FORD describes the colour of the test version of their new Ford Focus ST as
‘Tangerine Scream,’ but most people I met last week thought I was driving a taxi imported from New York. It certainly is a colour you won’t have any difficulty finding in the supermarket car park.
You won’t see many taxi drivers using a Ford Focus although I have seen a few saloon versions in the past. However, you definitely won’t see any taxis using the Focus ST. While passengers, especially in the front seat, would appreciate the Recaro seats, it simply would be too expensive to run, as the 2.0 litre petrol engine is a bit thirsty.
This is definitely a car for the boy racers or maybe for boy racers who enjoyed a bit of rallying in a Ford Escort when they were younger, but now have enough money to invest in a more modern sports car.
I love the regular Ford Focus and I can truthfully say if I was changing cars in the morning it would be among my top three choices. Apart from the mad Tangerine colour the ST looks like your regular Focus, but under the bonnet you have a 2-litre turbo engine that produces 250 brake horse power. And you can get from 0-100km/h in 6.5 seconds. Recaro seats and 18-inch alloys add to the sporty look.
The driver and front seat passenger definitely get the best seats and as a friend said to me when he sat in to experience what it’s like to sit behind the wheel of a racing car,
“you could let your imagination get the better of you in a car like this
?.
The Tangerine colour really dominates the exterior of this car, but apart from the colour it’s still very sporting looking. Inside the two front seats are Recaro and really give it a sporty look. The back seat, which also has touches of Tangerine, can accommodate three people and it could be described as your typical family back seat. The car is also fitted with Ford’s new SYNC system, which allows you connect mobile phones and music players by Bluetooth or USB. The system allows you make and take mobile phone calls, hands-free, using voice commands and it can even read out text messages, but only if you request that service.
The boot is a decent size and you get a full-size spare wheel and I suppose the spare would be useful if you were going rallying. The bad news is while prices for the regular Focus start at around
?¬20,000, the ST version will cost you
?¬39,100. So if you are into sports cars treat yourself or maybe you have a son or grandson who would like to spend some of your money for you!
I suppose in a way it’s an ideal car; it can be used by all the family during the week and then you can enjoy yourself at the weekend if you want to do a bit of rallying. I’m presuming the drivers to be male, but females may also be attracted to this sporty motor where you are certain to enjoy the sound of the revs and appreciate the grip those wide tyres give.
However, unless you are a person who always enjoys being the focus of attention, maybe a safer colour than
‘Tangerine Scream’ would be advisable.