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Focus ST Performance Upgrades?

65K views 236 replies 57 participants last post by  Jared Ross 
#1 ·
What kind of mods will you perform on your Focus ST? What are you power goals?
  1. Engine Management - ECU TUNE
  2. Exhaust System
  3. Suspension
  4. New Wheels
  5. Cold Air Intake
  6. Down pipe
It sucks that UK will get the Focus ST before us, but what can you do???
 
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#2 ·
Cobb Tuning has plans for the Focus ST. I will be contacting them shortly to get them on the forums with their latest product information.

 

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#4 · (Edited)
Well the plan would be to get some vendors on the site when the car releases so we can be as close to development of the after market as possible.

I would expect there to be almost no aftermarket at launch, but I could be wrong. Because they need to get their hands on the car before they can release any parts to the consumer. So it could be a few months. But that is not to say you couldn't put some wheels on it right away.
 
#5 ·
Yeah that's the problem when releasing a brand new car, the aftermarket has to spend a lot of time and testing to make sure the parts they release are made right. My goal for the car powerwise would be about 300 HP which should be doable no problem with a good tune and intake (hopefully). Can't wait to see what Cobb can do with this car!
 
#6 ·
That is my goal power wise. I am a bit skeptical about 300 on a ECU and intake. I think you can with enough boost, but at what cost to the engines life? Who knows, I am hoping others join and share their results.
 
#8 ·
Yeah 300 is a little optimistic with a tune and intake but I think it wont be a problem maybe with a few other bolt ons. Comparing to the MS3 you do get fairly close to 300 but the MS3 also has 263 HP so maybe around 270-280 is more reasonable but we'll just have to wait and see how the car responds to bolt ons. I think the engine will be safe at those #'s. It's gonna be my DD so I don't want to push it to much but we shall see!
 
#11 ·
Are we talking 300 at the flywheel or wheels? I don't think 300 at the flywheel would be difficult with just a tune. if Ford underrates the ST like all previous performance cars since the 99 Cobra, you won't have very far to go. I personally wouldn't want much more than 300 flywheel without the Revoknuckle. The torque vectoring is a band aid fix for a mechanical issue.
 
#12 ·
I would want it to the wheels. I agree, it looks as if this engine is down powered...

I would agree with the braid aid fix. Also I am sure cost is also a factor. The Revoknuckle adds cost to the vehicle. I should be a option for the ST3 or something.

For those of you that need education on the RevoKnuckle:
 
#14 ·
300 is a good number. :)
 
#15 ·
My goal is about 300hp. It will be a dd so it has to be drivable. I've driven a stage 3 srt4 and that was pushing about 300 and it was right on the edge of being too much power. The torque steer would almost rip your arm off.
 
#16 ·
You know at that point where the car becomes uncontrollable. Could a Revo knuckle be added?

I think 300 is a good number. I wonder what the extra boost would do to the engine? Would we need a new intercooler?

Lots of good questions that you guys will answer!
 
#17 ·
For a DD I wouldn't want more than 300 HP. The torque steer would get annoying after a while. I'm sure with added boost some upgrades will be nessasary. With Ford trying to keep costs down stuff like intercoolers will probally need to be upgraded due to the added heat at higher boost levels.
 
#19 ·
I would like to be able to order BBS wheels with my ST. But, living in MI, I can have two sets of wheels...

Stock wheels = winter
BBS wheels = summer

Welcome to the forum.

Yes I do hope Ford racing has parts for us..
 
#21 ·
I think we should start a Rim thread :)

Why BBS?

Well why OZ?
 
#23 ·
I'm all about performance, but I also feel that in the case of this car, a high flow exhaust might not be on my list. I'm sure it's doable, but I'm also not sure I would want to ruin the hexagonal tip thing that Ford is using. The image I have in my head of that exhaust tip being replaced with a large round exhaust tip is kind of ugly.

Maybe if someone offers something that is more in-line with the design Ford has then I would consider it. Or maybe if I can cut that exhaust tip off and just weld it onto the high flow system.

Additionally, given that the engine is turbocharged, what effect will putting a high flow exhaust have on the turbo? I'm guessing that maybe you wouldn't get as much boost because you wouldn't be building as much exhaust pressure? Though that's only a guess
 
#29 ·
Additionally, given that the engine is turbocharged, what effect will putting a high flow exhaust have on the turbo? I'm guessing that maybe you wouldn't get as much boost because you wouldn't be building as much exhaust pressure? Though that's only a guess
Actually its quite the opposite. You need back pressure in a naturally aspirated automobile but when you slap a turbo charger on, you no longer need that pressure. That's why you might see a 4 cylinder turbo charged Supra with a HUGE exhaust while a heavily modded v8 might stick with 3 inches... (never owned a turbo or a v8, so I'm just posted what I've learned online)
 
#24 ·
On the rest of the car, I think my priority will be handling (chassis stiffening, etc), brakes, transmission (clutch? I'm not a transmission expert), and then power (variable turbo or twin scroll turbo, boost upgrade, intake, engine mapping, etc). I personally want this car to be something I own for decades and continually improve, eventually to the point that I have another daily driver and this is basically a toy
 
#25 ·
The hexagonal exhaust tip is not attached to the exhaust itself. A standard pair of exhaust tips run into the hexagon. You will have no proble changing the exhaust and keeping the hexagon.
 
#27 ·
Yeah I'd do just the basic bolt-ons: Tune, Intake, Exhaust. I wouldn't do much else... It'll be a DD so I can't have performance mods hinder reliability. Maybe add an LSD if a cheap one becomes available...

I'd like to know how overbuilt the clutch/transmission are... I hope they'll stand the extra power.
 
#28 ·
I actually want a ST because it's looking like a very comprehensive package as-is. I've been driving a 2004 WRX STI for 4 years, and I've bumped the power up to ~340 WHP & 380 WTQ. As a DD, it's more power than I really get to use. Traffic is almost all way slower than me, which means that I get to tap that power less often than you might think. Plus, once you start pushing extra power through a car, ALL KINDS of things start to wear more quickly.

I think that a car with full TQ at 2k RPM & 250/250 -ish power would be a very fun DD IF it is reliable. Tuning makes for a lot of cost & headaches...

having said that, here's some thoughts about increasing power levels:

1) where is the bottleneck in the current configuration that limits the production of power?
the subie benefits from increased breathing, which means intake, headers, up pipe, down pipe, etc.
2) where is the fail point in the current configuration that limits the production of power?
MOAR POWAR is cool, but not if your transmission is made of glass...
3) how well can the suspension & braking systems cope with increased duty?
4) also keep in mind that most manufacturers are getting better at detecting modifications to engine management software. Even if you don't add on any aftermarket parts, you may easily be kissing your warranty goodby...

of course, I'll keep the subie for more serious hoon needs...
 
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