Technology Feature
Ford Focus ST £21,995 - £26,595 For years petrol heads have been telling anyone who’ll listen that ‘Hot Hatches’ are where it’s at. The Hot Hatch — think Golf GTI, Renaultsport Megane Cup and the Vauxhall Astra VXR — has kicked its way into the market like a snarling punk, appalling yet amazing industry veterans with its unruly performance and devil-may-care attitude. But, hyperbole aside, the Hot Hatch has developed from niche interest to mainstream phenomenon and one of the best examples is the Ford Focus ST. Performance wise, it’s jaw dropping, churning out 247bhp and striding from 0-60 in just over six seconds. But you were promised tech… The tech on show here is mostly in the drive. Electronic Stability Control might not sound fun, but when enabled it monitors your driving, learns it, and warns you of any changes to your preferred style or driving line (such as skids or swerves). You can also rely on Driver Alert which will tell you when you’re tired. Three extra gauges allow you to monitor engine performance from the cabin and the now standard, mobile phone sync is particularly impressive — even calling the emergency services should your airbags deploy. Traction control software and variable-ratio steering are the invisible technologies which make the drive magic. An incredible car.
44 | www.financial-spread-betting.com | March 2013