THE FORD FOCUS ST EDITION KEEPS THE HOT HATCH ALIVE - BUT IT'S NOT FOR SA.
The Ford Focus ST was culled from the South African market back in 2019, and it’s a damn pity because it was actually quite a popular choice for those in the hot hatch phase of their lives. All sorts of excuses were given as to why it wasn’t coming to SA anymore, but none of them made sense to fans of the iconic nameplate. This here SXdrv writer has always been a fan of them since the very first one was launched. The first ST seen in SA was the Mondeo ST220, but not too long after it was released we received a batch of the Focus ST170. The car was powered by a normally aspirated 2.0-litre 16-valve lump mated to a brilliant 6-speed transmission and it had power that rivalled the legendary Superboss - it had 127 kW with 196 Nm of torque. It wasn’t a monster in a straight line, but thanks to some very clever suspension, it had brilliant handling on track. I owned a 2003 Focus ST170 from 2005 until 2015 and I loved every minute of it. The second generation launched in 2005 and it also became a firm favourite thanks to its turbocharged 2.5-litre 5-cylinder with 166 kW and 320 Nm. These things with a proper downpipe and exhaust made that Volvo-derived motor one of the best-sounding around. The 3rd generation arrived in 2012 and was available until 2018 when it was canned. It dropped a cylinder moving to one of Ford’s own turbocharged 2.0-litre turbo 4-cylinder lump that was rated at 188 kW with 366 Nm of torque. The 4th generation is what SA missed out on, it remained a 4-pot but this time it measured in at 2.3 litres and pushed out 206 kW and 420 Nm of torque. In comparison, the Volkswagen GTi of the time had just 169 kW and 350 Nm. We really missed out on a great car. The Focus ST is still alive and well in Europe where it originates from and the company has just released a new special edition of the car, aptly named the Ford Focus ST Edition.
The Ford Focus ST Edition is one of those cool special edition cars that has just the right amount of tweaks and changes to make it special, and when the focus (haha) is on handling performance, it’s even cooler. “The new Focus ST Edition represents the best of Ford Performance in a usable, everyday package,” said Stefan Muenzinger, Ford Performance manager, Europe. “Sports Technologies mean drivers don’t have to compromise on versatility but can still enjoy the thrill of a track day.” The special things on the Focus Edition include proper racecar-style adjustable suspension, Brembo front brakes, lightweight 19-inch flow-formed wheels wrapped in Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres, a banging 675 W B&O Premium Sound System with ten speakers and a subwoofer, a Driver Assist Pack (Adaptive Cruise Control 4 with Speed Sign Recognition, Lane Centring, Blind Spot Information System with Cross Traffic Alert), a Winter Pack (heated steering wheel and a Quickclear heated windscreen) and a unique Azura Blue exterior with High Gloss Black details, as well as Motion Blue interior highlights. Every Focus ST Edition is finished in Azura Blue complemented with High Gloss Black alloy wheels, roof, rear spoiler and diffuser, door mirrors and ST badge surrounds. Inside is Motion Blue stitching for the Ford Performance seats, steering wheel, gear shift gaiter, centre console knee pads and floor mats. Power remains the same as the regular Focus ST with the turbocharged 2.3-litre Ecoboost lump being rated at 206 kW and 420 Nm, and that’s good enough for a 0-100 km/h dash in 5.7 seconds with a 250 km/h top speed. The car looks good, it has all the right things in all the right places and even Ford’s press release claims “its the most complete Ford Performance-developed Focus yet…”
Take a look at the YouTube video from Ford that shows off the latest instalment of the popular turbocharged hot hatch from Ford that's still alive and kicking in Europe. It's such a pity that we no longer have them on the menu here because it forces everyone to only shop fast hatches from VW or Audi or Hyundai at a stretch: New Ford Focus ST Edition is Our Most Complete Hot Hatch Ever | Ford News Europe
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