2002 Ford SVT Focus & SVT Lightning

Ford's Special Vehicle Team is the quintessential American factory tuner, known for tweaking handbuilt V-8s to within inches of their lives. If you've got a predilection for high-strung four-bangers powering point-and-shoot front-drive hot hatches, you probably think of SVT cars and trucks as old-fashioned hot rods. Ford's upcoming 170-hp '02 SVT Focus, due in showrooms this fall, will change your mind.

SVT Chief Engineer John Coletti and his team know their hot Focus hatchback's market: import intenders who will cross-shop the VW GTI, Acura Integra, and Honda Civic Si. SVT's main goal with this model, according to lead engineer Greg Pete, is to deliver "European feel." That means razor-sharp reflexes more than brute force, though in typical SVT fashion, the Focus receives a balanced round of powertrain, suspension, and appearance upgrades.

The SVT-spec engine retains the stock Focus 2.0L Zetec I-4's block and cylinder head, and benefits from a thorough revamp on its way to a 170-hp rating. SVT engineers revised the cylinder head for more flow through the intake ports and increased the intake valve diameter and intake and exhaust valve spring rates. This special Focus also gets Ford's first use of variable intake valve timing plus a two-stage intake-tract system that uses longer intake runners for good low-end torque and switches to short runners for better peak power. Its compression ratio is 10.2:1 versus 9.75:1 for the stock 130-hp Zetec. Despite the performance increase, this powerplant still achieves California Low Emissions Vehicle status. A dual-mass flywheel improves gear-shift performance of a special Getrag close-ratio six-speed manual, the only transmission choice.

In the best hot-hatch tradition, redline is a zingy 7300 rpm, and horsepower peaks at 7000. The SVT weighs 30-50 lb more than a standard Focus ZX3. Torque is a respectable 145 lb-ft at 5500 rpm.

Suspension enhancements include unique springs, shocks, bushings, and anti-roll bars. SVT is still fine-tuning the system for "superior handling with no compromise in ride quality." With the BMW 3 Series as its benchmark, the Focus suspension should be compliant when driven mildly, yet deliver firm control when pushed hard. The SVT-ified Focus sits 12 mm lower than a standard ZX3 and steps out on P215/45ZR17 tires around special 17-in. alloy wheels. Other mods include black-out cat-eye headlights, body-color rocker moldings and door handles, 11.8-in. front disc brakes with the Euro Focus' 10.2-in. rear discs, a tiny air deflector forward of the rear tires, black-out upper and lower honeycomb grilles (like the last-gen BMW M3), a 3-in.-diameter chrome-tipped tailpipe, a subtle rear wing atop the rear window, and heated, power, body-color side mirrors.

Nicely bolstered leather buckets are offered in your choice of black/blue or black/red checked cloth inserts. The seat center's texture repeats in the door panels (front and rear) and the front seats have a power up/down switch and manually controlled lumbar support. All the gauges, including oil temp and pressure, feature the now-SVT-traditional white-face with electro-luminescent lighting. The gearshift ball and handbrake button are finished in aluminum. Satin-aluminum pedals are placed close for easy heel-and-toeing, and the leather-covered steering wheel is just the right thickness. This car's look is cool and modern without being immature. If Euro-feel was the target, the package appears to be a direct hit.