Monday 28th April 2008

New Focus ST

Latest version of Focus ST will go on sale from May 1

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Ford has released more details of its updated Focus ST, which will go on sale from May 1.

The car has been created by TeamRS, the company’s dedicated performance vehicle arm, and has a number of exterior and interior styling tweaks.

It is still powered by the familiar punchy 225bhp 2.5 litre turbocharged five-cylinder Duratec engine, which means it will hit 150mph and reach 62mph in 6.8 seconds.

The standard production Focus ST has completed a lap of the Nordschleife in 8 minutes 35 seconds.

A powerful braking system is top of this list while Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) and Traction Control are now standard on all versions.

Externally the new ST gets different 18-inch five-spoke alloy wheels and a restyled front.

For the launch Ford has wheeled out a particularly lairy-looking white version with blue viper stripes.

The car will be priced from £18,250 - £20,850.

[vino 187]

i like the new bumpers except the black lower part of the rear bumper, and like the new tailgate, but i really dislike what they`ve done with the headlights. it no longer looks aggressive and looks too close to the not particularly attractive (until we see an st model at least) new mondeo. wont be swapping mine until they really up the ante with the new rs. im sure they will manage to make that look much more aggro.

[Faz_ITR]

Personally I'd buy a 12 month old example and spend the change on upping the power.

Or just wait for the RS

[Gizmo535]

I don't know about 'on sale from May 1', there's been one parked around the corner from my gf's house for the last week or so... maybe he works at Ford...

[3sixty]

Cue the "they're not called viper stripes" debate...

[Quentin1]

I personally like, that they dropped the grey, cheap-looking fog-light surroundings.

The front itself? Well i guess i have to go and have a look in flesh. On the pictures, the new front lights look, well, like something i have to get used to.

Overall a great car with proper performance, i have the "old" model. Fun on the ´ring.

[chrisbr68]

[Yorkie_Dan]

Gizmo535 said:

I don't know about 'on sale from May 1', there's been one parked around the corner from my gf's house for the last week or so... maybe he works at Ford...

I've seen on on the road too, driving through the centre of York, midweek lunchtime.

[VladD]

What do you get if you cross an XR3i with a transit van?

[Beefmeister]

I've seen 4 or 5 different ones near where i live, but then i'm not too far from Dunton so its hardly surprising.

FWIW, i think the new front end looks pants on the standard Focus, but the new ST's i've seen look fantastic, especially in black or grey.

Really surprised me!

[scott.s]

I don't know what do you get if you cross an xr3i and a transit van...................

There's a standard White RS turbo on a G plate going around my way i'd have that any day over the ST.

[rossp]

"A powerful braking system is top of this list while Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) and Traction Control are now standard on all versions."

Which list?

Does the new model have larger brakes then?

[insanojackson]

Yorkie_Dan said:

Gizmo535 said:

I don't know about 'on sale from May 1', there's been one parked around the corner from my gf's house for the last week or so... maybe he works at Ford...

I've seen on on the road too, driving through the centre of York, midweek lunchtime.

mee too, i saw an orange one in sunderland about 3 weeks ago

[timewatch]

VladD said:

What do you get if you cross an XR3i with a transit van?

Very fast..... Caucasian-van-man ?

Ps, don't want to be racist !



TW>>>

[sprinter885]

Don't care what the performance is-would YOU pay £550 road tax from Mar 2010 for one of them ???
http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/road-tax/?deriv=3899...

[buckman63]

225bhp 2.5 litre turbocharged five-cylinder Duratec engine...... and reach 62mph in 6.8 seconds.

That's really unipressive !! Does it come with a big boot for the shopping ?

[riwiho]

Just seen one of these 5 mins ago. Looked ok but I would have the previous ST and save a packet

[adycav]

I used to have a 2007 ST2, but, although I loved it, it was costing me too much to run. Fuel consumption is pretty poor for a compact car. Far, far worse than the Leon Cupra R that I had before.

I am curious as to why Ford haven't fitted the uprated version of the 2.5T engine - in the Volvo S30/S40 it now puts out 230 ps (vs 225), does 32.5mpg (vs 30.4) and emits 208g of C02 (vs 224).

[beano9]

sorry but it still doesnt do it for me compared to the FRS
and 0-62 in 6.8 come on ford!!!!

think ill wait for the new RS - when will we know for definite about that ??

[ikonic]

insanojackson said:

Yorkie_Dan said:

Gizmo535 said:

I don't know about 'on sale from May 1', there's been one parked around the corner from my gf's house for the last week or so... maybe he works at Ford...

I've seen on on the road too, driving through the centre of York, midweek lunchtime.

mee too, i saw an orange one in sunderland about 3 weeks ago

new one parked down the road from me too.

think PH might have got the May 1st launch wrong.....

[HuggyBear]

well i have a new white st3 08 plate and got it 1st march so this info is out of date. I also had an 06 orange st and the face lift is so much nicer than the original.