SP Rides: Hell of a Hot Hatch
BY MICHAEL KITCHENS
Name: Donovan Coloma
Age: 35
Occupation: Auto parts salesman
Hobbies: Cars and family
Year, Make, Model: 2014 Ford Focus ST
Color: Silver
Engine: Boomba Racing turbo blowoff valve, K&N high performance air filter, custom muffler delete exhaust, Cobb ECU Tuner Accessport
Interior: Carbon fiber Ford Racing ST shifter, Recaro Sport seats
Exterior: Fifteen52 front cup spoilers, Boomba Racing wing risers, Rally Armor mudflap set, TFB emblem overlays, aluminum side splitters, Carbon fiber wrapped hood, 3M vinyl decals, Velossa Tech rear diffuser fins.
Suspension: Eibach drop springs, Wheels, Tires: 18-inch Sparco matte black wheels, Garageline wheel spacers, Tredwear white lettering, Goodyear Eagle 235/40R18s
Maybe it’s from watching too much Top Gear — which was a mainstay during my time in the UK — but I like hot hatches. Ever since the early 2000s, hot hatches have been always a joy to drive and photograph. There’s something about the affordable yet sporty package you get when you combine a small, economical vehicle with the lusty engine growl of modified performance. Not to mention that they look incredible, too. With such appealing attributes, maybe that’s why Donovan Coloma loves his 2014 Ford Focus ST.
Coloma started his automotive life in a 1974 Chevy Camaro he purchased for $800. It’s no surprise that he enjoys the domestic side of the house — being a fan of the Dodge Neon is what got him into modding in the first place. Yet, the turbofied power of a Mazdaspeed 3 is what set him on his current path. Yearning for more power and more of the addictive “whoosh” of the blow off valve, Coloma purchased this 252HP turbo-charged ST in December 2014.
For Hawaii, this isn’t a commonly modified car. While extremely popular in Europe and the mainland, the import scene here typically dominates more domestic offerings. Regardless of this, Coloma is a member of Team Mansu, a local car club that is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Coloma doesn’t consider this to be a show car, but as a way to celebrate, he recently participated and to his surprise, won third place for “Best Domestic” at SPOCOM. Obviously, he’s modified the car well enough to represent.
This is a good-looking car with fantastic bodylines. One of the first things you’ll notice is the race-inspired look that features the silver chassis dropped by Eibach springs onto 18-inch Sparco Matte Black wheels. These are spaced out by Garageline wheel spacers and have TredWear white lettering added that contribute to the aggressive stance. Additional body modifications include Fifteen52 front cup spoilers, aluminum side splitters, and a carbon fiber wrapped hood. To complete the rally feel, Rally Armor mud flaps and Boomba Racing wing risers have been added. Finishing up the rear and helping to guide airflow are Velossa Tech diffuser fins.
Of course, this car has some guts under the hood. Two hundred and seventy-foot pounds of torque await Coloma’s heavy pedal and this has been further enhanced thanks to a Cobb ECU Tuner Accessport mated with a K&N high performance air filter and custom muffler delete exhaust for better breathing. A Boomba Racing blow-off valve gives a note of ear-candy that’s music to his ears.
The well-appointed interior features Recaro sport seats that provide a nice view of the cockpit, which is alive with gauges and displays of all kinds. The displays allow for setting and control of the engine performance while a carbon fiber Ford Racing ST shifter provides a more stylish shift.
Hot hatches are cool, and they’re even better when they’re modified. For Coloma, the rush he gets from owning and driving it is enough to keep him sated. “This car is different. I wanted to modify something that was a little bit out of the ordinary here,” shared Don. Well, sometimes that’s all it takes to make the world go round.
