2000 Ford Focus ZX-3- Phantom Menace

The Focus hit our shores with critical acclaim, as well as a solid pedigree of European engineering and design. Would Ford's second attempt at a true "world car" befall the same fate as the star-crossed Escort? The American and European versions of that first ill-fated effort eventually diverged so much over the years that the continent got the 300-plus horse Cosworth RS, and the raciest model we ended up getting was the ZX2 coupe. Go figure.

Thankfully, except for a few detail changes, the U.S.-spec Focus is fundamentally the same as the European Focus. Ford's previous track record with compacts in America is mixed, to say the least. Will the newcomer prove worthy to stand among the stalwart of the sport compact scene? There will always be the partisans that will only consider worthy the models from a given manufacturer or country of origin. But what open-minded drivers found when driving the Focus was a remarkably refined small car at a price that undercut even the most value-minded competitive Japanese models.

A good bellwether to the mass-market popularity of a new platform within the enthusiast community is the show circuit, and little by little, the new kid from Dearborn is showing the H-town crowd that the monopoly is about to be broken up.

Unlike many newcomers to the marketplace, the Focus' presence on the continent a year before making the trans-Atlantic journey has given American enthusiasts an even greater variety of parts to satiate their customizing needs. Yankee tuners wasted no time in getting behind the first viable domestic counter-offensive to the Asian-dominated sport compact segment.

Rodney Roper of Plantation, Fla. hit the ground running in his efforts to add the personal touch to his 2000 Focus ZX3. To give his hatch the proper low-slung attitude, Progress springs were installed at all four corners, and 17x7-inch Mille Miglia Spider wheels with Pirelli P-Zero 205/45ZR-17 definitely assist in keeping this black menace stuck to the corners.

The lowered stance was just the first step into turning the otherwise benign compact into what looks like Darth Vader's personal escape module. To complete the exterior ensemble, Roper added a Wings West three-piece rear wing set and Kaminari side skirts and front bumper. But the one item that undoubtedly most contributes to giving the car its menacing presence is the Cervini Mach 5 louvered hood. To complete the Vader-esque look, GTS headlight covers were painted to match the body for shows. To add a touch of Euro style, Roper topped off his styling exercise with a North Viking Rally-style roof wing.

The exterior accouterments are but a hint of what's to come on the inside. The interior is deceivingly stock looking, but closer inspection reveals a plethora of electronic goodies. The most notable change at first glance is the absent rear seat. This was to make way for the gigantic dual JL Audio JL15W04 15-inch subwoofers, powered by a JL Audio 500/1 amplifier. A Sony Play Station was integrated into the back of the subwoofer enclosure, facing the front of the vehicle, right next to the Alpine CHA-1214 12-disc CD changer.

Fleshing out the rest of the sonic spectrum are Boston Acoustics RX87 and RC520 speakers, pumped by an MTX Thunder 4300X amplifier. All the massive wattage required to power these bad boys is managed by a Vector VEC024 power inverter and a Monster 1 farad capacitor.

Moving forward, an Alpine TMEM750A 6.5-inch color monitor resides where the stock head unit once was; the cup-holders were heaved to make way for an Alpine ERA-G320 Sound Field Processor and CDA7842 CD head unit. All carefully integrated to look factory installed.

For now, interior trim upgrades are limited to a Richbrooke pedal set and E-brake handle. Racing seats, harnesses, a sport steering wheel and shift knob are in the works to complete the indoor attitude adjustment to match the sinister body styling.

But Roper wants to take things further than just the show circuit. He's already off to a good start with the go-fast goodies. A Tru-Rev Intake System, Superchips ECU upgrade and Borla 2.5-inch cat-back exhaust help the Zetec breathe deeply. In anticipation of the ambitious upgrades he has in store, Roper added a Fidanza lightweight flywheel, Clutchmasters Stage 3 clutch and Phantom Grip limited-slip differential smoothly put the power to the pavement.

Roper plans a turbo system (Vader's respirator?) or, as he puts it, "whatever modifications I need to do to get my car to 280 hp at the wheels." Plan on adding some pistons, cam gears and a forged crank to that list, Roper. He has enlisted the Blue Oval tuning pros at Steeda to help him dyno-tune his ride. Free from the strangling smog regulations governing his West-Coast counterparts, chances are he's probably going to meet and surpass his power goals.

Surprisingly, Roper has not yet won any awards for all his efforts. Considering the extent and tenacity of his endeavors so far, it's just a matter of time before he's rewarded with recognition from his peers.