-radar feel. ST3 models get full-leather, eight-way power-adjustable and heated Recaros, HID headlamps and a navigation system.Īll of that extra oomph is apparent right off the bat. Up-trim ST2 cars add some nicely bolstered part-leather Recaro sport seats, dual-zone climate controls and an upgraded Sony audio system. Inside, all STs gets larger, thicker steering wheels, unique shifters and pedals and a dark headliner, as well as a unique gauge cluster for turbo boost, oil pressure and oil temperature. The ST also gets unique 19-inch alloy wheels and an integrated roof spoiler. Below the front bumper the splitter dips lower and sweeps around the corners, with fog lamps inset deep and wide. The design really plays up the car's performance credentials, too, with revised front and rear fascias featuring more aggressive details, from the one-piece grille to the single center tailpipe. Standard across the ST lineup are a host of electronic features we particularly appreciated, including a stability control system with three levels of intervention (including completely off!), a torque-vectoring control system that acts like an electronic limited-slip differential and a cornering understeer control system that does exactly what its name implies. The setup reduces sensitivity when driving in a straight line, but quickens up nicely when cornering. But the bigger news is with the steering system, which gets completely redone for the ST and sports a variable-ratio steering rack. The ride height has been lowered by 0.4 inch. The suspension sees some serious revisions, too, from its stiffer springs and shocks to a beefed-up antiroll bar. European markets will get the option of a wagon but nowhere will the Focus ST be built as a sedan. And every ST sold in North America will be the five-door.

2013 ford focus manual#

All of that adds up to 252 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque, with a trick overboost feature that allows for extending that peak torque for 15 seconds at a time.Įnthusiasts have more reason to rejoice: Every ST also gets the requisite six-speed manual gearbox there are no automatic or dual-clutch transmission options available. Where your regular Focus models make do with a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-banger turning out 160 hp and 146 lb-ft of torque, the ST model gets the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine with all of its accompanying tech features: high-pressure direct fuel injection, turbocharging and twin independent variable camshaft timing. The 2013 Ford Focus ST picks up where the SVT version left off after the 2004 model year by transforming the pedestrian Focus-a nice but otherwise serviceable car-into a true enthusiast's ride, stuffing a high-output engine underhood, installing a sport suspension underfoot, dressing the interior with some serious seats and equipment and generally giving a performance nod to every aspect of the car.