RE: 2019 Ford Focus ST gets 280hp and eLSD

RE: 2019 Ford Focus ST gets 280hp and eLSD

Tuesday 7th May 2019

2019 Ford Focus ST UK prices: Update!

£32k confirmed for petrol ST hatch; diesel the only version below £30,000...



Ford has finally released prices for its highly-anticipated new Focus ST, and not a moment too soon, with deliveries expected to begin next month. In entry-level guise the hatch will come with a 2.0-litre 180hp EcoBlue motor, the most powerful diesel unit ever put in a Focus, and available from £29,495, rising to £30,595 for the estate version.

For 2019 the Focus is ditching its ST-2 and ST-3 trims, so the one you'll want is the petrol-powered 2.3-litre Ecoboost, which gets you nearly 100hp more for its £31,995 (or £33,095 for the estate) RRP. This pricing sees the petrol ST come in at a premium over the Hyundai i30N Performance, which starts at £29,495, as well as the £28k Megane R.S. 280; it means that the Focus is also £10 more than a Civic Type R GT (£31,985), but cheaper than the £32,985 Golf GTI.

Of course, pre-owned Focus STs are also available in the classifieds, offering a considerable saving without taking all that much of a performance hit. And they were quite good...



ORIGINAL STORY, 18/02/2019:
So this is it. No more spy shots, leaks or rumours; Ford has fully unveiled the new Focus ST and there's quite a lot to get through, so let's dive straight in.

As expected, power comes from a turbocharged 2.3-litre petrol engine, the same unit found under the bonnet of the Ecoboost Mustang and, in uprated format, the last generation Focus RS. In those applications it delivers 320hp and 350hp respectively, although here it will be pared back to a still-respectable 280hp at 5,500rpm and 310lb ft between 3,000 - 4,000rpm. Also available will be a 2.0-litre diesel motor; the most powerful ever dropped into a Focus, it'll produce 190hp at 3,500rpm and 295lb ft between 2,000 - 3,000rpm.


In both cases, drive will be sent to the front axle exclusively via a choice of a six-speed manual or - at long last, some would argue - a seven-speed automatic transmission. In the case of the petrol version, it'll make its way through an electronic limited-slip diff, too - the first time Ford has fitted such a device to a front-wheel drive vehicle. The short-shifting manual will be available with rev-matching as well, as will the auto, just one of many technological innovations Ford is bringing (for better or worse) to the ST.

Most noteworthy among them are selectable Drive Modes, another function not previously offered on Ford's hot hatch and indicative of the fact that the ST now gets a good deal more kit which is adjustable at the flick of a switch. That new eLSD is a good example: using a suite of sensors it preemptively adjusts torque distribution, rather than simply responding to wheelspin as it occurs, and can redistribute up to 100 per cent of available torque to whichever wheel has most traction.


Predictably, the diesel version has to make do with 'Torque Vectoring Control', which simply applies the brakes individually to the inside wheels during cornering. On top of that, Ford GT-based Anti-Lag, Adaptive Cruise Control, Active Park Assist 2 and a Head-Up Display will all be among the options when the ST goes on sale this summer.

There'll be a Performance Pack, too, which includes Launch Control, rev-matching, a shift light, Track Mode (on top of the standard Wet, Normal and Sport modes) and Ford's Continuously Controlled Damping - which monitors the suspension, body, steering and braking inputs every two milliseconds to adjust damping responses.


Mechanical features include a new exhaust system which reduces back pressure, a bespoke air intake and an optimised intercooler. There are larger front and rear brakes which apparently boast nearly four-times the fade resistance of the previous generation, while the ride height has been lowered by 10mm and damping stiffness is increased by 20 per cent at the front and 13 per cent at the rear. Estate models also receive unique suspension geometry to help them "remain nimble and responsive even when fully loaded."

The new ST also boasts 15 per cent faster steering than the standard Focus, with just two turns lock-to-lock, while bespoke Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres ought to provide sufficient grip to match that agility. To prevent you being thrown across the cabin the interior features some rather smart Recaro sports seats, along with a flat-bottomed wheel with dedicated 'Mode' and 'Sport' buttons. Expect to find Ford's latest SYNC 3 infotainment system plumbed in as well, which includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility for free.


As we already knew, the car will be available in five-door hatch and estate body styles at launch, with no two-door variant planned. If that and the fairly plain looks leave you a little cold, then Ford will hope paint colours including Ford Performance Blue, Orange Fury, Frozen White and Race Red might help. Those can be paired with alloy wheel options like the 18-inch 'Dark Sparkle' and 19-inch 'Magnetite' designs.

Naturally we'll have to wait and see how all this translates onto the road, but for now it seems like Ford has built precisely the ST it needed to - i.e. one with sufficient power to directly rival the latest Renault Megane R.S. and Hyundai i30 N Performance. Adaptive dampers and that sophisticated differential - not to mention a 0-62mph time of "less than six seconds" - suggests that its ambitions for class-leading status are no less serious than they were for the peerless Fiesta ST. If it replicates that car's calibre, we're in for some treat.








Author
Discussion

mrclav

Original Poster:

1,281 posts

222 months

Monday 18th February 2019
quotequote all
I think this car is going to be a belter to drive. I actually like the way it looks too although (I'm not personally in the market for one).

Andy665

3,599 posts

227 months

Monday 18th February 2019
quotequote all
All the right ingredients and looks good too - based on reviews of the new Focus I would be surprised if it did not drive extremely well

Big Robbo

319 posts

145 months

Monday 18th February 2019
quotequote all
Have they given any indication of the prices? Will there be varients similar to the fiesta at?
So far the only negative is ford are perservereing with that God awful "performance blue"

DaveTheRave87

2,079 posts

88 months

Monday 18th February 2019
quotequote all
I like the look of that, especially in the blue. It should go well too, if it lives up to that description.

JP.Racing

51 posts

66 months

Monday 18th February 2019
quotequote all
The fact you can spec a Fiesta ST to around £24k, I'd imagine it'll be pricey. Then saying that, the last RS started at just shy of £30k on release. So smack bang in the middle for a semi-decent spec one?!

Harry_523

350 posts

98 months

Monday 18th February 2019
quotequote all
Will the estate have the exhaust in a place that allows you to fit a tow bar? seriously, centre exhaust on an estate, who's stupid idea was that?

Hairymonster

1,419 posts

104 months

Monday 18th February 2019
quotequote all
If they can pitch the price right, they'll be a real headache for the Hyundai i30N, Golf GTi, Seat Cupra, Megane etc.

jack_86

335 posts

91 months

Monday 18th February 2019
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I do like it, though i would never buy one.

Summit_Detailing

1,875 posts

192 months

Monday 18th February 2019
quotequote all
That looks just right, although not in the blue.

For once Ford have got the alloy wheel design spot on too.

Look forward to seeing an estate in the metal.

techguyone

3,137 posts

141 months

Monday 18th February 2019
quotequote all
Ford seem to have lost the blue plot a little, they took out the deep blue on the Kuga and replaced it with a ste 'chrome blue' too.

Fastdruid

8,623 posts

151 months

Monday 18th February 2019
quotequote all
Harry_523 said:
Will the estate have the exhaust in a place that allows you to fit a tow bar? seriously, centre exhaust on an estate, who's stupid idea was that?
+1

I actually tow very very infrequently but the (removable) tow-bar is awesome for just throwing a cycle carrier on. Sure you can get roof bars etc but they're far more grief than the tow-bar mounted carrier.

Depending on size this could be a contender to replace my Mondeo Estate 2.5T.

Ahbefive

11,657 posts

171 months

Monday 18th February 2019
quotequote all
Harry_523 said:
Will the estate have the exhaust in a place that allows you to fit a tow bar? seriously, centre exhaust on an estate, who's stupid idea was that?
Agreed, it's not a great idea.

lee_erm

1,091 posts

192 months

Monday 18th February 2019
quotequote all
I like that. We just need an ST Mondeo now with the turbo V6 they put in American stuff.

Jonno02

2,246 posts

108 months

Monday 18th February 2019
quotequote all
I like this. For once, Ford haven't put the most horrendous wheels on it.

Only problem for me with the fiesta and focus is that they try and make the base-models look so sporty, the ST's don't stand out. I know there's stealth and subtlety, but it's more of a case of "when everything looks sporty, nothing does."

Shiv_P

2,725 posts

104 months

Monday 18th February 2019
quotequote all
Jonno02 said:
I like this. For once, Ford haven't put the most horrendous wheels on it.

Only problem for me with the fiesta and focus is that they try and make the base-models look so sporty, the ST's don't stand out. I know there's stealth and subtlety, but it's more of a case of "when everything looks sporty, nothing does."
I agree with this. A standard mk8 ST-Line looks so much like an ST to me it's quite difficult to tell the difference

nunpuncher

3,364 posts

124 months

Monday 18th February 2019
quotequote all
I'd imagine this will be a good drive but I'm also expecting it to be quite expensive going by the fiesta pricing.

These desaturated press shots of a stonewash denim car on a pissing wet day don't do much for it. The car is less fussy than the old one but a bit bland. that could be that crappy washed out blue colour not helping.

Salmonofdoubt

1,413 posts

67 months

Monday 18th February 2019
quotequote all
Shiv_P said:
Jonno02 said:
I like this. For once, Ford haven't put the most horrendous wheels on it.

Only problem for me with the fiesta and focus is that they try and make the base-models look so sporty, the ST's don't stand out. I know there's stealth and subtlety, but it's more of a case of "when everything looks sporty, nothing does."
I agree with this. A standard mk8 ST-Line looks so much like an ST to me it's quite difficult to tell the difference
Where for me that’s the appeal, the less special it looks the better

BigChiefmuffinAgain

1,054 posts

97 months

Monday 18th February 2019
quotequote all
Certainly sounds great from the info and pics.

I think an auto estate could well tick all the boxes of "If you could only own one car.....". Will be interesting to see how it compares against the new VRS, which, from what I understand, will launch shortly after....

Hub

6,413 posts

197 months

Monday 18th February 2019
quotequote all
It looks quite subtle, and I'm not sold on the looks of the new Focus already.

The larger engine really goes against the trend though and could be a USP, assuming it isn't that inefficient as a result.

cosworth330

1,299 posts

236 months

Monday 18th February 2019
quotequote all
It looks like a Hyundai or Kia to me,horrible.