Facelifted Ford Focus ST launched for 2021 with 276bhp
Ford has made some styling tweaks and a few technological changes to the Focus ST, including a new 13.2-inch infotainment system
Ford has given the Focus ST hot hatch an update for 2021, to coincide with the mid-life facelift bestowed on the company’s family hatch.
Like the standard hatchback, the facelifted Ford Focus ST gets a tweaked front bumper, a slightly larger radiator grille and more aggressive LED headlights, all of which work to pull the car’s design into step with newer vehicles in the company’s line-up, such as the Mustang Mach-e and the recently updated Fiesta.
Other changes include a new satin grey finish for the front bumper vents, a fresh set of lights at the rear and the addition of the same “Mean Green” paint finish first seen on the Puma ST. Ford’s exterior styling tweaks are rounded off with two new alloy wheel designs, available in either 18- or 19-inch diameters.
Inside, Ford has ditched the old car’s Recaro seats in favour of some in-house designed 14-way adjustable sports seats. There’s also a new-look dashboard with a new infotainment system. The screen measures an enormous 13.2 inches across and now incorporates the car’s climate control settings, removing a few buttons from the dashboard in the process.
The new touchscreen runs Ford’s latest SYNC4 infotainment software, which introduces advanced speech recognition and some new connected features, such as live weather reports and traffic updates. The system can even be connected to the driver’s phone using the FordPass app, allowing owners to remotely check their car’s fuel level and oil quality.
However, despite these large changes, the powertrain goes without alteration. Like before, it’s a turbocharged 2.3-litre four-cylinder unit developing 276bhp and 420Nm of torque. It’s mated to a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, although a seven-speed automatic is available as an optional extra.
Further optional extras include adaptive dampers and Ford’s Dynamic Pixel LED headlights, which use a front-facing camera to read the road and automatically illuminate dark spots by altering the beam.
The facelifted Ford Focus ST is available to order now. Prices start from £33,885, which makes it around £3,000 more expensive than the outgoing version. First deliveries are expected to arrive in early 2022.
Read our review of the new Focus ST Edition – the swansong of the outgoing hot hatchback’s line-up…
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