14th September 2006

There must be something in the water at Ford’s HQ. How else do you explain the fact that the firm has the ability to produce cracking driver’s cars time and again without apparent effort? From the Puma and Ka to the Fiesta and Mondeo, every Ford drives with verve and dynamism. But the hot hatches are truly special.

	There’s no faulting the tuneful five-cylinder engine. The turbocharged 222bhp unit excels through the mid-range

Take the latest Focus ST. It’s a world away from the hardcore RS version featured in Greatest Drives 2003, but is no less entertaining. That said, it doesn’t have quite the same motorsport ambience as its predecessor. While that model featured components from a host of rally suppliers, the latest ST is very much Ford’s own work. And it’s all the better for it.

True, after the purposeful exterior, the cabin is slightly disappointing. The driver’s chair needs to be lower, yet the seats are more figure-hugging than the Golf GTI’s. The clutch and gearchange are heavier, but well weighted nonetheless.

There’s no faulting the tuneful five-cylinder engine. The turbocharged 222bhp unit excels through the mid-range, although with 320Nm on tap, traction can be a problem, especially when exiting Croft’s final hairpin.

That aside, the chassis was a real delight. It soaked up bumps, the steering brims with feedback and the Ford coped far better on the track than many supposedly more sporting cars. The ST is tough to split from the GTI in every regard; this pair remain the hot hatches to beat.

Text AUTO 197223 to 88833 to download the Ford Focus ST-2 engine ringtone to your phone.

(Service costs 150p per ringtone. Normal operator charges apply. Users must have a GPRS enabled and compatible handset and be over 16. Support email mobile@dennis.co.uk.)

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