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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MK3
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Posted: April 13, 2017Categories: Ford Focus ST Intercooler 2013+
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Posted: February 01, 2017
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.
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Posted: April 15, 2016Categories: Ford Focus ST Intake 2013+
We have an update for our Focus ST intake project! Our first production sample has finally reached our R&D facility, and we have been able to test fit it onto a 2013 Ford Focus ST. Fitment was spot on, and we were able to get all the components properly snug into the car. We made some minor adjustments from our initial design and we included an awesome new feature that will help accommodate more Focus ST's on the road, so let's check it out!
It's the Little Things
During the time we were updating our design, we discovered small differences between the stock 2013"2015 and the 2016+ Focus ST intakes. The 2013"2015 Focus ST's have a screw type mass airflow (MAF) sensor that goes into the stock pipe. In the 2016+ model, however, the MAF sensor is replaced with an IAT sensor in the same location and it fits into a push-type clip housing. Many aftermarket intakes retain use of the stock accordion style boot that holds the sensor in place, " especially in
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Posted: November 20, 2015Categories: Ford Focus ST Intake 2013+
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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Posted: October 16, 2015Categories: Ford Focus ST Intake 2013+
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!
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Posted: September 24, 2015Categories: Ford Focus ST Intake 2013+
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.