With deceptively stock looks this 2000 Ford Focus drops the boost big time and brings home consistent 11.2-second time slips, topping out at 129 mph.
The red rocket is no stranger to the track having unleashed its fury at numerous Las Vegas Motor Speedway Midnight Mayhem events, test-n-tune nights and Street Wars races. "The very first time out at the drag strip, I was joking with people about breaking into the 15s," Arnett says. "On the second run I posted an 11.3 at 127 and all the giggling stopped. So far, e.t.s have been consistent 11.2s at 129 mph, spinning first through third gears. After working out the traction issues, 10s should be in the near future. Driving the car on the street is a whole different story. With the average torque being so high, spinning the tires on the freeway at 80 mph is something you just get used to. Even better is doing that while passing proud V8 guys. The thing people don't understand is how much isn't done to this car. There are some flashy parts on this, but the Focus, in reality, could be duplicated for a lot less. I'm still on the original driveshafts, ignition, radiator, transmission, and all but one motor mount. No blown head gaskets or sleeving the block here. I'm not even using the higher flowing SVT head. We've always believed in function over looks. This car has been nothing but reliable and it flat-out goes to prove that there are other solid platforms than the typical and expected cars that you see all day long."
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The cabin is a decidedly red landscape. The Focus features a Sparco Pro2000 seat on the driver side and a Rev5 on the passenger side. They are joined by a Crow harness setup and an Autopower roll bar. | 
The dash is a full custom concoction with the OE gauge replaced with an Auto Meter tach and boost, and HKS oil pressure and water temperature readouts. | 
A fully entrenched fuel cell testifies to the seriousness of this car, which is in stark contrast to its sleeper-esque exterior. The attention to detail shown here is another reason this Focus sports big power and reliability. |
Ford is up against the ropes, taking a beating and bleeding profits like an out-classed journeyman boxer. The company has little currently to entice import enthusiasts and nothing at the recent round of auto shows indicates things will change in the future. While the Focus is certainly not a frontline trooper in the sport compact scene, this creation vividly illustrates that there is potential behind the Blue Oval when well-selected hard parts and boost join the fight under the command of a precise tuning regime. For the feverish Ford fanatics out there, low-mileage 2000 and 2001 ZX models can be had for under $5000. So if you have to have a Blue Oval, we offer the Silver State Motorsports Critical Focus as the target to lock-in on. Turn and burn.
The HKS F-CON Pro piggyback tuning computer is mounted on the floorboard in front of the passenger. Arnett mounted the unit in what appears to be a backward position but this setup allows easy access to the port and plug-ins needed to program the unit. | 
The pressure player is an HKS GT3037S perched on a custom stainless steel turbo header. | 
Custom piping leads from an HKS Type-S intercooler to a Ford Racing large-plenum intake that was modified for use with the turbo system. |
An HKS GT-2 external wastegate keeps over-boosting at bay. | 
The fuel rail is a tweaked HKS piece fitted with 1000cc RC Engineering injectors. The 1000cc units are currently the biggest hitters in RC's line-up. | 
Arnett fashions a custom breather box, which adds a touch of class to the underhood domain. |