[S.R.]

<B>Ford Focus SVT Update</B><P><B>Source:</B><BR><I>AutoWeek Online<BR>News Section</I><P> <IMG SRC="http://autoweek.com/weekart/2002/0916/Ford.Focus.SVT.fe.jpg"> <P> <IMG SRC="http://autoweek.com/images_content/2002_09/Ford.Focus.SVT.fcpvs.jpg"> <P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>No slackers allowed: Ford looking to protect its turf with latest SVT Focus creation.<P>As far as we can tell, no one outside of Ford has any idea exactly what lurks under the hood of this latest Focus from the company’s Special Vehicle Team. And the people inside Ford aren’t exactly talking. <P>“This is a work in progress to maintain our standing in the performance vehicle niche,” says SVT PR man Alan Hall. “We will guard our turf.” <P>So whatever they’re cooking up under that monster hood scoop we’re not certain. The current SVT Focus, introduced in April as a three-door, runs a Cosworth-tuned 170-horsepower version of the same 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that powers everyday Focuses. A five-door SVT Focus joins the showroom later this year. <P>For what it’s worth, the SVT guys were running their latest work against competitive vehicles like the Volkswagen R32 and the Honda Civic Si, as well as the complete stable of SVT products. The R32 boasts a 237-hp 3.2-liter V6, while the Si 2.0-liter four pushes just 160 hp (however, the non-U.S. Civic Si Type-R makes 200 hp). <P>One possible explanation: Maybe Ford has decided to move ahead with the four-wheel-drive 300-hp Focus Cosworth shown in Los Angeles in 1999.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>The current Focus SVT has already won every single comparison test, this one with AWD will for sure up the stakes. <IMG SRC="http://www.swedespeed.com/ubb/eek.gif"> <IMG SRC="http://www.swedespeed.com/ubb/eek.gif"><P>-Drew<P>

 

[Kai]

Good news on the performance, bad news on the styling. Doesn't excite me any more than the next Civic kid with shopping cart spoiler and neon green decals.

 

[Prospero]

Oh come on now Kai! You know you want one! <IMG SRC="http://www.swedespeed.com/ubb/wink.gif"><P>I just don't get why people would want a toy like that.? Just a death-trap for kids IMHO.<P>

 

[anony00gt]

Actually not a bad car for people (such as myself) who want a commuter car with some balls.<P>I'd bet my left nut that under that hood lies the current SVT Focus powerplant with some kind of forced induction. Whether it sends power to all four wheels or not...well..that's iffy.<P>Not bad looking either, except that the hood looks like it was ripped off a 96-98 Mustang GT and the front bumper from the Cobra of the same years.<P>

 

[Kai]

Actually I don't think there's anything wrong with the Focus. It's almost their next best thing to compete with the Japanese brand Econ cars. I have no problem with a simple fuel efficient commuter THINGY, but when these kids start trying to silly tail lights and spend their parents savings to ricified up these little econ cars....it just gets kinda ghetto.<P>It's smart for the car companies to jump in and try to catch the wave, but to some others, like the SS crowd, those add on, double side taped exterior flares are just distasteful.<P>Makes you wonder what are kids thinking nowadays. Altecrap Tail lights...are they really that much BETTER looking? Or just peer pressure?

 

[Spearzy]

Cool. The hood looks terrible though, I would actually want the sleeper version with maybe a small breather cut-out instead. Unless there's a four barrel carb under there...<P>

 

[xtremepsionic]

it looks alright, almost like a half egg shell on the road... and aren't those wheels small? sure they're like 17 or 18" but the total diameter just seems so small compare to the round shaped car that sits on them