(G) Ultimate hot hatch?

Autocar this week has official details of the new Ford Focus ST.

Looks like they've gone a similar route to Fiat, and have installed the Volvo 2.5 litre straight 5 Turbo engine in the car, delivering 217HP.

I know it's a Ford, and I'll get flamed, but that engine sounds mighty tempting.....surely Fiat have got to beef up the Abarth soon, as all the new hot hatches coming out now are seriously faster!

I seen that on the front of a mag as I was bored in WHSmiths in Leeds Station today.
I do believe the will be branding it the XR3.

I vote 2LT (T= huge turbo )

Weighs less than a 2.5 (why did they decide on that engine ) so will handle better

2.5 = high torque and no turbo lag, some people prefer the lack of turbo for these reasons and more (e.g. less to go wrong). (I am probs wrong about the torque fact - am sure somebody will tell me). Turbos cost more to run in the long term due to the relibility of petrol turbos.

The 2.5 is a turbo- apparently

Sorry missed that the first time.

Maybe a very low pressure turbo? If not, that's awful power output!

It's the same engine as Volvo fit to the T5

Except I thought the T5 was 270BHP? Oh and a 2.4.

It sounds like the 2.5T as you say ~ 210BHP which must just have a lower pressure turbo.

The T5 has a 2.3 turbo engine and has 250bhp, so it must be detuned.

Did the V70R have a 2.5T?

I think it's a 2.4 WR and 270BHP?

Some V70s had the 2.5T and as I said, I am guessing it's a low pressure more usable turbo.

Fiat has two options. Either redesign the 2.4 engine into a high-revving 100+ HP/litre engine or turbocharge it. Turbo lag is overrated, especially when the turbo is well matched to the engine. I vote for a 2.4L engine with a Garrett GT28RS turbocharger. That would make the car lagless (yes, you actually wouldn´t feel ANY lag at all) and easily provide over 250 HP (actually closer to 350 HP, but that could be left to Nigel to squeeze out of the car). The other alternative is the lighter 2.0T engine but as power levels are climbing at an ever increasing rate, the extra displacement of the 2.4 wouldn´t go amiss. The turbocharging process could be done for a relatively small development cost since the components are already readily available and tested by car enthusiasts in their machines every day.
In light of the upcoming lineup of high-HP hatches (don´t forget the Focus RS), I suggest the following:

- 2.4L turbocharged 5-cyl. engine
- Garrett ball-bearing turbocharger setup, putting out 250-350 HP
- Improved suspension setup
- 235/45 ZR17 wheel dimensions
- 4-pot monobloc brakes

Might seem a bit overkill, but the fact is that that´s exactly what the Abarth will need to compete with the other hot hatches. That and I want to have a car with these specs

350bhp through the front wheels. Better have shares in a tyre company or some wonderful trick-diff (a-la Focus RS)

It would appear that the new ST doesn't have a limited slip diff !!

Somene needs to manufacture a 250+bhp hatch with REAR WHEEL DRIVE. Part of the Clio V6's appeal is that it's not front-drive, which sets it apart from every other "hot hatch" currently in production! 4WD is better but a bit too "safe".
It'd be a hell of a re-engineering job, but just think: an RWD Stilo? I'd buy one

Nah, RWD would require too many modifications for the Stilo. A BMW 3 compact perhaps?

350 HP to the front wheels could be helped by an LSD, or even better, AWD. AWD can never be too safe and is, at least for me, the preferable form of drivetrain for the road. An AWD Stilo with 1300 kg and 350 HP would be a good match for most any hot hatch currently on the road. One does have to ask oneself though, how many people would survive the first three months of ownership...