Quick Drive: Ford Focus XR5 Turbo

By Feann Torr - 27/Apr/2006

They're small, they're fast, and they can tear up corners with frightening ease, often seen wearing the latest in designer sheet metal; they are hot hatches. And as more buyers gravitate towards these more frugal performance vehicles, and the small car segment in general, the competition must surely increase in line with the growing cash flow. One of the leaders of the hot hatch pack, the sharply-priced (and engineered) Golf GTI, has been suffering from low stock in many world markets as demand continues to outstrip supply.

And now the VW has recently developed another problem - it's got 5-cylinders and wears a Blue Oval badge.

Ford's new XR5 Turbo will challenge the likes of the Golf GTI, the upcoming VXR Turbo (Astra) from HSV and to a lesser extent vehicles such as the BMW 130i and Alfa Romeo 147 GTA in the hot hatch segment, and without wanting to sound too ebullient this early in the piece, the thing has serious mumbo.

It's been about 20 years since Ford Australia had a serious hot hatch to crown its range of small cars, and the XR5 is no half-hearted attempt to muscle back in on action - it's a serious contender. The XR5 Turbo is also a clever piece of marketing for Ford Australia. Had it been named the Focus ST220, as it is in Europe, Australian buyers would have been none the wiser. But the XR5? It not only sounds a lot cooler, but it's also ties in with Ford's local performance sedans, such as the XR6 Turbo and XR8.

With a look that's pure horn and a unique 5-cylinder soundtrack that rewards the driver every time he sinks the boot, not to mention large and grippy 18-inch alloy wheels, the new XR5 has a lot of things going for it, so let's have a look:

The VW Golf GTI now has a very capable rival with which to contend: Ford's new Focus XR5 Turbo is the real deal, and a veritable bargain too

During our quick launch drive in the XR5 Turbo, the weather didn't exactly do us any favours. In true Melbourne style, the day began wonderfully, with the Autumn sun beaming down upon four very smart looking European hatchbacks. Indeed, these Ford's look every inch the performance model.

But as we wound our way closer to the alps after tea and pastries, the weather closed in, and at one point large hail stones pelted the windscreen, shattering into smaller fragments upon impact and doing nothing for visibility.

But even such inclement weather didn't seem to bother Ford's new pint-sized pin up boy, it's exceptionally large (for a hatch) 225/40 R18 tyres ensuring decent grip and feedback even in the wet.

Dynamic stability control (DSC), EBD, ABS and EBA are on hand to help keep things in order, and bigger brakes contributed to the vehicle's deceleration, featuring 320 x 25mm discs up front with large single piston callipers, while 280 x 11mm solid discs cap off the rear axle.

In addition to its upgraded wheels and brakes, the suspension has been tuned too, and it gives the XR5 Turbo a much more decisive feel than the 2.0-litre Zetec model, which itself is no bathtub.

The Australian XR5 Turbo gets the same suspension tune as European models, with a lowered ride height (dropped 15mm), 30% stiffer front and rear springs, revised damper settings and an extra cross-member in the engine bay.

Though we didn't get to push the XR5 to its limit due to the weather, it's clear that the new turbocharged Focus model means business. The suspension is nicely sorted, giving the car enough damping to deal with lumpy corrugations in road, while at the same time limiting body roll. The steering, too, is quite direct (8% quicker than other Focus models) and even features three steering maps that alter the power steering's feel: comfort, standard and sport.

And then there was that engine. Sure, it may have began life in a Volvo, but in this application it's a corker. The 20-valve, VCT turbocharged unit features a unique 5-cylinder inline configuration, generating 166kW @ 6000rpm. The 2.5-litre engine features a Kühnle, Kausch & Kopp Warner turbo system that develops 0.65 bar, or 9.5 psi, but as the Ford engineers explained, the engine will sometimes eclipse this when being pushed. 

And let's not kid ourselves either - this engine could develop some seriously scary numbers with an ECU tweak here and a free-flow exhaust system there. Like the Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo, the new XR5 could become the ultimate canvas for tuners across the country.

Torque of 320Nm initially peaks @ 1600rpm and maintains full steam ahead until 4000rpm, giving the car brilliant overtaking and roll-on capabilities. It's also remarkably quick off the line; the torque surge as the turbo spools up is clearly felt, and with no speed limiting software installed, one wonders whether the vehicle could surpass its 260km/h speedo reading? It certainly feels strong enough - the engine really is quite beefy, making the 1437kg vehicle feel fleet of foot.

The 6-speed M66 Getrag gearbox felt smooth underhand and was easy to shift quickly between gates with, getting the power to the ground with a minimum of fuss and the clutch was neither too heavy nor too light with just the right amount of spring loading. Because Ford wanted drivers to get a real thrill when driving, the XR5 Turbo features a "sound symposer". Simply put, it diverts some of the induction noise from the engine into the cabin, and the result is very cool. It may be a little too much engine noise for some drivers, but for mine it was bang on the money. I was surprised to hear that the engine's crescendo has a certain lumpiness, reminiscent of a V6 engine, as the tacho needle dances inexorably towards its redline.

Beyond it's dynamic abilities, which upon first impressions appear to be more than up to the task of taking on the current crop of C-segment hot hatches, the car is also quite nicely appointed inside, featuring a thick 3-spoke leather steering wheel, ergonomically styled and colour-coded Recaro front sports seats and a minimalist (but high fidelity) 8-speaker Sony CD stereo system. In addition to the bold speedometer and tachometer, there's also the sporty ancillary gauges (turbo boost pressure, oil temp, oil pressure) so drivers can tell how much punishment the powertrain is taking.

Conclusion

Ford expects to sell around 40 of these pocket rockets per month, but considering the sheer performance and standard features on offer, methinks Ford could well run into the same problem that Volkswagen has experienced with the Golf GTI where demand outstrips supply. If you're serious about getting one of these XR5 Turbs, you'd want to see your dealer soon, as there could be a waiting list before too long.

From where I sat, I could find very little wrong with the XR5, and for $36k? I'm seriously considering getting one myself. Not only does it look the part, with its aerodynamic roof spoiler, 18-inch wheels, full bodykit and split exhaust system, but the thing actually drives very nicely indeed. It has a versatile nature too, and returned more than acceptable fuel frugality figures during our brief stint.

The $36,000 turbocharged Ford Focus has very few options, save for the special electric orange hero colour (made up of four separate coats, costing $1800), which is no bad thing, as the standard equipment includes dynamic stability control, or DSC, which is always welcome on wet roads, plus six airbags, including front/rear seat curtain airbags. There is a leather option, for $2000, which adds rear Recaro seats and plenty of cow hide for a 2+2 seating layout, but beyond the orange paint job and leather, the XR5 represents value for money.

I was quite excited about getting behind the wheel of the 20-valve turbo Focus, and first impressions are better than good. This new Focus has amazing potential, with its sharp chassis and an engine that just begs to be wound up time and again. The Ford Focus XR5 Turbo is the real deal, and though I have the utmost respect for the brilliant Golf GTI, judgement day is nigh for the plucky German...