Ford and Vauxhall have long been arch-rivals, and their latest performance cars - the second generations of their Focus ST and Astra VXR hot hatchbacks - are no different. We pit them against each other on circuit in our latest Track Battle video.
The mk2 Focus ST swaps a 2.5-litre five-pot for a 2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which has 247bhp and 265lb ft of torque; it's enough to shuffle the 1362kg hot hatchback to 62mph in 6.5sec and onto a 154mph top speed. The new for 2012 Vauxhall Astra VXR is more potent still, its 2-litre turbo four boasting 276bhp and 295lb ft, but it also has over 100kg more to shift (weighing 1475kg). That means a 5.9sec 0-60mph time and 155mph top speed. Its better on-paper stats will set you back £5K more though...
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Watch the video below to find out which is quicker, and read the full Track Battle in evo issue 174, on sale now.
