Performance; great interior; value
2012 is proving to be a year to remember for hot hatch fans. Hot on the heels of Renault launching the fantastic Megane RS 265, Ford has delivered the scintillating Focus ST. Made in Germany and bristling with a direct-injection 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, the Focus is sensationally priced at $38,290 – undercutting both the Megane and Volkswagen Golf GTI.
Some might find the three-door Renault a bit limiting and, like the Golf, the Ford Focus ST is five-doors.
Focus ST is Ford’s first global performance car and is being sold in 40 countries.
Ford Focus ST Overview
Ford Focus ST comes in just one model – a five-door hatchback with a six-speed manual transmission. Significantly, the turbocharged 2.0-litre is from Ford’s EcoBoost family and joins the Mondeo and Falcon in bringing this fuel-saving technology to Australia.
Sitting on lowered ‘Sports Tuned’ (ST) suspension and driving the front wheels via Ford’s well-developed suspension technology with Torque Vectoring Control, the Focus ST mixes with the best of the hot hatches for performance and driving dynamics.
And inside is a Recaro-kitted interior which could be the best of the hot hatches.
All of this for under $40K? You bet – another fantastic vehicle from Ford.
Ford Focus ST Engine
It’s a sign of the times that Ford Focus’ debut for EcoBoost technology appears in the high-performance ST version. The engine is Ford’s 2.0-litre GTDI (Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection). Maximum power is 184kW at 5500rpm and peak torque is 340Nm between 2000rpm and 4500rpm (360Nm for up to 15 second son overboost).
Drive is to the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission. All that adds-up to zero to 100km/h in just 6.5 seconds.
The exhausts exit at the rear-centre and Ford has kitted the Focus ST with a tuned system and ‘sound symposer’ so the meaty sound is highlighted inside the car.
But here’s the really impressive bit – fuel consumption (combined cycle) is rated at 7.4l/100kms(better than Golf GTI) and exhaust C02 emissions are 172g/km.
Ford Focus ST The Interior
We can’t think of a better hot hatch interior – regardless of the price. Ford Focus ST gets the complete leather-trimmed Recaro treatment with superb front seats and matching rears.
Those Recaros are colour-coded for the exterior paint – blue and white get ‘Spirit Blue’ seat trim, red and black get ‘Race Red’ seat trim, silver gets ‘Smoke Storm’ seat trim and ‘Tangerine Scream’ (orange – the hero colour) gets matching ‘Tangerine Scream’ seat trim.
So the snug-fitting seats combine with rake/reach adjustment for the nice, grippy leather-wrapped sports steering wheel for an optimal driving position. Alloy-faced pedals complete the picture.
Ahead is the usual top-notch Focus dashboard, topped with a separated binnacle housing gauges for turbocharger pressure, oil pressure and engine temperature.
Centre console contains a 5-inch TFT screen for the Sony audio system, Ford SYNC connectivity and the reversing camera/satellite navigation (both standard).
Ford Focus ST Exterior & Styling
Ford Focus ST has been smartly styled with noticeable but subtle differences to appeal to hot hatch buyers.
The 18-inch alloy wheels are a standout and come with Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres.
Up-front is a new, one-piece version of Ford’s trapezoidal grille (in black) and Bi-Xenon HID headlights while the side is dominated by prominent side skirts.
At the rear is a sports bumper with diffuser-style vents, the twin-centre hexagonal exhaust tailpipes and a massive wing.
Ford Focus ST On The Road
Around the Victorian Alps are some of Australia’s best driving roads – yippee! – that’s where Ford sent us to sample the Focus ST. Twists, curves, low-speed, high-speed, uphill, downhill…yep this was Focus ST country allright.
Like the previous model Focus RS, putting 184kW/340Nm through the front wheels isn’t without challenges. Like the previous model Focus RS, clever engineering by Ford Europe harnesses all that power and torque without an expensive and heavy all-wheel-drive system and the ST delivers the engaging and quick-response driving dynamics hot hatch fans demand.
Nail the throttle and the steering wheel tells you the ESC and torque-vectoring systems are doing their thing. And it’s an unusual feeling as the system makes corrections and keeps the
Focus ST pointed without any input from the driver – brilliant!
Then there’s the actual chassis itself. Connected via outstanding made-in-Germany Goodyear F1 asymmetric tyres and that sports-tuned suspension, the Ford Focus ST is astonishingly well balanced and planted.
And that variable ratio steering impresses with its directness. Into corners, the Ford Focus ST responds well to throttle input and the ample torque of the turbocharged 2.0-litre provides instantaneous acceleration…oh and the exhaust note is sporty to say the least.
Ford Focus ST Verdict
Hot hatch fans you have a new hero and we have a new entry to the list of Car Showroom Favourites. We haven’t had this much fun since we drove the Renault Megane RS 265.
Yes there are some credentialed hot hatches around, but Ford has simultaneously raised the bar in driving dynamics and set a new pricing benchmark at $38,290 – $2,200 less than the Golf GTI.
We love the Focus’ interior (those colour-matched Recaro seats are special), the on-road dynamics are simply astonishing and the German-built quality is top-notch.
Yep, we’d love a Ford Focus ST in our garage full-time.
Ford Focus ST The Competition
Hottest of the Hot Hatches and also a Car Showroom favourite in this league is the Renault Megane RS 265 launched just a few months ago. With 195kW/360Nm from its turbochargd 2.0-litre, a sophisticated chassis to match and great looks inside and out, the Megane is a ripper… but it’s only two-doors and you’ll need $42,640 to $51,640.
Volkswagen Golf GTI is five-doors and in terms of sale success certainly flexes its muscles in this segment. But there’s no doubt the $38,290 sticker of the Ford Focus ST raises questions about the Golf at $40,490.
And of course there’s the Subaru WRX. Yes it’s a sedan, but the $39,990 starting price is alluring – and the Rex’s all-wheel-drive dynamics shouldn’t be overlooked.
