The Mountune MP 350: A Hyper Hatch with Identical Performance to Ford's Exclusive RS 500 Edition

If you're lucky enough to have your hands on one, the Ford Focus RS Matte Black Edition is an exclusive and highly sought-after car. However, for those who didn't get their hands on one, there's another option available - the Mountune MP 350. This monochromatic hyper hatch offers identical performance to the RS 500, which was built in limited quantities and snapped up before they even left the factory.

Located in Essex, Mattoon is a company that has been making motors go faster for over four decades. With their latest offering, the MP 350, they've managed to impress with their expertise in tuning vehicles. So, what makes this car so special? It all happens under the bonnet, where a redesigned air box, intercooler, new injector bits, and new exhaust parts come together. However, the crucial element that sets this car apart is the tweaking of the ECU, which resulted in a staggering 301 brake horsepower from the Duratec engine.

The Duratec engine has been boosted to an impressive 345 horsepower, with 15 pound foot more torque than its standard counterpart. The turbo kicks into action once the revs reach 2,000 rpm or higher, delivering those goodies straight to the front tire. In our experience, we've found that 200 brake horsepower is the maximum for Rumble dry path, but this Mountune MP 350 copes remarkably well with 345 horsepower, albeit slightly by yanking left and right.

The steering response on this car is quite mild, thanks in part to the class ES Ford Revo knuckle suspension. This is a welcome change from some lesser-powered contractors on the market today. One of the best things about the Mountune kit is that it can be fitted to your Focus RS in just four hours, with all parts being identical to those used on the RS 500. The price tag for this upgrade is an astonishingly good value at just over two grand.

So, what does it feel like to drive this beast? In a word, exhilarating. With half a second off of the standard RF type, you'll be armed with ammo to take straight to the Porsche Boxter. As someone who's a big fan of the Focus RS, I can confidently say that Mattoon has been blessed by having a first-rate car to start with - one of the best handling cars I've ever driven.

The Mountune MP 350 is the perfect match for this extra power and turbo boost, which is addictive in its own right. The exhaust note is fabulous, with a strong and fruity tone that's sure to turn heads. The 6-speed gearbox slips through the gate easily, making it a joy to use. However, there are some downsides to consider - the power delivery can be a bit boisterous, especially when trickling through traffic in first or second gear. Additionally, fuel efficiency is not exactly a strong suit for this car.

So, should you be phoning Mountune and booking your RS in for some surgery? Only if you're the type who wants more, more, more. In that case, you'll get an RS 500 just with a different badge, saving yourself six and a half grand in the process.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enthis is the mount tune mp3 50 the tuning specialists take on the Ford Focus RS with identical performance to Ford's most exclusive matte black edition of the focus the RS 500 only a hundred and one of them were built and they were all snapped up before they even left the factory and if you weren't lucky enough to get your hands on one but you still want an even punch yet Focus RS then this monochromatic hyper hatch could be right up your street you may not be familiar with the Essex company of Mattoon but they've been making motors go faster for more than four 13 years but what's so special about this MP 350 well it all happens under the bonnet with a redesigned air box at the spoke intercooler some new injector bits and some new exhaust parts but crucially a good tweaking of the ECU all that took me 301 brake horsepower duratec engine has been boosted to 345 with 15 pound foot more torque feel that extra punch each time you floor the throttle so long as the revs are at 2,000 rpm or over the turbo swings into action and all those goodies are delivered to the front tire now I've always said that 200 brake horsepower is the maximum for Rumble dry path but I am seriously impressed with how well this Kart copes with 345 the searing complains a little by yanking left and right but this talk steer is quite mild and to some lesser powered contractors on the market today for example the class es Ford Revo knuckle suspension to thank for that but the best thing about the matching upgrade or warranty the kit can also be fitted to your Focus RS in just four hours not only that but all of the parts are the exact same ones fitted to cause rs500 price for all this just over two grand which is good value for money if you worship performance figures because it buys you half a second off of the standard RF type so now at five point four seconds you are armed with ammo to take straight to the Porsche Boxter s I'm a big fan of the focus particularly the RS so I think Mattoon has been blessed by having a first-rate car to start with it is one of the best handling cars I've ever driven the Sherman will have so much fun together shopping is a perfect match for that extra power and the turbo boost is addictive plus you get a fabulous really dirt and fruity noise from that exhaust right strong and the 6-speed gearbox it slips through the gate it easily is shelling please a joy to use are there any downsides well it can be a little bit jerky when you're trickling through trafficking first or second gear the power delivery can be a bit boisterous and when it comes to fuel efficiency well if you have to ask you can't afford to run it so should you be phoning mount tune and booking your RS in for some surgery well only if you're the type who wants more more more you will get an rs500 just with a different badge and you'll be saving yourself six and a half grand youthis is the mount tune mp3 50 the tuning specialists take on the Ford Focus RS with identical performance to Ford's most exclusive matte black edition of the focus the RS 500 only a hundred and one of them were built and they were all snapped up before they even left the factory and if you weren't lucky enough to get your hands on one but you still want an even punch yet Focus RS then this monochromatic hyper hatch could be right up your street you may not be familiar with the Essex company of Mattoon but they've been making motors go faster for more than four 13 years but what's so special about this MP 350 well it all happens under the bonnet with a redesigned air box at the spoke intercooler some new injector bits and some new exhaust parts but crucially a good tweaking of the ECU all that took me 301 brake horsepower duratec engine has been boosted to 345 with 15 pound foot more torque feel that extra punch each time you floor the throttle so long as the revs are at 2,000 rpm or over the turbo swings into action and all those goodies are delivered to the front tire now I've always said that 200 brake horsepower is the maximum for Rumble dry path but I am seriously impressed with how well this Kart copes with 345 the searing complains a little by yanking left and right but this talk steer is quite mild and to some lesser powered contractors on the market today for example the class es Ford Revo knuckle suspension to thank for that but the best thing about the matching upgrade or warranty the kit can also be fitted to your Focus RS in just four hours not only that but all of the parts are the exact same ones fitted to cause rs500 price for all this just over two grand which is good value for money if you worship performance figures because it buys you half a second off of the standard RF type so now at five point four seconds you are armed with ammo to take straight to the Porsche Boxter s I'm a big fan of the focus particularly the RS so I think Mattoon has been blessed by having a first-rate car to start with it is one of the best handling cars I've ever driven the Sherman will have so much fun together shopping is a perfect match for that extra power and the turbo boost is addictive plus you get a fabulous really dirt and fruity noise from that exhaust right strong and the 6-speed gearbox it slips through the gate it easily is shelling please a joy to use are there any downsides well it can be a little bit jerky when you're trickling through trafficking first or second gear the power delivery can be a bit boisterous and when it comes to fuel efficiency well if you have to ask you can't afford to run it so should you be phoning mount tune and booking your RS in for some surgery well only if you're the type who wants more more more you will get an rs500 just with a different badge and you'll be saving yourself six and a half grand you\n"