RE: 2019 Ford Focus ST gets 280hp and eLSD

[neil1jnr]

If I were in the market for a hot hatch, this would be the one, I bet it's a fantastic drive.

[JMF894]

Escort Si-130 said:

Who the hell fits a tow bar in this day an age. Buy a 4x4 SUV if you want to fit a tow bar. You would hardly ever find a fast estate fitted with a tow bar. dream on dude.

What planet do you live on?

[Shiv_P]

RemyMartin81D said:

M1C said:

Does anyone else think it just looks too....ordinary?

I know the ST are generally quite subtle-ish but....hmm.

And the front end - i still can't get on with it.

Nice from the side though.

Have Ford fixed the problems with the 2.3 engine?

The softening of the 'aston-esque' grill has made it look too safe now and by that I mean far too generic. Take away the blue oval and fit alot of other badges and it could be anything tbh. I don't see alot of brand identity in it, which I'm sure others will not care a bit about. I do however lament the styling. Seats look great, however can someone tell me if they are recaros? The pictures aren't clear....

Ford have never really had a brand design identity though? Look at even the past 15 years and generationally the cars look similar but say mk5-mk6 fiesta, mk1 to mk2 to mk3 focus, where is the correlation? Personally I don't see any

[KPB1973]

Slight resemblance to another 2.3 turbo hot hatch?

[Dale487]

mooseracer said:

David87 said:

I think it’ll be about £31k starting. My wife has got a (fairly high-spec) Focus on order and the list price with options is not far off £30k.

It won't start at over 30k. Autocar are suggesting 28.

I think you're both right but an ST1 will be £28-29K, that has already been said; no one buys. The ST2 will probably be £31K.

[Dale487]

Steh said:

I've just bought a st3 in stealth grey on an 18plate with just over 8000miles ,with the intention of keeping it for maybe a year and then getting one of these, looks wise I agree it looks a little too safe and not quite sporty enough but let's see what the reviews say, as on paper it should be very good.

Colours wise I'm not sure the orange will work on the new shape and the blue is available on most other ford models, surprised they have ditched stealth grey?

Rumours were the estate were only available with diesel engines ?

I do hope you're wrong about the estate.

[Car-Matt]

KPB1973 said:

Slight resemblance to another 2.3 turbo hot hatch?

In so much as it has doors, 4 wheels a spoler and a steering wheel yes

design wise, no?

[thebigmacmoomin]

Like the colour & wheels. but overall it looks more ST-Line than an ST.

[Dale487]

KPB1973 said:

Slight resemblance to another 2.3 turbo hot hatch?

Even the wheel design.

[Rawwr]

thebigmacmoomin said:

Like the colour & wheels. but overall it looks more ST-Line than an ST.

Isn't the point of the ST-Line that it looks like an ST?

[KhabibSmesh]

No indication of release date yet?

What would people expect?

[thebigmacmoomin]

Rawwr said:

thebigmacmoomin said:

Like the colour & wheels. but overall it looks more ST-Line than an ST.

Isn't the point of the ST-Line that it looks like an ST?

Yeah if you want an ST-Line but if i'm spending a bit more on an ST, I don't want it to look like a lower spec model.

[Dale487]

Rawwr said:

thebigmacmoomin said:

Like the colour & wheels. but overall it looks more ST-Line than an ST.

Isn't the point of the ST-Line that it looks like an ST?

Yes

But those in the know, should be able to tell the difference.

[Rawwr]

thebigmacmoomin said:

Yeah if you want an ST-Line but if i'm spending a bit more on an ST, I don't want it to look like a lower spec model.

What difference does it make to you? You know you have the full-fat, gold top version?

[Paddy78]

thebigmacmoomin said:

Rawwr said:

thebigmacmoomin said:

Like the colour & wheels. but overall it looks more ST-Line than an ST.

Isn't the point of the ST-Line that it looks like an ST?

Yeah if you want an ST-Line but if i'm spending a bit more on an ST, I don't want it to look like a lower spec model.

If it looks too different, then RS owners would be having the same gripe.

[Onehp]

Like it. The BorgWarner FXD° aka eLSD with typical great Ford set-up should be a peach in the twisties. Didn't like the torque vectoring and strange anti-torquesteer epas on the previous one, this should put it ahead again.

Now an estate and the RS version preferably with this eLSD and GKN:s twinster in the rear, now that would be the ultimate modern 4wd drive ...


°as fitted to the GTI PP, Clubsport, CS, TCR, Leon Cupra (fwd) and i30N Performance.

[Onehp]

nunpuncher said:

These desaturated press shots of a stonewash denim car on a pissing wet day don't do much for it.

The natural background lifts up the blue that to my eye already has some added saturation/clarity in post processing. So maybe not your favorite blue then...

Great pics compares to the usual overly processed, way too saturated and 100% fake looking car press images that almost nobody believes anymore - when people say lets wait to see it in real life usually just means seeing pictures taken in a more realistic setting by someone not working for a PR machine...

/photographer talking

Edited by Onehp on Monday 18th February 14:34

[Rawwr]

That's much more like it...

[Zetec-S]

Rawwr said:

That's much more like it...

Yes please

[Gavin0478]

Soon to be stolen from a driveway near you sadly unless they can do something with the key less vulnerability.