Ford Focus History

The four-door compact Ford Focus has all the ingredients for a great driving experience—while delivering consistent good news at the gas pump. Its dynamic body styling is enhanced with an available pair of exciting Street Appearance Packages, while a stylish and comfortable interior rewards driver and passengers alike with a high-quality environment. The Focus model range has earned plenty of validating awards, including five consecutive years on Car and Driver's 10 Best list (2000-2004), five years as a Consumer Guide Best Buy (2000-2004), and three Automobile magazine All- Star awards (2001-2003), plus Automobile magazine's Automobile of the Year award (2000). But it becomes even more appealing for 2007 with a host of other upgrades and improvements.

Zippy Performance

The driving fun starts with Ford Focus 2.3-liter DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder engine that develops 151 horsepower at a spirited 5,750 rpm. Coupled with a smooth-shifting five-speed manual transmission, it is a kick to rev through the gears. Good four-cylinder engines like this are great to drive because they're responsive as well as thrifty; the engine is EPA-estimate rated at 32 mpg on the highway and 22 mpg in the city. The Ford ST's aluminum engine design contributes to the car's low 2,685-lb. curb weight—another performance advantage. The Focus front-wheel drive system maximizes traction across a broad range of road conditions, and its compact sleek layout helps free up interior space.

In proving Ford's commitment to maximizing driving fun, the Focus ST also includes a performance-tuned four-wheel independent suspension. Combined with power rack-and-pinion steering, sporty-looking five-spoke 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels and aggressive 50-series Pirelli all-season tires, the suspension helps the Focus ST turn in quickly and grip the road tenaciously. It likewise features front and rear stabilizer bars to keep body roll in check. Altogether, it means sport sedan handling at a compact-car price.

Active Safety Features

The 2007 Focus ST has standard ABS and available traction control. Admittedly, these features are most often useful in areas with poor driving conditions—dirty roadways, rainy or snowy/icy seasons, etc.—but even drivers in the Sunbelt states should relish the safety that these systems provide. A quick technology lesson here: The Focus ST's ABS and traction control are computerized systems designed to help the driver maintain control in slippery conditions. By continually monitoring the rotational speed of the wheels, the computer can quickly determine if any wheel locks up under braking or if one of the front wheels suddenly loses grip (i.e., wheel spin) under acceleration. If this happens, the system automatically compensates via brake and engine torque control to restore traction.

Comford and Convenience

Compact sport sedans have the particular challenge of delivering excellent handling while still providing ample room for passengers. To satisfy both agendas, Ford designers settled on a 102.9-inch wheelbase for the Focus, which provides crisp cornering together with ample door width, good entry and egress, and agreeable interior space. In fact, the Focus ST sedan offers an impressive 40.7 inches of front legroom, a suitable 37.6 inches of rear legroom and generous headroom all around. This makes it comfortable even for tall drivers, while still accommodating adult rear-seat passengers as necessary. Sitting in the driver's seat for the first time also reveals how seriously the Ford designers were about making the ST sedan a driver's car. The placement of the wheel, pedals, shiftlever and ancillary controls is first-rate, and the standard multi-adjustable cloth seat is supportive and comfortable.

Besides the available power moonroof, one of the unique options on the ST is Preferred Suede™ and leather-trimmed sport seats that do a good job at helping keep you in position during cornering. Being well supported behind the wheel, they also add comfort over the long haul. The rear seat is a 60/40 split folding bench that dramatically improves storage capacity for awkward items as desired. Standard for 2007 is a Convenience Package that includes speed control and tilt/telescoping steering wheel.

Music lovers are well rewarded in the Focus ST. Features include a standard CD/MP3 format player, while the optional six-disc audio systems now have steering wheel-mounted controls. For the true audiophiles, a Sony audiophile system is also available.

The Fun Factor

So how much fun is the Focus ST? From the neat exterior colors to the aggressive wheels and tires, from the responsive 2.3-liter engine to the slick manual transmission and tuned suspension, and from the available sport seats to the driver-oriented interior, the Ford Focus aims to please the driving enthusiast.