Focus ST set for Paris

By Jack Rix

July 2010

A fire has been lit under the new Focus! An inside source at Ford has confirmed that a hot ST version of the all-new hatchback will break cover at the Paris Motor Show in October, alongside full production versions of the five-door and estate models.

Rumours have been circulating for some time about when the first new-generation fast Focus would rear its head, but only now do fans of high-performance cars have a date to put in their diary.

Back in March, Ford’s product development boss, Derrick Kuzak, revealed that the all-new Focus ST “will get an EcoBoost turbocharged engine, be exciting to drive, great to look at and certainly worth waiting for”. That suggests the outgoing car’s thirsty 2.5-litre engine is to be replaced by a more efficient 2.0-litre direct-injection turbo unit.

Precise power outputs have yet to be confirmed, but the 2.0-litre EcoBoost – already offered with 200bhp in the S-Max, Galaxy and Mondeo – could easily produce 250bhp and 350Nm of torque. That would pitch the ST squarely at Renaultsport’s Mégane 250, yet still leave room for a 300bhp-plus RS version later in the car’s life cycle.

The hot Ford is expected to be even faster than the super-quick Mégane, delivering 0-62mph in around six seconds and a 155mph top speed. But the ST’s trump card will be its ability to blend this pace with class-leading efficiency. Likely combined economy of 35mpg and 187g/km CO2 emissions would eclipse the 30mpg and 224g/km figures of the current ST by some margin.

In corners, clever torque vectoring software will juggle power between the front wheels to exploit every ounce of grip available to the new model. A variety of driving modes will alter throttle response and steering weight, depending on the driver’s personal preferences.

The Focus five-door hatch and estate are scheduled to go on sale in April 2011, with the ST version due later in the year.

Tell us about your car in our Driver Power survey.