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Ford will seinen neuen Focus auch in den USA ganz groß rausbringen. Um das sportliche Potenzial des Kompaktwagens zu beweisen, wurden bereits diverse Kooperationen mit namhaften Tunern in den USA geschlossen. Schon auf mehreren Messen standen teils tüchtig aufgemotzte Focus ST-Modelle. Doch dieses nun auf der Chicago Auto Show gezeigte Exemplar, das von US-Tuner fifteen52, Ken Block und Ford Racing auf die Räder gestellt und auf den Namen Focus TrackSTer getauft wurde, sprengt denn doch den Rahmen.
Ziel des Projekts war es, den „Todays Hothatch-King“ zu bauen – also den „Über-Kompaktwagen“ schlechthin. Es scheint gelungen. Auch wenn der TrackSTer ein gewalties Manko hat – doch dazu später. Kernstück des blauen Renners ist der 250 PS starke Focus ST, der statt des 2,5-Liter-Fünfzylinders der Vorgängers einen aufgeladenen Zweiliter-Vierzylinder unter der Haube hat. Diverse Maßnahmen sollen dem Motor des TrackSTers allerdings mehr als 500 PS entlocken und den Wagen damit tatsächlich zum „Todays Hothatch-King“ machen. Leider Gottes wurde darauf verzichtet, einen Allradantrieb zu verbauen, weshalb die komplette Kraft auf die Vorderräder abgegeben wird.
Von dieser Unzulänglichkeit – die mittels eines speziellen Sperrdifferenzials abgemildert werden soll – einmal abgesehen, weiß der TrackSTer aber durchaus zu gefallen. Optisch kann der Hothatch mit den coolen Kotflügeln des Focus-Rennwagens aus China, weißen Felgen und einer wunderschönen Heckschürze punkten, technisch wurde alles verbaut, was den Wagen rennstreckentauglich macht (genaue Infos findet ihr in der angehängten Pressemeldung).
Ob der fifteen52 TrackSTer jemals auf öffentliche Straßen losgelassen wird, ist leider stark zu bezweifeln. Dass einige der verbauten Teile ihren Weg ins Sortiment des US-Tuners finden, dürfte aber wohl sicher sein.
Los Angeles-based automotive tuner fifteen52, via Project ST, will use the 2013 Chicago Auto Show to debut its Focus TrackSTer project build.
One of three different Focus ST builds, the TrackSTer is to be the first debut for the Project ST campaign. Project ST is a relationship between fifteen52, Ken Block and Ford. The project goal is to make today’s hot hatch king – the Ford Focus ST – even hotter.
fifteen52 is excited to bring the Focus TrackSTer to the Chicago Auto Show.
“Using the CAS venue to debut the TrackSTer is bound to be one of the main highlights for the Project ST campaign,” said Brad Beardow, fifteen52 co-owner. “Chicago, if not the entire Midwest, seems to have more than its fair share of hot-hatch enthusiasts, and there’s just something so right about coming to CAS – in the dead of winter – and unveiling the hottest Focus ST anyone’s seen so far.”
Since fifteen52 launched Project ST in the late summer of 2012, interest in the campaign has grown tremendously. Regular updates via the project-st.com website have captivated an ever larger group of enthusiasts, and as each of the three cars nears completion, fans throughout the country can look forward to seeing them in person as fifteen52 plans to bring the cars to a variety of 2013 events.
TrackSTer is a Focus ST that is destined to feel just as at home on a road course as on the way to a road course. Using only top-quality engine, transmission and suspension components, TrackSTer is designed to appeal to the hardcore performance enthusiast.
Inspired by Ford’s rich global history of small performance cars, fifteen52 has worked closely with Ford Racing to build a Focus ST that pays homage to such cars of the past, while also demonstrating just how far today’s Ford performance envelope can be pushed.
Said Project ST partner Ken Block, “Teaming up with fifteen52 for this project was an obvious choice for me. They’ve got a great understanding of what’s hot in the small car performance marketplace right now, both from the style perspective and from the performance end of things. With the TrackSTer, they’ve worked closely with both Ford Racing and Mountune to put together a potent package that blends on-road performance with on-track performance. I can’t wait to actually get this car out on a track and put it through the paces.”
fifteen52 has incorporated the best of the best in constructing the TrackSTer, and trips to the Ford Racing performance well have been numerous, to say the least. A partial list of incorporated parts that will soon be available to all Focus ST enthusiasts includes:
• Ford Racing short-throw shifter
• Ford Racing performance exhaust system
In addition to Ford Racing Performance Parts, components and partners from Ford Racing’s Focus race programs globally have lent their expertise, including:
• Mountune engine build (using forged rods and pistons)
• Mountune performance intercooler
• Mountune upgraded ECU
• Quaife limited-slip differential (developed for Focus ST-R)
• Centerforce custom clutch kit (developed for Focus ST-R)
• Four-piston front caliper front brakes (developed by StopTech for Focus ST-R)
• Fender flares from Chinese Touring Car Championship Focus
With such a vast array of race-tested quality performance parts at its disposal, along with access to Ford Racing data, expertise and global strategic relationships, fifteen52 believes it has built what is possibly the ultimate all-around Focus ST with the TrackSTer.