2012 Ford Focus ST vs 2012 Mazdaspeed 3

[Fantasma]

I am a future owner of an MS3 in CWP with tech but I am considering only another option, as the SI, GTI are not on the level of these. I'm looking at the 2012 Focus ST as well. it's going to officially debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show this week Sept. 15-16 so IMO should be hitting late this year when I will be making my car purchase. I really like the look of it, just as much as the MS3. Official production pictures were released today.

I don't think it's gonna be faster then the MS3, specially with no Mechanical LSD, but should notch in top of SI, GTI and be somewhat below the MS3 in performance. Just a nice low budget sports car for the DD on a budget... which is just what most are looking for like me because if I wanted a cheap fast track car, I'd just get a cobalt SS coupe, but I want a combination of looks, performance, Technology and interior since I will be paying for this for 5-6 years.

Key points below.

-No official price yet, but should be revealed at the Frankfurt motor show.
-No Mechanical LSD, but an E-diff... (Very bad) Hopefully by launch they add an Option.
-Hid's and LED lights up front, and possibly LED Taillights at back...( things that make your car stand out ala MS3 Hids & LED tails.
-The Focus ST features a 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder under its hood, rated at 247 horsepower and an impressive 265 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual transmission..
-Very nice Interior and Exterior looks. (Subjective)
-Nice recaro seats.

More info this week at the debut of it at the Frankfurt Motor show Sept. 15-16...

Official Production Pictures below. ( here is the link to their website, If they remove the pictures I posted because I went into their page source to get the image location links to the pictures as they hide the option http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/12/2...tor-show-2011/)

[etchv10]

Damn that interior looks sick minus that gay color

[Fantasma]

Originally Posted by etchv10 Damn that interior looks sick minus that gay color

Definitely.. liking that interior a lot.

The color of the car it's probably their odd ball color to stand out, and the rest should be Black white and blue... the More normal colors LOL not the look at me.

[rghispanic88]

The interior is nice. I think its all about ur budget and what the price difference is between the focus and ms3

[Its2realj]

epic

[silvapain]

I love the look of the car, and the interior looks really nice.

I just wish it had the performance chops. I won't be buying one until the aftermarket picks up.


Tapadatass

[Mchart]

The speed3 is still going to be the faster car. No question.

I do like that interior in the ST.

But the Speed3 interior ain't that bad, and see point 1.

[G26]

Looks good, finally we are getting a real Focus performance model, not the half assed svt.

[Rustysocket]

Ugly ass wheels.... and wtf is the CB antenna for? Interior looks cramped and center console would take its toll on my knee. Nothing different than the '12 Focus I just sold.

[tragik]

hmm...i want to see one in white and compare it to a white genpu.


also, if i were to buy one and they release the RS here next year, i'd probably off myself with a rusty razor.

[SRTie4k]

For those of you saying the MS3 will be faster...keep in mind the current gen Focus hatch weighs right around 3000lbs. If the ST maintains that same weight, doing the math (247/3000, 267/3250) shows that the Focus has the exact same power/weight ratio that the MS3 does, if not .0001HP/lb more.

In essence, I'd put my money on the Focus ST and the MS3 as essentially the exact same, power-wise.

[Fantasma]

Originally Posted by Mchart The speed3 is still going to be the faster car. No question. I do like that interior in the ST. But the Speed3 interior ain't that bad, and see point 1.

Yeah definitely they both are very nice interiors, If they add a mechanical LSD I see performance wise they could be very close... but without it IMO MS3 edges it... the ST should weight less helping to 0-60.

Both have very nice TECH... so it's gonna be a toughie for the future buyers.. I still want my CWP with Tech, but leaving my options open with the ST... still need that official price point.

[PunjabiPlaya]

it all depends on price 25k base plus at least 2 or 3 grand to get it specced up

no chance of it being lighter either

[Mchart]

Originally Posted by SRTie4k For those of you saying the MS3 will be faster...keep in mind the current gen Focus hatch weighs right around 3000lbs. If the ST maintains that same weight, doing the math (247/3000, 267/3250) shows that the Focus has the exact same power/weight ratio that the MS3 does, if not .0001HP/lb more. In essence, I'd put my money on the Focus ST and the MS3 as essentially the exact same, power-wise.

With all the interior i'm seeing in the pictures it won't be.

[Delphie]

Anyone know what the gauges are for in the center of the dash (above the in-dash LCD / radio)?

[LuczOr]

I don't really like the interior on the st, but I dislike the interior on the genpu even more...

[pzr2874]

Originally Posted by G26 Looks good, finally we are getting a real Focus performance model, not the half assed svt.

Dude, do the homework on the old svt's. They tracked extremely well.

[G26]

Originally Posted by pzr2874 Dude, do the homework on the old svt's. They tracked extremely well.

I know all about them, I used to have a zx3.

[Chigga311]

Nice car except for the yellow.
And I'm really hating on the Front bumper....
Interior looks pretty cool, but very busy.

Are those just Painted Red Calipers or Brembos???

[GH07MS3]

looks decent, but the rs is so much sicker. Also if i were you i would stay with the speed, because there is already an aftermaket for them

[sheldonross]

The trouble is that it will be ~5k more than an MS3. They are talking like high 20s.

That said the build quality and interior should be better than the MS3(not that hard).
Plus it will have better features, SYNC and such will make our tech package look like a 90s brick phone in comparison.

So it just depends on your priorities.

Slightly faster, cheaper and less features - MS3
Slightly slower, better build quality and features + $ = ST

That's how I see it anyway.

[TRex]

am i really the only one that thinks the dash looks busy as hell........

and i like the looks....but it wont be a competitor....more of a gti eater...bet it still beats ms3 in magazine comparisons because of niffty seats like the gti

[BLK_MS3]

I don't like the front, but the rest is nice. Cool interior though.

[Elusivellama]

bet it still beats ms3 in magazine comparisons because of niffty seats like the gti

Everytime I read a comparison like that, they usually mention the plaid seats and it's all over for the MS3. Because plaid seats add 60+ hp right there.

Also, I don't think the dashboard/centre stack looks 'much' better than the genpu. It certainly looks high tech, but it's a bit too busy with buttons, gauges, dials, screens and stuff. Seats are definitely better than the disco-red patterning on the genpu, but the yellow had better not standard - black or grey recaros would work much better for all the colours they plan to offer the car in. Steering wheel is 4 spoked... I would have liked to see an exclusive 3-spoke design.

The car needed the regular Focus fanged shark look, not this catfish look. It also needs a real LSD... not this e-diff TVC.

[maisonvi]

I actually kinda like the front. The dash has a bit much going on for me.

[davinspeed3]

I absolutely love those seats!!

[Roddiy]

I had a 2001 Ford Focus before my Speed3, and Almost bought a new focus this summer when car shopping.
I love the interior of the new focus, but I'd swap that shifter on the first day haha.

Also, I hope this bid for sporty economic cars from ford causes Honda and Toyota to rethink their approach.

Toyota basically left the market after the Celica and the Supra Faded out, I would love to see those come back as well.

And honda? pft, Si speaks for itself, they need to bring back the real sporty spirit, not "Vtec engagement lights"

just my .02, Love the focus though.

[sheldonross]

The Focus looks like it looks better IRL. lol

The photos of the actual event look alot better then the press photos.

photos shamelessly stolen from autoblog

[runswithscissors]

If it's going to be in the high 20's I'd much rather be in an EVO X GSR.
Personally I think I'm going to with an
EVO X MR by the summer of next year. 40K isn't exactly cheap but all things considered I think it's a bargain.

[Wolfgang5884]

Originally Posted by TRex am i really the only one that thinks the dash looks busy as hell........ and i like the looks....but it wont be a competitor....more of a gti eater...bet it still beats ms3 in magazine comparisons because of niffty seats like the gti

I agree, there is way too much going on with the dash. I drove a fully loaded Focus hatchback and the a/c & heating vents are in weird positions too. The seating positions will need changing, because for a 6'1" guy...it sucked major balls. I could never find a good setting, my knee always hit the side of the center console or I was too far back.

[mazdaspdmike]

Keep this in mind... US spec Focus doesn't get the Sony system without MyFord Touch. The ST will probably be the same. So with MyFord Touch (and don't get Rustysocket started on this front...) there's a LOT LESS clutter. Without it, it looks just like the Fiesta stack with the button layout.

However... being that this will be a trim all it's own, they may very well bring the Sony system into the car as a standard option and MFT as a secondary option.

Turbo components don't add hundreds of pounds and the current N/A Focus is a hair under 3000lbs. It will be lighter than the MS3.

Interior is very much upscale compared to the MS3, no doubt about it, and getting legit Recaro's is worth a couple big ones in itself in my opinion, true track-able seats would be awesome.

Expect a high 20s price for this, no doubt. But also remember how much you get out of it. The suspension too should be on par if not better than the MS3. It already boasts what I assume is the equivalent to the Titanium trim's "Handling package" which is uprated springs and shocks, and slightly thicker swaybars. This gets an even beefier rear end with thicker swaybar as well.

They've done an awesome job with the handling on the current N/A models, and the lack of an LSD isn't something to fret about. They're using a combination of torque vectoring and understeer correction, as well as a 3-mode ESC system with full-assistance, mild-assistance, and no assistance. Torque steer correction is also going to be present.

Don't count it out just because it has no LSD... this is going to be a true contender to the MS3, if only because it's truly on the same underpinnings.

Should be a great comparison.

I'll definitely be taking one of these on a test drive sometime after they're out and I have a service appt. for my Focus.

EDIT: and as an added tasty bit, if like the current N/A Focus (atleast the automatic) there is a launch control feature. Since the automatic method is to be in Sport via the gear select, hold your foot on the brake and then press the gas (it limits the revs to 2800rpms with this method) I don't know how it would work in the ST, but I wouldn't doubt that it's going to be there, as it actually serves a purpose in a performance car.

[Elusivellama]

Originally Posted by Roddiy I had a 2001 Ford Focus before my Speed3, and Almost bought a new focus this summer when car shopping. I love the interior of the new focus, but I'd swap that shifter on the first day haha. Also, I hope this bid for sporty economic cars from ford causes Honda and Toyota to rethink their approach. Toyota basically left the market after the Celica and the Supra Faded out, I would love to see those come back as well. And honda? pft, Si speaks for itself, they need to bring back the real sporty spirit, not "Vtec engagement lights" just my .02, Love the focus though.

Competition is almost always good, unless you have companies competing to see who can make the shittiest car (Honda/Toyota). Toyota is attempting a comeback with the FT-86, but it'll be a Scion not a Toyota. And agreed on the Si, they might as well have added a bro voice to the car that shouts 'VTAK just kicked in, yo!' when that shit kicks in, then have underbody LEDs light up at the same time to let everyone outside the car know that VTAK just kicked in... because they won't be able to tell otherwise.

[TRex]

yea i a super dissapoint with the ft-86....is going to be slowwww

[ColonR]

love the new focus its a shame they changed it from the original concept but nothing to drastic i love the seats!!!! ha i widh our cars had recaros as an option! the only nice thing about those ecboost is with a boost controller you can prolly set it to much higher boost. idk if its running the same twin scroll k04 the eco boost cobalt ss was but if it is thosee things can handle a shit load of additional boost on a stock turbo.

[Stealth01]

I like the ST a lot, and I suspect that when the aftermarket kicks in, it will be more robust than what we get for the Mazdaspeeds. Should be a fun car, for a wrong-wheel driver.

[jimmy]

That interior needs to go back to the nineties when that shit was cool

[mrmonk7663]

If its in the high 20s, the mazda is a way better deal...My 2011 was 21,800 at the dealership including destination...just had to pay ttl. The focus is nice but the price is off in my opinion.

[RyansSpd3]

The ST interior is nasty it looks like im taking off in a future rocket ship, WAYYYY to much shit going it just needs to be simple and clean not a clusterfuck of buttons and weird shaped gadgets...decent power numbers but thats about it i think its looks like balls especially with the wheels...the speedometer and tach reminds me of a vette's...the only simple clean thing on the car

[NOreasonY]

This will be my next car, my speed3 is a gap stop until this is in my driveway.

The ST will be more expensive but it will probably have more tech and a nicely appointed interior with the seats and what not

[mrmonk7663]

The interior does look interesting. Sometimes I forget power and price aren't the only 2 factors when buying a vehicle