World Exclusive: Focus ST scooped

Old ST Engine

"The 2.5 engine in the old ST wasn't normally aspirated - it was turbocharged" Thanks for pointing out the error. Article updated. AE

By martinmb11 on 11 April, 2011, 7:39pm

you beat me to it. I thought I must have imagined the whine from under the bonnet!

By bayesp1 on 11 April, 2011, 8:42pm

You beat me to it too. Typical AE rubbish journalism. Why not employ people who actually know something about cars?

By JMDonald on 11 April, 2011, 9:37pm

RS 4x4

I hope really there is a 4x4 (all-wheel drive) RS version on the way. If It's FWD, I don't want 300-400+ horses in the car. I want any RS with 300+ hp EcoBoost 2.0 and all-wheel drive.

By Thomars on 11 April, 2011, 9:38pm

I could eat my own eyeballs....

Whilst quite a poor photoshop (when clearly Ford have settled on a headlight design having already launched the actual car!!!) this is just as dull as the everyday Focus. Utterly utterly derivative and almost putrid design. It says nothing about anything, and as with anything with the Ford badge, almost magically disappears into mundane-ness almost the minute the badge is glued to the front. Remember the once-seen-as-XF-style-Mondeo? Yes, it's now the pinnacle of blue-oval monotony. Just as Austin decided it's own badge was doing more harm than good, it's about time Ford pensioned off it's own name for a better one to adorn already dull enough appliances it calls cars...

By JamesRiley on 12 April, 2011, 12:48am

Ford, derivative??

@JamesRiley. This isn't a photoshop, Ford released these official pics months ago. Also, it's the same headlight design, except these have DRL's as per the new regulations in Europe. Also, the Ford 'Kinetic' design language is being copied by quite a few manufacturers, including the lower front air-intake. Citroen have copied it, as have Hyundai, to name a couple. Also, the Fiesta and Focus are the two best sellers in the country. The Mondeo has been out for years and was not intended to be a Jaguar competitor, obviously, therefore it has to look cheaper than a Jaguar, obviously, so because they're cheaper, there will be more on the road, emphasising the fact they look mundane, in reality the design is fine, though getting on. Ford have the 2 best selling cars in the country, the Ford name is fine, however I would really like to know what car in this segment is the best looking, in your opinion.

By aplads on 12 April, 2011, 7:48am

I would be very keen to see the RS version, may even buy one.

By johnbmwx6 on 12 April, 2011, 9:55am

@aplads, I never thought i'd say it, but the Citroen C4 is probably one of the better looking models out there right now. This Focus is just too bland, I am struggling to see a particular design cue that set's it apart. Even the Astra has a slithery bodyshape to set it a little bit apart. I don't understand why people stick up for Ford regardless of hat they produce. This car is bland, plain and simple, it looks like the offspring of a pre-facelift Kia C'eed. Ford led design with the Mk1 Focus, in thr 12 years since the Focus has simply been an also ran. Quite why this doesn't feed into lower sales is frankly beyond me. but then we brits propped up British Leyland for long enough before finally seeing the light. That company took shortlived success to mean it was doing the right things, it wasn't but by the time it became obvious even to them their cars were hideously undercooked and badly designed it was too late. Ford are big enough and old enough to do much better.

By JamesRiley on 12 April, 2011, 1:38pm

What sort of story is this?! The ST was revealed in all its glory months ago and has been making regular appearences at every major international motor show! Auto(SUN)Express scoops again!

By hampson10 on 12 April, 2011, 9:00pm

Handling...

The one saving grace Ford has is that their cars handle very well, which I guess is why so many people still buy them. This could not be said of any BL car.

Love it or loathe it, I do think Ford were very brave to kick the old Cortina into touch in favour of the Sierra. Lets face it, the Cortina was the best selling car in their portfolio at the time and the risks involved must have made for some nervous, energy charged board meetings.

The innovatory glory days for Ford ended with the conception of the mk1 Focus, and maybe the original Ka. Since then, Ford have been applying styling Band Aids to all their models. Kinetic Design is all phooey!! It's a buzzword used by Ford's marketing department to get you and me to buy their cars. It hides the fact that Ford haven't produced an innovative vehicle for over a decade, and because of this strategy, they no longer have the resources to support a 21st century 'Sierra' release.

By sgtgrash on 12 April, 2011, 11:42pm

3 and 5 door sales

IIRC he 3 door ST sold more than the 5 door. So this would seem very weird for Ford to say the 3 door didnt sell. It may have slowed down in the last 2-3 years but that was only naturally as the RS came out and those within budget would have stretched to the RS.

I am not sure what is going on with this segment of car size, but it also reminds me that Audi have annoyingly only released the powerhouse RS3 only as a 5 door.

By hotredman on 13 April, 2011, 1:35pm

Same old crap!

Nuff said!

By QuattroABT on 14 April, 2011, 11:16am

Car featured on the Trailer

Is the Audi Q7 being rebadged as a Ford Focus?

By tonyhutch01 on 24 April, 2011, 9:58am