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  1. Completing the Package - Intercooler Piping R&D: Coming in Hot

    Completing the Package - Intercooler Piping R&D: Coming in Hot

    Fresh off the assembly line comes our prototype intercooler pipes for the 2013+ Ford Focus ST. In the last update, I reviewed the stock piping, our 3D printed prototypes, and mildly teased what the final version of this kit will look like, so it's time for a full reveal. Let's go through some of the design features and performance numbers that have resulted from this project.

    Hot side intercooler pipes
    Hot-side intercooler pipes

    The hot-side kit will have a solid aluminum center section with silicone couplers attached to the turbo and intercooler outlet. It fits nicely around the engine oil pan and is mounted with brackets to keep it in place. However, a balance between flexibility and rigidity is important, which is why the couplers are long.

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  2. Cooler Than Winterfell - Intercooler R&D, Part 2: Prototype Core

    Cooler Than Winterfell - Intercooler R&D, Part 2: Prototype Core

    It looks like mother nature is giving the tell-tale signs to us gearheads that it's time to get ready for track season. The weather is getting warmer and tracks all around the country have kicked off calendar seasons with maiden 2017 events already in full swing. A common mod many of us who are boosted, especially ST owners, want during this time of year is the intercooler. The 2013+ Ford Focus ST features quality design for its the factory intercooler, but improved efficiency is something we like to target. In the last update, we talked about the shortcomings of the factory core and how we plan to make an even more efficient intercooler. Now that we have received our production samples for the first time, we can get into the details of the design plan and what our goals are to improve performance.

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  3. Dyno Testing and Results - Focus ST Intake, Part 3

    Dyno Testing and Results - Focus ST Intake, Part 3

    We have some dyno data for this Focus ST Intake! Along with sharing our performance improvements, we also have video clips of the intake lid both on and off, so you can clearly hear what is going on while the engine is under wide-open throttle.

    Our test vehicle is bone stock, with no aftermarket Focus ST parts, allowing us to provide a nice baseline for performance gains against the stock intake.

    Results

    In addition to using a fully enclosed airbox, the full 3 inch diameter piping extending all the way to the turbo ensured smooth, clean, and ample

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  4. Focus on Cooling! Mishimoto's Ford Focus ST Radiator R&D, Part 2: A Look at Our First Prototype

    Focus on Cooling! Mishimoto's Ford Focus ST Radiator R&D, Part 2: A Look at Our First Prototype

    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
    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

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  5. Fabricating the Prototype - Focus ST Intake R&D, Part 2

    Fabricating the Prototype - Focus ST Intake R&D, Part 2

    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!

    IMG_5883r
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  6. Stock System Evaluation - Focus ST Intake R&D, Part 1

    Stock System Evaluation - Focus ST Intake R&D, Part 1

    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.

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  7. Focus On Cooling! Mishimoto's Focus ST Radiator R&D, Part 1: Problem and Solution Analysis

    Focus On Cooling! Mishimoto's Focus ST Radiator R&D, Part 1: Problem and Solution Analysis

    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,

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