One of the things that makes cars like the Volkswagen Golf GTI so great is the fact that they continue to be so popular and highly regarded despite there being a faster, more powerful variant – the Golf R in this case. That is where the Ford Focus ST has fallen short in the past but not anymore… No longer willing to live in the shadow of the massively popular Focus RS, this is the new ST.
Whilst available with diesel and petrol engines, it’s the latter that we’re really interested in. The 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbo puts out 276bhp and 310lb. ft of torque. Whilst it falls slightly short of the most powerful Golf GTIs and the Civic Type-R in terms of power, it does now contend with the very capable Renault Megane RS and Hyundai i30N and that torque figure is class-leading. It also comes with anti-turbo lag technology taken from the Ford GT.
Handling is assisted by an electronic limited-slip differential which Ford claims is quicker and more accurate than the mechanical systems used by its direct rivals. Steering is 15 percent quicker than the standard model and the suspension sits 10mm lower and has been stiffened slightly.
There’s a Performance pack available, too, which enhances the suspension further. It uses what Ford call ‘Continuously Controlled Damping’ which monitors various parameters every two milliseconds so that it is constantly adapting to the road surface. The Performance pack also adds rev-matching, launch control and a Track mode which opens up looser stability control options.
Where the old Focus ST had central exhaust pipes, which prevented the ability to tow, the new model now has one pipe either side of the rear diffuser. It’s more practical and, in my opinion, looks much better that way. It does, however, possess exhaust noise enhancement tech for the Race and Track modes which could either improve the driving experience or just be a bit over the top – time will tell.
As I mentioned earlier, there is a diesel option for those of you who are after something that compromises some of its speed for a bit more efficiency. It’s a 2-litre TDI that produces 187bhp and 295lb. ft – think Golf GTD for a performance comparison. You also have the choice of a hatchback or an estate – I suspect the former will be the more popular of the two.
As you would expect with modern Fords, it comes pretty well kitted out. Adaptive cruise control comes as standard, and fully automated parking and the ability to act as a WiFi hotspot for up to ten devices are extras.
What do you think of the new Focus ST then? Do you think it could finally match the likes of the Golf GTI or Megane RS? Let us know in the comments section below or via our Facebook and Twitter pages.
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