Over 0–100 km/h, 230i F22 wins (5,51 s vs 5,68 s).
Simulated drag race 0 → 1,000 m in real time. Synchronised speed counters and stopwatch. Physics calibration on 7 manufacturer measurements.
| Measure | Focus ST 280 | 230i F22 | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | 5.68 s | 5.51 s | 0.17 s · 230i F22 |
| 400 m standing start | 13.80 s | 13.88 s | 0.08 s · Focus ST 280 |
| 1,000 m standing start | 24.64 s | 25.28 s | 0.64 s · Focus ST 280 |
| Top speed (electronically limited) | 264 km/h | 250 km/h | 14 km/h · Focus ST 280 |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 5.11 kg/hp | 5.67 kg/hp | better ratio · Focus ST 280 |
Standing-start drag race, calibrated on manufacturer splits. The gap shows at each stage.
| Stage | Focus ST 280 | 230i F22 |
|---|---|---|
| 0–30 km/h | 1.66 s | 1.42 s |
| 0–50 km/h | 2.77 s | 2.29 s |
| 0–80 km/h | 4.37 s | 3.99 s |
| 0–100 km/h | 5.68 s | 5.51 s |
| 0–120 km/h | 7.28 s | 7.53 s |
| 0–160 km/h | 11.78 s | 13.14 s |
| 0–200 km/h | 19.05 s | 22.07 s |
| 400 m standing start | 13.80 s · tight gap | 13.88 s |
| 1,000 m standing start | 24.64 s | 25.28 s |
| Top speed limited | 264 km/h | 250 km/h |
Physics model calibrated on manufacturer splits. The limited top speed is not the real aerodynamic top speed of the vehicles.
Manufacturer technical specifications. The power-to-weight ratio is the key physical factor in a drag race.
| Characteristic | Value | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 280 hp | Pending |
| Torque | 420 Nm | |
| Weight | 1 431 kg | manufacturer kerb weight |
| Drivetrain | - | |
| Gearbox | 7-speed dual-clutch |
| Characteristic | Value | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 252 hp | 4 cyl |
| Torque | 350 Nm | |
| Weight | 1 430 kg | manufacturer kerb weight |
| Drivetrain | - | |
| Gearbox | 8-speed Steptronic |
Off the line, the 230i hits 100 km/h in 5.51 s versus 5.68 s for the Focus ST 280. At this point, the 230i leads by 0.17 s and sits roughly 9 m ahead.
At 200 metres, the 230i is doing 133 km/h against 139 km/h for the Focus ST 280. The gap is 0.18 s. The gap remains stable from the start.
At 400 metres standing start, the Focus ST 280 crosses the line in 13.79 s versus 13.87 s. The 0.08 s gap represents roughly 4 m of track - barely a car length.
Past 400 metres, the Focus ST 280 continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 194 km/h versus 184 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the Focus ST 280 finishes in 24.63 s versus 25.28 s, with a 0.64 s lead. Both vehicles have similar top speeds (264 vs 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h), preventing any comeback.
Electronically capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the 230i never reaches its natural aerodynamic ceiling in this duel. That’s not a physical limit of the motor - it’s a deliberate manufacturer decision, typically tied to standard-fit tyre ratings or model-range positioning.
With two combustion powertrains, the difference comes down to power-to-weight ratio (5.11 kg/hp vs 5.67 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).
In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 8.62 seconds. The 0.17 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.
Swap one of the two models to explore an equivalent duel in the same segment.
Over 0–100 km/h, 230i F22 wins (5,51 s vs 5,68 s).
Focus ST 280 goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 5,68 seconds (calibrated simulation).
Focus ST 280: 280 hp, ratio 5,11 kg/hp. 230i F22: 252 hp, ratio 5,67 kg/hp.
Focus ST 280: 264 km/h. 230i F22: 250 km/h.