I was given the pleasure of seeing the new Ford Focus ST at Ford Motor Company on Tuesday Night. The new Focus ST model available early next year, is destined to have a cult following, as it is a serious high performance vehicle that will delight drivers young and old.
Ford’s long racing history and historic muscles cars are well known. This new chapter in a high performance vehicle is very exciting and reaches a new segment of buyers. The Ford Focus ST packs 250HP / 250ft Pounds of Torque with EcoBoost is bound to excite anyone.
While I did not get to drive the vehicle, talking to those that did it is apparent they had an out of body experience and did not want to get out from behind the wheel. The Ford team emphasized that even though the vehicle is a front wheel drive it has amazing handling performance, and specifically that the vehicle did not have under steer characteristics that many front wheel vehicles suffer from.
Performance meets efficiency under the hood
Focus ST is powered by the 2.0-liter Ford EcoBoost® engine. Ford’s lightweight, all-aluminum EcoBoost engines provide the power of a larger engine in a fuel-efficient smaller displacement, leveraging three key technologies.
High-pressure direct injection, low-inertia turbocharging and twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT) create an advanced combustion system that brings new levels of performance and fuel efficiency. The EcoBoost 2.0-liter in the Focus ST reduces both CO2 emissions and fuel consumption.
“This is the first time we have used a Ford EcoBoost engine in a high-performance model, and the result will leave drivers smiling,” said Ford Rep Capito. “They will have a lot of power and torque at their disposal throughout the rev range. For everyday driving, though, the characteristics of this car will let them drive in a more fuel-efficient way than previously, which is an essential part of the ST’s DNA.”
What really excited me about this vehicle, was the on-board technology along with racing styled seats, sports suspension, and styled in a way that it just looks fast. The Focus ST is going to appeal to all of you that have a need for speed, in an affordable package. Built for speed yet street legal, those that own one, will have to be careful to keep out of the radar guns cross hairs.
From the driver’s seat, customers will experience the newly developed Ford sport steering system. This variable-ratio steering rack is designed to increase the agility of the Focus ST on winding roads yet still inspire the same high-speed confidence. With Enhanced Torque Vectoring Control the Focus ST’s ETVC applies steering pressure more aggressively and also adds cornering control, which applies torque to create a yaw effect based on the car’s understeer, both in power-on and power-off conditions.
Focus ST will be available in more than 40 markets including the U.S., Canada, Mexico, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and 15 countries in Europe. The North American production car makes its U.S. debut this month at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
Personally I hope I get invited back to Ford to drive one of these bad boys… Keep an eye here for more cool Ford Announcements.