We’ve seen photos and show cars, but nobody outside of the Blue Oval has yet actually driven it, or lived to tell about it. Yes, we’re talking about the highly-anticipated Ford Focus ST. Although the performance variant of Ford’s bread-and-butter hatch is always anticipated and welcomed by enthusiasts worldwide, its arrival will be especially welcomed in the U.S. where Focus fans have been deprived of a true performance model since the discontinuation of the SVT model at the end of 2004.
“For enthusiasts in North America and Asia who have asked why our compact performance models were not available to them, well, the wait is almost over,” said Jost Capito, Ford’s director of Global Performance Vehicles. “The new Focus ST will offer exactly the same exciting driving experience wherever it’s on sale.”
Although the previous-generation ST had a Volvo-sourced turbocharged five-cylinder making 227 horsepower, and the new model has “only” a 2.0 liter four-cylinder, performance hasn’t suffered. Despite the loss of a cylinder and half-liter of displacement, the new EcoBoost turbocharged, direct-injected engine is projected to produce 246 horsepower and at least 250 pound-feet of torque. All this while delivering significantly better fuel economy than its predecessor.
“Keep your eyes open for our prototypes as we work on delivering a Focus ST driving experience that will delight performance car fans around the world,” Capito said.
You can follow the new Focus ST on the official Ford Focus Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/fordfocus.
Source: Ford
