Question Marque - Carma Magazine
"My first priority was changing the exterior to make it look different from a normal car," says Nora of her 1.6-litre manual transmission Focus. "I wanted to make it uncommon and mysterious." A manual Focus is already a relatively rare sight in Singapore and Nora estimates that there are less than 20 units running around. But since it looks identical to the far more popular automatic model, she carried out some serious plastic surgery procedures to ensure that her car looks like nothing else around.
The original headlamps were dumped in favour of Morette projector units with a distinctive three-barrelled design, a motiff repeated on the high-mounted rear lamps that are also from Morette. Extra bright HIDs are used for the high beam lamps, while the fog lamps on the lower corners of the front bumper are from the Focus ST170, a model not sold here. The RS badges on the front grille and tailgate are original Ford items that Nora secured through mass order from the local Ford forum. They cost a cool $90, but Nora reckons the price was still reasonable considering they were shipped all the way from the UK.
A standard Focus riding on 17-inch SSW wheels wrapped with lightweight Continental SportContact 2s in size 215/40 R17 would already look seriously hunkered down to the ground. But here, the effect is further enhanced by the Sachs Touring suspension kit that lowers the ride height by around 30mm, and the discreet EGR bodykit including a front lip, side skirts and rear spoiler. Don't bother looking in any Focus parts catalogue for the black rear under-bumper diffuser, though - its actually a Mugen Pro item designed for the Honda Jazz. Some deft work from the bodystyling specialists at Stamford Tyres was needed to get it fitted snugly to the Focus' original rear bumper, and the MS Design cat-back exhaust system even had to be re-routed so that its twin tailpipes could exit from the correct side.
The finishing touches are a genuine carbonfibre 'shark's fin' antenna on the roof (it's purely for show) and lightweight Project-wheel nuts. Nora declares the exterior revamp a success, saying that the car now matches her "outgoing and fun personality". She certainly is "not shy", going by how there's even a customised LED sticker for her alarm system on the front windscreen that flashes "Warning, Focus babe in car!!!" whenever it's armed.
Her love for Ford's finest hatchback is even more obvious once you swing open the door and step inside. A red Focus model takes pride of place in the middle of the dashboard, while there's a huge WRC model on the rear parcel shelf too, parked among a family of fluffy teddy bears. Other interior goodies include a full compliment of feel-good items from Momo (steering wheel, gear knob, handbrake lever and pedal pads), a Pivot shift lamp to optimise gearchange points and an APEX'i turbo timer. Nora hurriedly points out that her car isn't illegally turbocharged or anything, and that the timer was fitted because she likes its voltmeter function.
In-car entertainment is taken care of by a DVD-playing Pioneer head-unit and a 600W SonyXplod amplifier in the boot. This is hooked up to a set of Infinity front speakers and a big Pioneer active subwoofer in the boot which looks uncannily like an exhaust muffler with twin pipes. Completing the picture, literally, are two 5.5-inch Eurostyle LCD screens integrated into the front seat head restraints.
Before you think that this car is all show and no go, take a look at what's under the hood. The bonnet swings upwards on two customised gas struts and with it open, the front strut bar, oil catch tank and modified exhaust manifold are immediately visible.
So too is the BMC Carbon Dynamic Airbox housing a cone air filter, which was installed by Escape Service. Nora says she wanted to concentrate on the "in and out"of the engine, hence the intake and exhaust mods. For good measure, a Broquet Top Fueller and OWS spark plugs were also installed.
This Focus isn't going to out-drag any Rexes or Evos from the traffic lights, but it sure makes a statement on the road and gives its owner tremendous satisfaction whenever she's behind the wheel. "I've been asked when I'm going to sell it since new car prices are so low now, but I'm still enjoying it too much to part with it," says Nora.
"Plus," she adds with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes, "there are still a lot pf people who don't know what car it is and ask me about it. I love that."
9% reduction of fuel consumption in city driving
