We talked about the new Vauxhall Astra GTC, the next Astra VXR the other day and revealed that this will be showcased at the Paris motor show next month. Well it seems Ford are on a quest not to be outdone and are set to launch their range topping Focus ST with power and looks to rival their competitors – the hot hatch market is smoking.The all new Focus ST looks even more striking than the previous model and packs more of a punch too with its 2.0 litre turbo charged engine producing a Golf GTi beating 247bhp. The front of the car features a large mesh grille, sides sills make the car look low and planted and the rear of the car features a roof spoiler, large rear bumper with twin exhausts.
The new ST is following a trend that quite frankly is a sign of the times. Ford has decided to downsize from a 2.5litre to a 2.0 litre EcoBoost engine. The tuning wizards at Ford have managed to increase the bhp by 25 over the previous ST whilst the smaller engine is much more fuel efficient, figures should come in at about 35 mpg on a combined cycle.
There are no official performance figures yet but when you consider it boasts 40bhp more than a Golf GTi it is bound to hit 0-60 in a little under 6 seconds with a top speed of 155mph upwards. Ford have incorporated a new traction control system with torque vectoring ensuring power is delivered to the road, it should eliminate torque steer and reduce wheel spin dramatically.The all new Focus ST will only be available in a five door guise. However there are rumours that an estate/wagon will be available for the first time ever – a trend that is growing in the car industry. The interior looks equally sporty with dials adorning the dash, carbon fibre trims and brightly coloured sports seats all finished off in piano black detailing.
The ST will not be available until at least late 2011; the price is likely to be around £24,000 which is a little pricier than the former model.
