What's the news?
Ford is introducing some tweaks to the Focus ST, but is going to offer a diesel version of its performance machine as well - marrying pace with economy.
Exterior
Both cars are available in hatchback and estate formats. Following the recent facelift of the Focus range as a whole, the ST benefits from a sharper front end. It still has the large, trapezoidal grille, but new headlamps, rectangular fog lights and a sculpted bonnet all give it extra purpose. The sporty body kit continues round the sides and to the back of the Focus, where there's a spoiler and twin-hexagonal centre tailpipes. Optional 19-inch ST Design alloys are offered and there's a new, dark grey paintjob called Stealth you can specify, as well as Deep Impact Blue - alongside the familiar hues of Tangerine Scream, Frozen White, Panther Black and Race Red.
Interior
Ford has de-cluttered the dash and will offer Sync 2 connectivity for the first time in the ST, a system that features an eight-inch high-definition touchscreen. Some ST hallmarks remain, like the three gauges in the dash and Recaro sports seats, but there's now a flat-bottomed sports steering wheel covered in leather, a satin chrome-topped gear lever and ST pedals. You'll be able to spec the Focus in ST1, ST2 and ST3 trim levels, the latter of these featuring a full leather interior.
Various high-level bits of kit are included, such as Adaptive Front Lighting with bi-Xenon HID lamps, Cross Traffic Alert (which helps you to reverse out of tight spots), a lane-keeping aid and the enhanced Active City Stop collision avoidance system - which now works at speeds up to 31mph.
Mechanicals
The petrol ST soldiers on with the 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine, good for 250hp at 5,500rpm and 360Nm from 2,000- to 4,500rpm. Top speed is 154mph, 0-62mph is dispatched in 6.5 seconds and the ST now uses stop-start (as does the TDCi diesel model) to drink six per cent less fuel and pump out fewer molecules of CO2; the quoted figures are 41.5mpg and 158g/km (previously 39mpg and 169g/km).
The intriguing car here is the ST TDCi. It uses the 2.0-litre TDCi engine as seen elsewhere in the Focus range - the next most powerful version has 150hp - and benefits from ECU recalibration, a revised air intake system and a sports-tuned exhaust to deliver a 23 per cent power gain. Peak outputs are 185hp at 3,500rpm and 400Nm from 2,000- to 2,750rpm. Top speed is 135mph and 0-62mph takes 8.1 seconds, but it's some of the mid-range stats that bear closer examination - 50- to 75mph in sixth, for example, takes 2.2 seconds less than the 150hp car at 9.7 seconds. And this pace doesn't come at the expense of fuel economy, with 64.2mpg and 114g/km CO2 the official figures.
Meanwhile, the chassis gets an overhaul, with all-new front springs and 'sportier' damper tuning all round. Ford has also recalibrated the power steering to offer better turn-in and balance, while tweaking both the stability control programme and the Torque Vectoring Control. Ford worked with Michelin to develop a new 19-inch tyre that is optimised for the Focus ST, while both cars use six-speed manual gearboxes with ratios matched individually to each engine.
Anything else?
The new Focus ST and ST TDCi made their debuts at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The order books open in autumn with the cars in dealerships in early 2015. The prices will be announced closer to the on-sale date.
Matt Robinson - 30 Jun 2014