2000 Ford Focus

Already a hit replacing the Escort in Europe, Ford's impatiently planning high-performance versions of its new Focus for North America. At January's Los Angeles Auto Show, it showed the Cosworth Focus concept vehicle, which takes inspiration from Focus World Rally Car and components from a host of familiar aftermarket manufacturers.

Ford's recently acquired Cosworth Engineering developed the turbocharged and intercooled version of the 2.0-liter DOHC 16-valve Zetec E four-cylinder engine featured in the Focus that wears their name. The turbo itself is a liquid-cooled Garrett GT17 single-bypass unit that feeds a water-to-air Garrett intercooler through custom stainless-steel plumbing. With the exhaust routed through a Borla XR-1 muffler, the engine sends "200-plus" horsepower to the front wheels through a five-speed manual transmission and limited-slip differential.

Along with the boosted powerplant, the Focus' suspension has been lowered 1.5 inches and wears 14-inch front and 12-inch rear Brembo disc brakes. The 18-inch magnesium wheels are shod with P235/40ZR18 Goodyear Eagle GS tires, and the exterior has been modified with unique lower body work around the car, a roof-mounted spoiler, and functional hood scoop. Inside are Recaro seats, alloy pedals, and modified instrumentation graphics.

Production of the Cosworth Focus is far off, if it happens at all. But wearing the latest styling, the Focus could wind up Ford's most popular car with tuners since the Mustang.

Mazda Shows Two
With Ford firmly in control, Mazda is also making a bid for the passion of small-car enthusiasts, exhibiting two modified concept versions of its Proteg.

The Proteg "Street Car" appeared at the L.A. Auto Show wearing all the expected tuner tricks on its small sedan body. Built to illustrate how modest modifications can change a car's character, the Street Car's tweaks are limited to Racing Hart 17-inch wheels with P215/40VR17 Dunlop Sport 9000 tires, four-wheel Brembo disc brakes, rear wing, Racing Beat stainless steel exhaust, some interior dress up bits, Sparco seats, and a powerful Kenwood stereo system.

More ambitious is the Proteg All-Sport, which finally brings the wagon body sold in Japan and Europe to North America, and pairs it with all-wheel drive. Modified to appear as an SUV, it closely follows the ideas that have made the Subaru Outback wagons such hits. Despite showing the All-Sport with right-hand drive, the car makes too much sense not to be on Mazda's short list for production.

Brabus 6.5-Liter E-Class - Performance TestMercedes-Benz' E-Class is a chameleon. Nothing could look more benign than a silver E320, but it's hard to imagine anything more wicked than this black Brabus E-machine with 6.5 liters of reworked V-8 and 450 horsepower under its hood.

Ralph Biase, a technician at Beverly Hills Limited Mercedes-Benz, built this E 6.5 for a customer (whose stable includes several Porsches) who wanted something more sinister and practical for his commute. Starting with a '97 E420, Biase fortified the midsize Benz with nearly every weapon in the Brabus tuning firm's V-8 arsenal.

The Brabus 6.5 starts with Mercedes' DOHC 32-valve 5.0-liter V-8 block with cylinders bored to 101 millimeter from the standard 96.5 and the crank's stroke stretched from 85 to 100 millimeters. Inside that box go jumbo-size lightweight pistons and connecting rods and atop it are cylinder heads reworked to accept larger valves and more intemperate camshafts. With a reconfigured engine computer, and appropriate intake and exhaust upgrades, Brabus claims the 6.5 is good for 450 horses at 5700 rpm and a Gigantor-spec 488.6 pound-feet of peak torque at 3800 rpm. In this car, the power flows back through the standard five-speed automatic to the rather mild 2.82:1 final-drive gear set.