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Ford Focus hatchbacks get the SVT treatment for performance
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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ARLINGTON, Tex. -- With four big speed-rated tires poised at the starting line of a circuitous autocross course in Arlington, Tex., we're strapped hard against the bolstered bucket in a souped-up performance car by Ford that's cast from the eensy-weensy Focus.
Ford dubs this little zipper the Focus SVT.
What's SVT?
It means Special Vehicle Team, acronym for a group of automotive engineers at Ford who create high-performance versions of particular car models by applying special suspension hardware and engine tuning, racer-size brakes with big speed-rated tires and other accoutrement of lickety-split road romping.
In addition to the high-revving Focus, the SUV treatment at Ford currently extends to an awesome SVT Mustang Cobra and the F-150 SVT Lightning truck.
On hand for Focus are serious upgrades in powertrain, suspension, brakes and tires to position the car in the same league as some pricy sport-tuned imports -- yet Ford draws the bottom line at $18,000.
It looked slick and serious on the rounded body of a Focus ZX3 three-door hatchback coupe scored by sharply creased planes and wild shapes for front lamps.
Exterior modifications extend to a big front air dam with honeycomb grille, special ground effects bodywork and distinctive rocker moldings. Headlamps wear smoked-glass bezels and round crystalline fog lamps appear in the front fascia as a chrome-tipped exhaust pipe spikes the tail.
The cabin contains two-tone bucket seats with leather bolsters and fabric-clad seat surfaces, titanium-faced electro-luminescent gauges in the instrument cluster, racing-style pedals and a leather-wrapped aluminum shift knob on the short-throw manual stick.
And there's a neck-snapping powertrain to play.
The SUV engine, based on a 2.0-liter Zetec four-in-line plant out of the conventional Focus ZX3 hatchback coupe, has been modified and tuned to produce heady power and strong low-end torque.
It features variable intake cam timing, a dual-stage intake manifold, tuned tubular headers and a dual-mass flywheel, plus forged-steel connecting rods and pistons of cast aluminum to increase compression. Intake ports are larger to pump more air into the compression chambers and stronger springs for the exhaust valves extend the redline to 7200 rpm.
Output runs to 170 hp at 7000 rpm with as much as 145 lb-ft of torque at 5500 rpm -- but 85 percent of the peak torque is available by the time the plant reaches 2200 rpm.
So much muscle on hand at low speed comes as a surprise as this Focus lurches through every gear.
The transmission also skews toward tight performance with short throws and slick action.
It's a six speed manual transaxle by Getrag, the German manufacturer of high-performance racing gear.
Getrag's unique design -- an input shaft flanked by two layshafts, each with a set of final drive gears -- produces the performance benefits of a close-ratio six-speed gearbox yet it's as compact in package size as a conventional five-speed transaxle.
SVT engineers retained the stiff platform of the ZX3 Focus with a wheelbase of 103 inches, and a lively independent suspension system was also carried over but only after modifications to accommodate aggressive handling.
Springs are stiffer by 10 percent up front and 20 percent in back, compared against springs on the ZX3.
Also, larger solid anti-roll bars are in place and shock absorbers are retuned to allow nimble movement with softened impact harshness and improved roll damping.
The steering, through a power-assisted rack and pinion device, feels tight and quick, thanks to tinkering with the boost curve on the power mechanism to produce more responsive control for the driver.
And to balance the throttle rush, there are big disc brakes for all wheels tied to a four-channel anti-lock brake system (ABS). The vented front rotors measure 11.8 inches in diameter, which is 1.65 inches larger than the diameter of rotors on ZX3.
Aluminum 17-inch wheels with an open-spoke design show off the big brake rotors. The 215/45ZR17 high-performance treads are ContiSportContact by Continental.
All of the performance components for SVT Focus comes together to produce a wild ride on the Arlington autocross course, where orange plastic traffic cones in parallel tracks across an asphalt lot define a snaky route with quick-cut corners, broad sweeping bends, tricky chicane swerves and a few straight stretches for speed.
From the starting line, we drop the clutch and pounce on the throttle, as SVT shoots down the track with shocking acceleration. The first turn appears before the tachometer demands a shift to second gear, so we cut the wheel and slip through the apex but notch up a gear at the corner's exit.
Speed builds through a wiggly path that follows, but we must brake hard before a tight left corner, then trail brake while also steering out of the curve to maximize control but minimize the time.
In a straight path, the SVT winds up quickly to a swift clip with satisfying acceleration.
The circuit ends too soon, though, so we return to the starting line for another run.
In this manner we play a performance game with this little car, its engine racing to the redline, gears meshing and tires protesting from so many tight turns, the stomp-pedal charges and squealing stops.
We enjoy this action that kindles respect for the impressive engineering work evident in the SVT Focus.
It's a cool machine that's even sweeter due to the good price points.
Two variations appear in 2003 trim with the three-door hatchback coupe or a five-door hatchback sedan.
Both stock a long list of standard features that extends to air conditioning and dashboard controls with silver bezels, aluminum pedal caps and a leather-wrapped aluminum shift knob, plus a 60-watt stereo radio with CD player.
Optional gear includes a power sunroof ($595); 290-watt Audiophile Sound System with six-disc CD changer ($675), and a cold weather kit with heated seats, engine block heater and traction control ($395).
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| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 2003 FORD FOCUS SVT Specs |
| Description: |
Subcompact performance car
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| Model Options: |
Subcompact performance car
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| Wheelbase: |
103.1 inches
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| Overall Length: |
168.1 inches
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| Engine Size: |
DOHC 2.0-L I4 Zetec
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| Transmission: |
Manual/6 Getrag
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| Drive: |
Front
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| Braking: |
Power 4-disc/ABS
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| Airbags: |
2 (front) + 2 (side)
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| Gas Mileage: |
21/25 mpg |
| Price: |
$ 18,000 to $ 21,000 |
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