THERE WAS NO QUESTION THE HONDA CIVIC TYPE R NEEDED TO BE a part of TCoty. It's aced every challenge evo has thrown at it, running away with its first group test and putting in a strong showing at eCoty 2023, outscoring (and often outrunning) sports cars, supersaloons and grand tourers alike. Most recently, it won our mega-test of every hot hatch currently on sale (evo 318). And we know from its original launch at Estoril that it's a devastatingly capable car on track, too.
So its presence in this test was a given - much like the 911 GT3 RS, it's an established yardstick against which to measure cars of all genres. But experience also tells us that hot hatches, even ones which are brilliant in isolation, often fade into the background against pure two-seaters and big-horsepower machinery. So we decided to bring another hatchback along for a bit of direct context. And Ford's Focus ST Track Pack was one of the standouts in the track section of 2023's hot hatch shootout at Bedford Autodrome, even if it didn't shine quite so brightly on the road. Where previous time with the Civic has shown it leans towards being a precise - prescriptive, even - tool for the job, the Focus has been a more playful, more boisterous counterpoint. And, as the name suggests, in this trim it is designed to excel on the track.
The £3000 Track Pack option takes the Focus's price to £39,855. Big money for a Focus, though affordable in relation to the Civic's £50,050. The pack comprises adjustable coilover suspension (12 clicks on bump, 16 on rebound), Brembo front brakes with 363mm discs (up 33mm), 19-inch P Zero Corsa tyres on lighter wheels, and black paint for the roof, mirrors, boot spoiler and diffuser.
If you missed out on a Track Pack, you can buy the identically specced ST Edition for... £42,905.
Denne historien er fra June 2024-utgaven av Evo UK.
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Denne historien er fra June 2024-utgaven av Evo UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Cupra Formentor Abt
It's farewell to the original Cupra Formentor with an Abt-tuned run-out package. It's a quietly excellent car; just a shame about the price...
Renault Sport Clio 200 Turbo
This misguided departure from the French brand's hot hatch heritage saw the Clio fall from grace
REBIRTH OF AN ICON
The Kalmar 9X9 is a modernday reinterpretation of Porsche's game-changing 959 supercar, with a carbon body and up to 917bhp. And evo is helping to develop it
Volkswagen Golf GTI
The underachieving Mk8 GTI gets a shot at redemption with the new, revised Mk8.5 version. Is it the leap forward it needs to be?
BEST BUYS
FAST FORDS FROM THE CORTINA TO THE ESCORT AND THE FIESTA, Ford is responsible for some of the most popular cars in British history. But alongside these everyday machines it has also produced a stream of desirable driver's cars.
HY AND DRY
The switch to electric power means an early exit for Hyundai N's brilliant ICE hot hatch duo. We go for a farewell drive in the 120 N
SEXY BEAST
The Vanquish name is back for Aston Martin's latest seriesproduction flagship, with a stunning new look and simply brutal performance from an 824bhp twin-turbo V12
THE JOY OF DRIVING
From mastering the everyday commute to unlocking the full potential of your performance car, our new series will help you become safer, more confident and ultimately more skilled behind the wheel
TINY DANCER
You haven't seen a Mini dance like this before, but then you haven't seen a Mini with a 4-litre M Power V8 under the bonnet and rear-wheel drive. Introducing Vini...
LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO
Grandaddy to the Temerario and the car that transformed Lamborghini was the brilliant, V10-engined Gallardo. We get reacquainted with a Lambo legend