It's very logical that volume car manufacturers should want to give their big-selling models a bit of an image boost. What better way of doing it, than creating a hot or high performance version.
Many of us looking back 30 or more years, can rememeber the Lotus Cortina and the 1600E. The Cortina, one of Ford's mosty popular models, was still very "ordinary", a far cry from its successor, the Focus, in style and engineering sophistication.
Other Fords got the hot treatment including the Escort (RS2000 and XR3i), the Capri 2.8 and, of course, the Sierra Cosworth.
Things got a little dirty in the 1980s. Insurance costs made onwership prohibitive, partly influenced by a no-good element whose real fun was larceny. Now the good news is that two of Ford's best-selling cars now come with sporty and more affordable derivatives. They are predictably, the Focus and the Mondeo.
The Focus ST170 with a 2.0 litre engine producing 170bhp, comes with price tags of €34,133 or €35,345 depending on three or five doors. The Mondeo ST220 will be the quickest Mondeo around simply because the model, unlike the Focus, isn't in the motor sport scene and is thus denied RS and Coswroth treatment. Its 3.0 litre V6 engine develops 220bhp giving it a top speed of 151mph and a 0-62mph time of 6.8 seconds. The Focus more modestly is 134mph and just short of eight seconds. The ST200 ex-works prices are €47,450 for the four-door saloon, €47,965 for the five-door hatchback and €48,730 for the estate wagon.
Ford sees the Focus not as a tearaway but a refined and enthusiastic performer that will appeal to people looking for extra zest in their driving. It offers an addtional 41bhp over the standard 2.0 litre model, generated with the help of variable inlet valve timing and a new inlet manifold, cylinder head and exhaust.
There's a six-speed gearbox sending power to the front wheels. The suspension has been stiffened, the steering revised and brakes enlarged. In looks it manages to be sportingly discreet. Cosmetic touches include multi-spoke 17-inch wheels and low profile rubber. It's the wheels that really make the visual impression: there are no other attractions like air dams or logos or spoilers. The restraint is continued internally. True, there are sports seats, an alloy-topped gear knob and white dials but in other respects the ST170 looks very much like a standard Focus.
The driving form is less restrained but still endearing enough to those of us who like to move along at a fast pace without burning the rubber. The Focus transmits a strong fun-to-drive character: at the same time it's also happy trundling along at urban speeds. The steering feel is good, giving accurate and tenacious grip.
The Mondeo is a bit more dramatic in appearance with flared wheel arches wrapped around multi-spoke 18-inch alloys, split twin exhausts, heavy side skirts and very bright xenon headlamps. It's more dramatic in the driving too, with a deep-throat low-level growl.
On the open road and especially through the bends, it can provide scintillating and wonderfully entertaining driving. Like the Focus, though, it can be restrained and in what might be called normal driving, it does feel like one of the rest. It's a car that hides its performance credentials well because it has the ability to snap at the heels of blue-bloods like the BMw 300i and the Mercedes-Benz C320. Both are fast Fords with an emphasis as much on the quality of the driving as on showing performance muscle.
The Focus is now on Irish sale while the Mondeo is a June arrival. Standard features on the ST170 include ABS, traction control, side airbags, automatic air conditioning, a 6 CD in-dash player with four speakers, power windows throughout and power heated mirrors.
The Mondeo comes with ESP which compensates for under or oversteer in unexpected conditions. The standard leather Recaro front seats are available in two dual tone colours including a bold black and red combination.