High-Speed Drag Race: Ford Focus ST vs Hyundai i30 N, Topping at 190km/h
Hyundai i30 N Claims Title as Fastest Front-Drive Car Ever Tested
In a thrilling drag race, the Hyundai i30 N and Ford Focus ST went head-to-head, with the Hyundai i30 N emerging victorious in several tests.
In the rolling start race, the Hyundai i30 N, with its launch control function, incrementally stretched the gap, crossing the line at almost 190km/h. Despite a slight disadvantage due to a tyre blowout under brakes during the race, the Hyundai i30 N's performance was impressive enough to be declared the fastest front-drive car ever tested.
The Ford Focus ST, on the other hand, uses a torque-converter seven-speed auto transmission and produces 206kW/420Nm. In a repeat run of the street start, the Ford Focus again surged off the line while the Hyundai seemed slow to react, resulting in a win for the Ford Focus.
However, in the closing moments of the street start race, the Hyundai i30 N managed to snatch victory from the Ford Focus. The conventional torque converter auto transmission of the Ford Focus played well in the street start, allowing it to surge ahead, but the Hyundai's superior launch control function seemed to give it the edge in the end.
In a max attack launch control race, the Hyundai i30 N completed a 0-100km/h time of 5.2 seconds and a 0-400m time of 13.6 seconds. The Ford Focus ST followed closely behind, completing the same runs in 5.7 seconds for 0-100km/h and 13.9 seconds for 0-400m.
Both vehicles have similar kerb weight figures, over 1500kgs. In the rolling start race, the Hyundai i30 N's front end immediately slipped into wheelspin as it clawed its nose ahead. Alex Inwood in the Hyundai i30 N lowered his launching revs by 100rpm for the second race, while Scott Newman in the Ford Focus ST carefully analyzed his previous inputs for the same.
The rolling start and street start of the race were conducted with the cars in Sport mode and comfort mode, respectively, and the Hyundai's launch control disengaged in the street start. Despite the initial lead of the Ford Focus, the Hyundai i30 N's superior launch control function seemed to give it the edge in the rolling start race.
The Ford Focus ST and Hyundai i30 N were tested further, with the Hyundai i30 N claiming the title of the fastest front-drive car ever tested. The results do not contain information about which driver drove the Ford Focus ST in the MOTOR drag race.
