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Our engineering team often tackles complex problems to provide ideal solutions for customers. This is true for all our product lines, across a broad range of vehicle makes and models. We are not strangers to Ford's lineup of EcoBoost models, and our team is quite familiar with the issues that exist for each. In general, we've found that the stock liquid cooling systems are not handling the abuse from heavy-footed ST (Fiesta, Focus) and Mustang owners. Each model shows deficiencies in coolant heat transfer, rising oil temperatures, and power-crippling heat-soak.

In our effort to solve each problem, we've started a ton of awesome projects, performed unique testing, and we've had a blast working with the EcoBoost community. Now, we turn our attention to the Focus ST radiator. This component has become the elephant in the room, if the room were the paddock at the track. All around the world, Focus owners are hitting the track expecting a fun day of battles against physics, rev-match downshifts,

Quick Recap

It has been around two months since our last update on this project. We've had great feedback on the forums, and we appreciate everyone's comments and patience as we work toward completion. Our goal is to provide a performance radiator that allows users to track drive their STs without fear of overheating and entering limp mode.

The primary reason for the delay was the construction of our first prototype. This radiator design is quite complex, as we showed with our 3D models in the first segment.

Mishimoto Ford Focus ST radiator 3D model

The stock Focus radiator features several complicated components, each of which needed to be replicated in our design. Our goal is that this piece bolts into position just like the stock radiator, so the design must be precise.

The rear side of the radiator shows the quick-disconnect fittings on both the inlet and outlet. These will be CNC-machined. In addition, we incorporated seven mounting points, one nipple, and two lower mounting pegs.

Interested in picking up this awesome catch can system? Check out our product page for more details.

Mishimoto Ford Focus ST Baffled Oil Catch Can Kit

Ford Focus ST test vehicle

As you may be aware, our engineering team has been wrenching away on this Focus ST to develop a slew of awesome products for the community. Our oil cooler development is underway, and alongside this project we began to experiment with a direct-fit oil catch can system. Now, you may be wondering exactly how necessary such a product is.

Discussions around the community have covered the impact of oil within the intake system and its effect on valve buildup. In short, the lack of port injection (the EcoBoost uses direct injection) results in much of the oil within the intake system coating your valves. In a port-injection engine, the fuel passing over the valves works as a cleaning agent to prevent buildup. Without this happening, these buildups can restrict airflow and cause turbulence to airflow prior to entry into

Interested in picking up our Focus ST oil cooler kit? Check out our product page for more details.

Mishimoto Ford Focus ST Oil Cooler Kit

After knocking out some projects for Japanese turbocharged vehicles and European sports cars, we finally freed up some garage space and engineering time to begin much needed development on one of the hottest hatchbacks on the market.

As general gearheads, we have been keeping a close eye on the Focus in terms of aftermarket product support as well as how the enthusiast world accepted this new vehicle. We found numerous gaps in product support for cooling, yet a very active and enthusiastic community of Focus addicts.

We have a ton of awesome plans for the ST, the first of which is a direct-fit oil cooler solution. Throughout the past few years we have had numerous requests for this component. It seems that extensive track use puts serious stress on the stock cooler setup, necessitating a solution for those pushing their ST hard. Sticky tires, engine power

Finally!! Ford has teased us with the prospect of an all-wheel-drive (AWD) Focus RS for the US since the early 2000's. Now, in 2016, it is finally here and in our garage. This is pretty groundbreaking considering that no Ford with an RS badge ever made its way to American soil, and they were not hot-hatches to ignore. The label had particularly dominated the rally world. Who can forget the infamous Escort RS Cosworth rally car with its countless podium finishes or the Focus RS WRC that won back-to-back manufacturer titles in 2006 and 2007? We at Mishimoto haven't, and we're glad to be reveling in all the mechanical glory that is Ford's newest, AWD, turbocharged hot hatch.

Besides Ford providing us with a vehicle name that carries endless puns and name plays, this RS is packed with goodies, making it hard to pick an area to focus on because there are so many awesome features (I promise, that will be the only pun.). Although this RS shares its heart with the Mustang EcoBoost, it does have

The 2013 Ford Focus ST has a lot going for it. This 2.0L front-wheel drive, turbocharged, four- cylinder engine pumps out around 250 hp in its stock form, which is impressive for a two-year-old car you can find for under $20,000. Ford now has two weapons in its modern sport-hatch arsenal, and the company is staying competitive. Most car enthusiasts elect to remove the stock intake system first so they can  free up some contained power potential. The story here is no different with our development of an upgraded Ford Focus ST intake.

The Stock System

Our garage was graced with the presence of a nice 2013 Performance Blue Focus ST. Per the usual routine, we began taking apart the stock intake system to familiarize ourselves with and understand Ford's design. One unique element of this Focus ST intake is how air is drawn into the box. As you can see below, the air duct is split into two and the airflow gets routed to both the top and bottom of the system.

Stock Ford Focus ST intake system

We have been hard at work developing our 2013 Ford Focus ST intake system. When the stock intake system was removed, there was room to get creative for improving airflow. Right off the bat, you can see how Ford designed its intake to grab as much cold air as possible by using the two tubes that both conjoin at the front grille and connect into different points on the box. We know it will be important to retain this feature and include it in our airbox design for the Focus ST intake.

Fabricating the Prototype

With the removal of the stock Focus ST intake leaving a good amount of space, we wanted to design an airbox that uses that space effectively. After the space was carefully and thoroughly surveyed, we got to work fabricating and welding together a working prototype!

Prototype Focus ST parts fabrication

Welding the inlet tube collar for the Focus ST intake fabrication

A look at the finished Focus ST intake prototype

Extra Bracing

Now that it's time to test fitment, we want to be sure

Anyone with a car older than 15 years or so likely has a coolant expansion tank with the structural integrity of wet toilet paper. These tanks rarely get aesthetic love in the factory vehicle design. They are usually plastic, look weird and can start cracking given enough time. After 20 years, the expansion tank in my 1995 Nissan 240SX project car will literally begin crumbling around your finger if any sort of pressure is applied. We don't want that happening to your RS/ST a decade or two from now, so we decided to design a sweet looking expansion tank that will outlast the car and be a nice addition to your engine bay.

The stock cap on the RS has a pressure limit of 21psi

Factory expansion tank for the ST

There is a lot of focus (I haven't made that pun in a while, give me a break) devoted strictly to improving how this EcoBoost hot-hatch platform performs since it's introduction. This is important, our engineers have that as a clear goal in their minds. For our RS, we've released an