Ford Reveals VW Golf GTI-rivalling Focus ST
The previous model was an acquired taste. This new model is an altogether more sensible proposition. Aggressively-bolstered Recaro seats with eye-popping coloured panels have been ditched in favour of more comfortable chairs. Multi-mode suspension promises to make the ST a more liveable proposition and there鈥檚 even a seven-speed paddle shift automatic variant for those who would rather not row six of their own gears. A digital dash shared with the Mustang features alongside an 8-inch touchscreen and sophisticated driver aids not available in the previous model. 鈥淲e鈥檝e incorporated learnings from programmes including our Ford GT supercar and the acclaimed Focus RS to develop a mid-size performance car with a degree of flexibility that鈥檚 unique in its segment,鈥?he says. As with rival machinery in the 2019 Golf GTI and Hyundai i30N, the new ST drives the front wheels through an electronically controlled limited-slip differential. The Ford brings variable shock absorbers as well as selectable driving modes to deliver on the promise of a car for every circumstance. Relatively small 18-inch wheels wrapped in grippy Michelin tyres normally found on high-end European performance cars seal the deal. Turbo diesel and wagon variants found overseas won鈥檛 be offered in Australia.
You might think that 228 horsepower鈥攁n increase of 8 ponies from 2018 - might not sound terribly exciting, but every last one is maximized to deliver smile after smile. And the torque, 258 lb.-ft. 1,500 rpm, is glorious. Let out the clutch, step on the gas, and there are no dead spots in the GTI鈥檚 power delivery. Joyfully abundant power and torque are on tap through every one of the six gears, rowed using a tactilely pleasing round shift knob with dimples that resemble a golf ball. Clutch action is a little long, and I stalled the car a couple of times before I got used to it. The shift action is a bit long and notchy as well, and very different from the snick-snick attenuation of a Japanese gearbox, but it鈥檚 all a part of its Teutonic charm. Running this engine to redline is seriously addictive and hedonistic. It鈥檚 no wonder that owners cite the engine as their favorite aspect of GTI ownership. The EPA estimates that you should get 27 mpg in combined driving conditions.
Even with my overenthusiastic right foot and multiple gratuitous trips to the local canyon roads, I was able to extract 26.1 mpg over the course of a week of driving. Given this result, it鈥檚 odd that GTI owners are dissatisfied with their cars鈥?fuel economy. Perhaps it has to do with the engine鈥檚 premium fuel requirement. As is true of small Volkswagen models, you can sense the skilled hands of the company鈥檚 engineers working their magic as soon as you put the car into gear. In common driving situations, the GTI feels planted to the road but nevertheless delivers a remarkably silken ride that absorbs most of the harshness from the road. Get the GTI onto a twisty, scenic road, and its relative docility transforms. New for 2019, every version of the GTI benefits from a standard torque-sensing limited-slip differential - also known as VW鈥檚 VAQ differential - that was a part of the rabble-rousing Golf R鈥檚 drivetrain. It variably distributes the engine鈥檚 torque between the front wheels to enhance traction and reduce the steering nonsense that can sometimes befall a front-wheel-drive vehicle. Together with the Bridgestone Potenza R-rated tires, the GTI stuck its landing every time.
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