A new fast Ford?
Not quite. This is a hot Focus, but it’s only a facelifted version of the current ST. Ford showed the regular Focus at the Frankfurt show back in Septmber, but it’s only now that we get to see the 2.5-litre turbocharged five-pot.
Unfortunately, to these eyes at least, it’s the one facelifted Focus that doesn’t work with Martin Smith’s ‘kinetic design’ nip and tuck.
So what are the changes?
Dynamically the ST is untouched, but Ford has made efforts to improve the refinement, and the interior quality. It’s largely successful, as you can read in our first drive of the 2.0 TDCi.
The Focus ST will no doubt continue to offer a much more refined and relaxed driving experience than the Civic Type-R, and Ford’s latest tweaks will only aid that. Prices start at £17,995, with the ST-2 available for £1000 more, and the ST-3 at £19,995. Deliveries start in the first quarter of 2008.
And this little wagon?
The facelifted estate version of the Focus. Prices start at £13,895, £250 more than before, but ESP is now standard fit. It was previously a £250 option. As with the ST the changes are mainly cosmetic, with the focus inside on improved quality and refinement.
Petrol engines range from a 1.6-litre 99bhp up to the petrol up to a 143bhp 2.0-litre while diesels are a 1.6-litre 108bhp through to a 2.0 TDCi with particulate filter which we’ve just driven in five-door guise. You can also read how it fairs against the Nissan Qashqai, Mini Clubman, Kia Ceed, Peugeot 308, and Skoda Roomster in the latest issue of CAR Magazine .