Hot cars head to L.A.
The Ford Motor Company will be putting its two small cars on center stage this month when the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show opens to the public. This event, held from Nov. 18 to 30, is one of the largest and most important auto shows in the U.S.
L.A.’s size and the Southern California market interest in small cars is not lost on Ford. Thus, the automaker has chosen to introduce the compact Ford Focus ST at the show as well as a concept Ford Fiesta ST. The Focus is a “go” but the Fiesta concept is not yet a reality.
Ford Fiesta ST (concept)
“The Fiesta has a rich history of high-performance models so a new ST performance model is a logical next step in our performance vehicle strategy for our global small cars,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development.
The Fiesta ST features a specially tuned 1.6-liter (98 cubic inches) EcoBoost in-line four, rated at 180-horsepower and 177 foot-pounds of torque. This engine is paired with a 6-speed manual transmission.
Fiesta ST Design
The Fiesta ST’s large, unique trapezoidal grille is quite similar to the design used in the larger Focus ST, and also includes a honeycomb mesh arrangement.
The rear of the Fiesta ST features a standout diffuser design, which bolsters this vehicle’s sporting credentials. The diffuser also surrounds a twin-exit exhaust.
Other attributes of the Fiesta ST include a lowered stance, widened wheel arches accented by 17-inch alloy wheels and complete ST body kit reflecting the styling of the Ford Fiesta WRC competition car.
Ford Focus ST
The Ford Focus ST is very much a reality, representing what Ford says is the company’s very first global performance car. To be sold in more than 40 markets including 15 European countries, Canada, the United States, Mexico, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, among others, the Focus ST’s appeal should be strong wherever sold.
Ford tapped its Global Performance Vehicles group to build the Focus ST and develop the Fiesta ST. This group consists of Team RS in Europe and Special Vehicle Team in the U.S., and have been tasked with developing Ford’s global performance strategy.
Global DNA
“Focus ST has not come around by chance,” said Jost Capito, director of Global Performance Vehicles. “What came first was our global performance strategy, which has been developed with North America, Europe and Asia together. With this, the core DNA attributes — steering, driving dynamics, sound quality and power enhancements for all ST models — have been defined to the extent that our engineers can take that global DNA fingerprint and use it to create the new Focus ST.”
The Focus ST gets a large EcoBoost engine than the Fiesta, displacing at 2.0-liters (122 cubic inches). Ford’s lightweight, all-aluminum EcoBoost engines provide the power of a larger engine and is rated at 247-horsepower and 250 foot-pounds of torque.
Electric Steering
The Focus ST features electric powered steering, technology the automaker says reduces torque steer, allowing drivers to accelerate at full throttle while still finding grip on uneven surfaces. Ford states that its EPAS system “…detects the torque steer that those conditions can create and communicates with the EPAS software, which then counteracts the effect to virtually eliminate the sensation for the driver.”
Notable amenities with the Ford Focus ST are 18-inch alloy wheels featuring 235/40R-18 Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 tires, Recaro seats, sports suspension, roof spoiler and a center-exit exhaust system.
Pricing and release details will be announced at the Los Angeles show later this month.
See Also — The Auto Writer: Ford Gives Boost to EcoBoost Program
Source: Ford Motor Company
Pingback: Matt's Musings » Giving Thanks & Remaining Grateful