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Tangerine Scream! Now that’s a name. Well actually, it’s actually a colour. Much like Bobejaanball blou I suppose. Although it’s more than just a colour, to be more precise, it’s a statement of fact.
Ok, so two lines into this and you probably think I’ve lost what few marbles I have left. Let me back-track a bit and explain. Tangerine Scream is the name given to the colour of the bright orange (or Tangerine) Focus ST I am careering around the Aldo Scribante Racetrack in PE. At first I was a bit perplexed by this crazy name being bandied about by all the marketing and PR peeps from Ford.
Sounded a bit like something out of a Beatles song or a name thought up by some coke sniffing ad exec in Joburg during an inter-office “snow storm” (if you get my drift…)
But as I came tearing around turn two, that swift right, left, that catches so many unwary drivers out and sends then spinning off onto the grass embankment in a blaze of dust and humiliation, I found I was not backing off the throttle and scrabbling at the brakes in a white knuckled attempt to save myself from humiliation and scathing remarks from of my fellow motoring colleagues but was actually lining up the next apex and planting my foot down in the same assured manner that I imagine Michael Schumacher has done a million times at Monaco.
In the midst of all this, the bright orange ST girded it’s loins, hunkered down and sailed past the apex, hunting for the next bend as if I had been doing this this all my life and was not the two-bit driver I actually am.
It was then that it hit me, I was in the midst of my very own personal Tangerine Scream and that this ST was the cause. “Nice driving!” muttered my wizened co-driver next to me. I nodded suavely while scanning for the next apex, squeezed the trigger again and Bam! Out of the next corner we rocketed. Easy as…chaps, easy as…
Such fun and so easy, yet with 184kW bursting through the front wheels of this hot hatch, I could not so much admire my own driving skills which, to be fair, are not that impressive but the technical witchcraft that must have been going on under the bonnet, in the suspension and through the chassis in order to keep a daft fool like myself from trashing this R350K piece of machinery though the crash barrier.
I mean, take a step back and think about it for a minute. 184kW through the front wheels and 360Nm of torque. That’s one sh** load of power and responsibility to be leaving to the front wheels alone. And they have to manage the steering part too. Practically, without some kind of hectic jiggery-pokery under the skin that those Ford engineers must have done, theoretically, every time you plant your foot on the accelerator, you should torque-steer into a tree. There is that much power.
And this from a 2.0L motor!
I remember back in the early 90’s when Opel developed their “Super Boss” Kadette, together with F1’s Cosworth. It was also a 2.0L and developed a mind numbing 115kW. This was truly unbelievable and those the likes of Mike Briggs and the boys ripped the mighty BMW 325iS to pieces in the then group N racing series. It was the stuff of legend.
But now, 184kW, from a 2.0L – Haaibo!
The current and original daddy, in the Hot hatch sector is the legendary Golf GTI.Oover the decades many have tried but none have succeeded in topping this icon in terms of sheer quality, performance, chassis refinement and value for money. It is the sort of value for money hot hatch that oozes class and performance that is so hard to beat. It has the sort of everyday drivability that allows you to pootle the kids off to school in leather clad comfort and safety, then, thanks to the 155kW turbo motor under the hood, charge off to work like you’ve just sat on a hornet.
All this at a whisper over R350k and your talking serious bang for your buck.
To date no-one has really been able to beat it as an overall package. Sure some hot hatches have been faster, some more luxurious but none could offer the overall package, pound for pound, that GTI could.
Until now.
Performance-wise ST has a massive advantage with a full 22kW and 10 more torques than the new (still to be launched) Golf 7 GTI that should hit our shores early next year but as the old saying goes, “performance is nothing without control “and thanks to that aforementioned witchcraft on the chassis and one mother of an electronic stability program, torque, steer is dialled in just enough to remind you that it’s there but not enough to prang you into every tree on the way to your local Spar.
The ride is absolutely fantastic for a car in this class, and having spent nearly 1000km behind the wheel during the launch, (couldn’t help myself) I certainly had enough “Wheel time” to find any chinks in it’s armour. Add to this the fact that worst fuel consumption I could muster was around 12l/100km. (including two hectic track sessions, town driving and open road, all of it really hard) I can well believe Fords claim to around 7,2l/100km (if you drive it like you paid for it with your own money.)
Spec levels are very high so I am afraid I have to bore you with them.
Ford worked extensively with seat manufacturer Recaro to provide Focus ST customers with ultimate comfort and support. Lowered seats offer premium features including length adjustment, and cushion tilt. An all-new bench, made with special foam, makes sure there is no compromise to rear passenger comfort specification levels are on offer. Two Trim options include an ST1 and ST3 version.
The ST1 version offers keyless start, a deflation detection system, cruise control and power 1-shot up/down driver front and rear windows to name just a few features. And at just over R300k it is a real bargain. (almost R50K cheaper than the GTI)
The high-spec, ST3 model adds auto folding mirrors, keyless entry, DEATC, rain sensitive wipers and Bi-Xenon HID headlamps including LED daytime running lights, auto-dimming rear view mirror and automatic wipers. Leather Recaro seats with 8-way adjustability and pull-out cushion, plus the newly developed and eye catching Recaro rear bench.
Ford SYNC, which is also available on Focus Trend and Sport derivatives, is an advanced software platform that provides hands-free, voice-activated in-car connectivity. The SYNC system allows customers to connect a compatible mobile phone or digital media player to their Focus ST via Bluetooth1 or USB.
SYNC Recognises up to 150 voice commands and is able to cope with variations in accents and vocabulary, making it easier to access more content by voice. The system connects to almost any mobile phone, allowing the driver to make calls via voice commands and steering wheel mounted audio controls. It also connects calls seamlessly into/out of the vehicle and transfers all call data to the Focus ST – it will even recognise the user’s ring tone on supported phones and plays it when a call comes in.
SYNC also retrieves text messages and reads them aloud, allowing drivers to also send a reply from a predetermined list of 15 responses, which enables drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road. Digital media players can also connect via Bluetooth® or USB and operate via voice commands and steering wheel mounted controls.
Added to this is the astonishing fact that the Focus as a range, officially started to outsell the Toyota Corolla globally from Sept this year. That in itself is a massive achievement in terms of what the guys at Ford have done to unseat the all-time bestselling vehicle in motoring history. It also speaks volumes for the strides Ford have made in terms of quality.
Focus customers will enjoy a comprehensive 4yr / 120 000km warranty and 5 yr / 90 000km service plan as well as a 3yr /unlimited km roadside assistance plan while service intervals are staggered at 20 000km intervals.
Overall, the new focus is the new performance hatch for the masses and in ST1 spec is an unbelievably well priced package at R309 530.00. If you want the extra kit and leather seats go for the ST3 spec but be prepared to pay almost 50 grand extra. Either way, at R353 700.00 it’s still a better package and deal than the GTI. Period!
So yes, this is the new Daddy in town. For now…
