Blowout at 190km/h: Ford Focus ST v Hyundai i30 N drag race

A pair of potent front-drive hot hatches square off in today’s MOTOR drag race. With the same amount of power, and similar torque and kerb weight figures, it should be close runnings.

Hyundai’s recently-updated i30 N, and it’s new dual-clutch eight-speed, is the new kid on the block, producing 206kW/392Nm from its 2.0-litre turbo-four.

The Focus ST takes a more old-school approach, packing a conventional torque-converter seven-speed auto matched to a ‘big-block’ 2.3-litre turbocharged inline-four – lifted and detuned from the Mustang 2.3, and producing 206kW/420Nm.

Both hatches tip the scales just over 1500kgs, so it’s anyone’s game on paper.

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Technology is a great replacement for displacement however, and with no launch control function to lean on in the Focus, will the i30 N’s powertrain calibrations do enough to level the field?

To find out, we lined up the pair of rapid hatches for a range of scenarios. A max attack launch control race is first up, followed by a conventional street start, closing out with a 50km/h roll race.

Watch the full video above, or read on to see what happens.

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Launch Control – Race Start

Although Ford’s Focus enters the ring with a 28Nm advantage in torque, a lack of launch control puts pilot Scott Newman at an immediate disadvantage.

Managing wheelspin while easing the Focus out of the gate, before he can really open the taps, is Newman’s best bet. In the face of the red-hot Hyundai’s launch control system, and its ability to configure its holding rev speed, he’ll have his work cut out for him.

A finely finessed take-off from the Focus sees an even jump from both cars within the initial launch phase but, once second gear is clicked, the Hyundai lunges forward and cruises to victory, as the Focus is simply unable to claw back lost ground.

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Namyang’s newest star athlete posted a 5.2 second 0-100km/h time, besting it’s 5.4 second factory claim, and clocked the 400m flag in a brisk 13.6 seconds. Ford’s Focus ST followed closely behind at 13.9 seconds 0-400m.

A second race is lined up to see if the Focus ST can improve on its launch. Newman carefully analyses his previous inputs, deducing that he was too ginger on throttle into second gear. Alex Inwood in the i30 N, conversely, decides that there was too much wheelspin on launch, and lowers his launching revs by 100rpm on the central 10.25 touchscreen.

Despite Newman's best efforts, the race is a repeat result. The i30 N, again, clocks a 5.2 second sprint from 0-100km/h, against the Focus’ 5.7 second best.

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Street Start

Returning to the start line, both cars are flicked back into comfort mode while the Hyundai’s launch control is disengaged.

Intended to mimic the impromptu traffic light lunge, the street start provides an equal comparison of the cars’ ESP systems and powertrain calibrations. No launch control, or sport modes, just mash the pedal and go.

The conventional street start plays well into the hands of the Focus and its conventional torque converter auto, with the Focus flagship leaping ahead, dragged along by a mountain of torque.

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It’s a significant lead, but a scarcely believable chase down sees the i30 N snatch back victory within the closing moments.

A repeat run was performed and, again, the Focus surges off the line while the Hyundai seems slow to react. A lazier throttle calibration, and perhaps a slightly delayed reaction, see the Hyundai unable to recoup the lead as the Focus claims its first win of the day.

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Rolling Start

The final challenge is a 50km/h roll race to see which car reacts quicker when the spur is dug in.

Drive modes and ESP in both cars are set to Sport, while manual mode locks both cars in a second gear start.

As they cross the starting marker and the pedals are flattened, the Hyundai’s front end immediately slips into wheelspin as its claws its nose ahead. The Ford Focus puts up a valiant effort, but the younger Korean athlete simply has longer legs, incrementally stretching the gap as they both cross the line at almost 190km/h.

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Unfortunately, the day ends there, as the i30 N suffers a tyre blowout under brakes.

Despite the Pirelli P Zero’s Baku-like end to the day, it was a comprehensive win for the updated i30 N. The Focus ST is a fast car, but a new gearbox and a raft of changes have made Hyundai’s latest i30 N a really fast car. How fast exactly? Upon further testing, it claimed the crown as the fastest front-drive car we’ve ever tested.