The Ford Focus ST may be among the newest of kids on the block, but it already has one comparison-test crown to its name. Its turbo four, standard Recaros, and suspension setup allow the hot Focus to feel as at home on the track as it does on the drive to the office. That versatility also makes it an ideal canvas for the tuning and customizing market, as evidenced by Ford's display at the upcoming 2013 SEMA show. The blue oval will present four Focus ST variants, customized to show the wealth of possibilities for making the hatchback look, sound, and go faster. Here's what to expect on the show floor in Las Vegas:
Ford Focus ST by PM Lifestyle
This Focus ST, modified by PM Lifestyle, exemplifies the tradition of lower, gnarlier California customization, with an emphasis on go-fast accessories. A custom front fascia evocative of the Fusion sedan's is added, as is a 19-inch wheel-and-tire package, and improvements to the chassis include stronger brakes and a more versatile suspension setup. Ford claims an undisclosed bump in horsepower, too, thanks to modifications by Ford Racing, Banks Power, and Cobb—and if our time behind the wheel of a Cobb-tuned ST taught us anything, it's that the Austin, Texas–based tuner knows how to make the Focus faster.
Green Filter USA Ford Focus ST
From a company known for producing aftermarket air filters comes a fascinating homage to Ford's historic racing pedigree with more attention paid to the "show" than the "go." As did the Lotus-Ford that took top honors at the 1965 Indianapolis 500, this Focus ST wears a green-and-yellow livery that tastefully calls attention to the ST's bass-like mouth—as well as megaphone exhaust outlets that mimic the 500 winner's. Ford says that bespoke suspension treatment by customizer Ground Force "is tuned for the commute to work or the weekend racer."
DRAGG Ford Focus ST
This Focus ST, tuned for the Oxnard, California–based Drag Racing Against Gangs and Graffiti (DRAGG) outfit, is the menacing police pursuit vehicle you'd rather not see in the rearview mirror. Decked out with black wheels and a full roster of emergency lights, including a light bar that extends the width of the roof, the DRAGG ST is the cop car that the blue oval would be wise to consider for production—so consider yourself on notice, Taurus Interceptor. While the other STs in this cohort brag about suspension upgrades and horsepower increases—that DRAGG's ST portends to also have—the can't-miss feature here is the bad-ass interior gun rack.
UTI Gulf Racing Ford Focus ST
Coated in contrasting blue and orange paint, a color scheme that pays homage to the Gulf livery made famous by the GT40 in Le Mans, the Focus ST customized by Universal Technical Institute (UTI) rivals the Green Filter USA Focus ST for the most convincing tribute to some faster, famous Fords. Dual side-mounted exhausts and 19-inch Forgestar wheels that healthily fill out the amplified wheel arches are among the treatments performed to turn heads. Beyond the paint job, the manufacturer hints at elevated horsepower figures, but offers no specific numbers. We're particularly digging the whale-tail rear spoiler.
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Ford, as well as a number of other automakers, has a robust roster of cars set to star in Las Vegas. Stay tuned in the next couple of weeks for all the news and info from Ford and the rest of the SEMA show floor.
from Car and Driver Blog http://blog.caranddriver.com
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