Focus ST to cost $38,290

Ford’s all-new Focus ST will undercut its chief hot-hatch rivals when it arrives in Australian showrooms in October with a starting price of $38,290.

Available for now in a single specification - manual-only - the long-awaited ST (Sport Technologies) version of Ford’s new five-door Focus will cost $1800 more than the model it replaces, the XR5 Turbo, which attracted almost 6000 Australian buyers between April 2006 and March this year.

More importantly, however, the sub-$40,000 Focus ST will be $700 more affordable than Volkswagen’s Golf GTI three-door ($38,990), $2200 cheaper than the five-door GTI ($40,490) and some $11,700 less than the all-wheel drive Golf R ($49,990) – all of which are available with both manual and dual-clutch automatic transmissions.

Of course, the German-built performance hatch will also undercut a range of other established hot-hatch competitors priced around $40,000, including the Mazda3 MPS ($39,490), Subaru Impreza WRX (from $39,990), Citroen DS4 DSport ($39,990), Renault’s soon-to-be-replaced Megane RS250 ($41,990) and Mitsubishi’s Lancer Ralliart ($44,490).

Available in a new ‘Tangerine Scream’ hero colour – as well as Spirit Blue, Race Red, Black, White and Silver paint hues - Ford’s first global performance car is differentiated via more aggressive bumpers (comprising a larger trapezoidal grille up front and “diffuser style” vents at the rear), plus sportier side skirts and a roof-mounted rear spoiler.

Befitting its station at the top of the Focus family tree, Australia’s ST will come highly specified as standard, including Recaro front bucket seats with partial leather, an adjustable base and cloth inserts that match the exterior colour, darker headlining and interior trim, and a unique steering wheel, gearshifter and pedals.

Other standard equipment will include dual-zone climate-control, automatic bi-Xenon headlights, an auto-dimming interior mirror, rain-sensing wipers and cruise control, which was unavailable in the XR5.

The Focus ST will also be covered by the Blue Oval’s myFord capped-price service plan, pricing for which will be revealed at the launch On October 10.

“Keen Australian drivers have a real love of the ‘hot hatch’ genre,” said Ford Australia General Marketing Manager, David Katic. “Focus XR5 and Focus RS were tremendously successful vehicles for Ford Australia and carved out a cult following. The Focus ST not only continues this tradition of hot hatches from Ford, but takes it to a new level.”

Technical details of Ford’s newest ST – a model name first seen in Europe in 1997 - have been well documented, suffice to say the hottest Focus is powered by a variation of the 2.0-litre direct-injection turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine found in the Falcon and Mondeo, as well as Volvos and – soon – Jaguars.

The EcoBoost turbo-four transmits a heady 184kW of power at 5500rpm and 360Nm of torque between 2000 and 4500rpm to its front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox.

The result is 0-100km/h acceleration in 6.5 seconds, making it four-tenths faster than the 155kW/280Nm GTI five-door manual but six-tenths slower than the 188kW/330Nm Golf R.

However, the ST is one of the most fuel-efficient hot-hatches available, returning combined fuel consumption of just 7.4L/100km to better both the GTI (7.7L/100km) and R (8.7L/100km).

Unique ST engine details include a specific engine management calibration, redesigned intake and exhaust systems, and a ‘sound symposer' that artificially amplifies low-frequency sounds via a sound tube that connects the cabin to the intake manifold, and opens or closes in concert with throttle inputs.

The Focus ST also bears a specialised chassis comprising a variable-ratio steering rack, a recalibrated electric power steering system featuring Ford’s electronic Torque Steer Compensation, Torque Vectoring Control and Cornering Under Steer Control technologies.

It also gets a three-stage electronic stability control system including Normal, Sport and Off modes.

Suspension hardware upgrades include firmer and 10mm-lower springs, retuned shock absorbers, new rear knuckles and a revised anti-roll bar design, while 18-inch alloy wheels are shod with specially developed 235/40ZR18 Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres.

The range-topper of Ford’s new LW Focus line-up will follow a procession of affordable new performance cars released this year, starting in February with Hyundai’s all-new Veloster (from $23,990), which is joined this week by the $31,990-plus Veloster SR Turbo.

Toyota’s all-new 86 rear-drive boxer coupe made headlines with a $29,990 starting price in June, while the fledgling Opel brand launches this month with its new 1.6-litre turbo-four Opel Astra GTC Sport (from $34,990) and Renault’s more powerful 198kW/360Nm Megane RS265 also arrives in August.

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