Fast Ford February 2019

INTRO WELCOME TO THE FEBRUARY ISSUE! If you're a subscriber to the mag, you will most likely be reading this the week before Christmas, so please let me you your family a very Merry Christmas! If you've picked up a copy from the shops, then Christmas Day would have been and gone, but I'd like to start by wishing every single reader a very Happy New Year, and I hope 2019 is a good one for you. 2018 certainly was a cracker for the Ford fan; things never stand still in the world of fast Fords and these past 12 months have seen more and more powerful Blue Ovals hit the streets as the excellent array of tuners and performance specialists continue to push the boundaries. We've compiled a quick…

FOCUS RS MINT IMPERIAL The amount of effort that’s gone into making Matt Dinsdale’s Mk1 Focus RS pristine is simply incredible. This Imperial Blue modern classic is completely mint… Words DAN BEVIS / Photos ADE BRANNAN The Mk1 Focus RS is one of the all-time automotive success stories. Receiving mixed reviews at the outset, the startling nature of its spec and performance was somewhat overshadowed by certain contemporary road-testers suggesting that its chassis was unrefined, that the car lacked finesse, and that it had a troubling propensity to catapult you unexpectedly through hedges as it battled through its mighty swells of torque-steer. All of this was subsequently attributable to the setup of the press cars, which weren’t in production-spec as would be available to the general public, but mud like…

TECH SPEC FOCUS RS ENGINE 2.0-litre turbo Zetec (Duratec-RS), Ford Motorsport 4-branch manifold - heat wrapped with custom RS heatshield, K&N Gen 2 induction kit, Forge dump valve, Forge actuator, RC 650cc injectors, Denso ITV27 spark plugs, DW65C uprated fuel pump, Magnecor HT leads, Airtec Stage 1 chargecooler, Demon Performance Centre billet alloy thermostat housing, JS Performance boost hoses, full Scorpion stainless steel exhaust system, de-cat, rocker and cambelt cover painted Imperial Blue, Auto Specialists stainless header tank, carbon fibre spark plug cover with build number (Streamline Carbon), carbon battery box cover, fuse box cover and intercooler box cover, Mirage stainless steel dress up kit, Stage 2+ Demon Performance Centre remap, full engine bay restoration by Demon Performance Centre (engine bay repainted, zinc-coated nut and bolts, every bracket powder coated,…

DRIVER SPEC MATT DINSDALE AGE 24 JOB HGV mechanic FIRST FORD This one! BEST MODIFICATIONS Wheels, and RS Turbo vented bonnet FAVOURITE THING ABOUT YOUR FORD? Ford Fair TRACK DAY OR SHOW & SHINE? Waxstock! LESSONS LEARNT FROM THIS PROJECT? It’s expensive and time-consuming, but it’s all worth it in the end! WHAT’S NEXT Demon Performance Centre front and rear 2-piece discs, and more power THANKS “I’d like to give a massive thank you to Peter Williams and Little Mick at Demon Performance Centre for working their magic on my car, their work is second to none. Pete is definitely the best in the business! I’d like give a massive thank you to Andy Booth at Perfect Detail Mobile Valeting And Detailing for keeping it in top condition for all…

WHAT'S NEW NEWS See what’s going down in the world of fast Fords... OGIER AND INGRASSIA WIN 6TH WRC TITLE The 2018 World Rally Championship was turbulent and nail-biting from start to finish, with swapping points leads, mechanical surprises and bumps and crunches keeping audiences on the edge of their seats from January right through to November. Thirteen rounds were run, starting at Monte Carlo, with the final excursion taking in the tricky terrain of Rally Australia. The M-Sport Ford World Rally Team powerhouse of Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia started the season as the defending drivers' and co-drivers' champions, having clinched their fifth consecutive title in 2017, and in addition to this, M-Sport were defending manufacturers’ champions. No pressure, then… The M-Sport team fielded three entrants for the 2018…

NEWS IN BRIEF FOCUS ACTIVE BLENDS SUV PRACTICALITY WITH CAR DYNAMICS As the new car sales charts skew increasingly toward SUVs, manufacturers find themselves trying to cater for drivers who want SUV practicality with more traditionally car-like driving dynamics. The new Focus Active offers just that: available in five-door or estate form, it features a raised ride-height and rugged styling, with ‘Slippery’ and ‘Trail’ drive modes selectable for mild off-roading, while maintaining the on-road drivability of a Focus. And you can even get it with the 180bhp 1.5-litre EcoBoost! NEW EDGE OFFERS CUTTING-EDGE TECH Buyers seeking a plus-sized SUV will find a lot of boxes ticked with the new Edge. This is Ford’s most technologically advanced SUV ever, offering a range of camera- and sensor-based driver assistance tech along with…