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Thanks for explaining about the gear ratios but why would ford have the car do higher revs to achieve that speed. Is it to improve torque or road holding. Seems strange though that with a bigger engine they would tinker with it to make it work harder to produce speed.

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They have made the gear ratios less so that the engine doesn't have to work as hard to achieve peak bhp and torque.

To explain this. If the ratios were longer, going through the gear and rev range would take alot longer and you would be working the engine alot more at the top end as your revs would drop right off at each gear change...

For example...

Long Gear Change From 2nd at 5500rpm to 3rd would drop the revs off to 3000rpm (out of the peak torque and bhp)

Short Gear Change with the From 2nd at 5500rpm to 3rd would drop the revs off to 3500rpm (Bang on the peak bhp and torque)

Because you can change alot sooner with shorter shifting you dont have to go into upto 6500rpm to get onto the peak for the next gear.

This system is good but also bad...

Because of the short shifting 1st and 2nd gears are very short and this makes the 0-60 time slower

Also this makes the top speed alot less (125mph)

On the plus side once the is moving all through the gears it is very responsive and will pick up and really move... this is exactly what i found out on my test drive.

I hope this helps clear things up!!!

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That really helps, thanks but does this mean that at 100mph you are overworking the engine?

My focus rarely goes over 4,000 rpm. I think because I change gear when it seems right to and I seemed to assume that the quicker you change gear the better it is for the engine. Exploring the ST at 5,000 rpm will seem pretty strange to me and may require me to change my driving style.

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With modern engines, aslong as they are at the correct temperature you can push them and they will be fine. If you change at 4,000rpm you will be out of the peak range and the engine will take a few seconds to get going again, maybe putting a little more strain as its not flowing. (Im sure Hugh will shed some light on this as im unsure).

You will not feel the full potential of the unless you change at idealy 5,500rpm into the next gear. Make sure the engines hot, you will not do any damage dont worry. I drive my focus flat out 90% of the time and its fine.

Disclaimer: I do not condone going 100mph... i personally do not go that fast, i like accelerating fast on national speed limit roads within the law.