Ford SVT Focus

On a lonely two-lane road somewhere in Southern California, a Honda driver pulls alongside an SVT Focus and waves the Focus driver to a halt. He rolls down his window and the Focus driver follows suit. The Honda pilot is proud of his new engine swap and wants to see how his new baby will stack up against Ford's new import fighter.

"Are we gonna run 'em?" the Focus driver queries.

"On three," the Honda driver says. "One... Two... Threeeee!"

Tires squeal and the cars are largely even until the Focus' Continental tires latch onto the pavement and apply full power. Power-shifted from Second to Third, the Focus pulls the Honda by a car and a half, and by Fourth gear the Honda has surrendered. Though the Honda engine was putting down only 127 hp to the front tires, the owner wanted to see how his lightweight, manual-accessory corner carver held up against the fully optioned SVT Focus. Maybe it wasn't a fair fight, but it's the kind of result the SVT guys planned.

When Ford debuted the Focus, we knew this car would usurp the Contour as the sport compact in the Special Vehicle Team stable. Though it took some time to happen, the results are quite impressive. The theme follows the traditional SVT dogma-a tuned-up suspension, a unique drivetrain package, and a subtly improved exterior. However, unlike prior SVT products, the Focus also includes a fairly complete interior makeover and-better yet-an affordable window sticker, with the base price at $17,995.

Of course, with any SVT product, overall performance is the goal, and that usually centers on the car's handling. Fortunately for the SVT crew, their friends at mainstream made it fairly easy on them. The stock ZX3 is a competent little handler, so they didn't change the suspension radically, as they did in the Cobra.

Among the few changes were spring rates stiffened 10 percent in front and 20 percent out back, while the front sway bar is just a tick larger at 21 mm versus the ZX3's 20 mm. While the suspension changes were minor, the braking received a complete overhaul. Unique to the SVT Focus are the 11.8-inch front brakes (1.65 inches larger than ZX3 practice) and 11-inch rears. Both wear single-piston calipers and work under the watch of a four-channel antilock braking system. Making all these tweaks work with the road are 215/45R-17 Conti-Sport Contact tires mounted on SVT-spec 17x7-inch aluminum wheels.

So what does all that mean? Well, we were lucky enough to find out. SVT flew us out to Pasadena, California, to cruise the car over the rocky Angeles Crest Highway and back before heading to the Streets of Willow Springs to navigate its tight road course. On the street drive, we likely got the most accurate picture of the car. It handles well, exhibits balance belying its front-wheel-drive nature, and offers that taut but supple road feel we've come to expect from all things SVT.

Traveling at well above recommended speeds (don't try this at home), the Focus ably gobbles up turns like a chocoholic at an M&Ms factory. It handles with neutrality we aren't used to feeling in our heavy, rear-drive Mustang experience, and at speed the car really shines. It travels with deceptive velocity, where the sights and sounds of 80 mph sound and feel more like 50. In fact, we'd be perfectly happy setting the cruise control at 100 and cranking the stereo for a long road trip.