This Is What the 2013 Ford Focus ST Sounds Like
By now, you probably know why we're eagerly anticipating the Ford Focus ST that arrives later this summer. This hot-rod version of the capable Focus will include a 252-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter engine (with 270 lb. ft. of torque), six-speed gearbox, and a host of other performance enhancements. It's Ford's version of the VW GTI that starts at a reasonable $ 24,495.
We won't drive it for a couple of months, but in the meantime, Ford released an audio file of the engine's soundtrack. The company wants enthusiasts to know that even though turbocharged engines don't always produce the most alluring sound quali ty (the turbo naturally muffles exhaust noise), the engineers made sure the ST's motor makes music.
Like the Mustang, the Focus ST wil have a sound pipe that funnels intake vibrations into the cabin. But unlike the Mustang's, which is strictly a passive device, the one on the Focus ST will have a computer-controlled flapper valve. The valve allows two-mode operationâ€"quiet and raucous. The computer opens the valve when the driver floors the throttle in the lower gears and closes it when the gearbox is in top gear and the car is cruising. In essence, the computer tries to determine when the driver wants to hear the engine.
This is the first time we've heard of such a valve being used on the intake. Chevy Corvettes also have a computer-controlled valve that controls engine noise, but it's on the exhaust. Both the intake and exhaust contribute to what we hear from an engine, and automakers typically tune both. In any case, turn up the volume and have a listen.
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