New Ford Focus ST here this week

The new Ford Focus ST hot hatch arrives in Australia this week, sporting a beefy new engine, improved equipment levels and – for the first time – an automatic transmission.

Both the six-speed manual and seven-speed automatic versions are priced at $44,690 plus on-road costs, meaning the new Ford Focus ST undercuts its popular rival, the auto-only $46,690 Volkswagen Golf GTI, by a cool $2000.

There is an all-new Volkswagen Golf GTI coming – and it could be more expensive again – but it's Aussie release has been pushed back to early 2021.

Compared to the previous Ford Focus ST ($38,990), the new model's near-$45K price represents a $6400 increase, but Ford says its bigger, more powerful Mustang-sourced 2.3-litre turbo-petrol engine -- which now delivers a healthy 206kW and 420Nm -- and better equipment levels improve overall value.

Standard features on the new 2020 Ford Focus ST, which was benchmarked against vehicles like the 202kW Hyundai i30 N and 228kW Honda Civic Type R, include LED headlights and tail-lights, active lane-keep assist, dual-zone digital climate control, heated Recaro front sports seats and a large wireless phone charging pad, bringing the new model into the modern era.

However, adaptive cruise control is only standard on automatic models; manual versions get regular cruise control.

Other standard features include a flat-bottom leather-clad steering wheel, push-button engine start, an electric park brake with auto-hold function and a Bang and Olufsen 10-speaker stereo. The infotainment set-up is based around Ford's SYNC3 platform with 8.0-inch touch-screen, voice control, sat-nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus USB ports front and rear.

The equally generous mechanical equipment level includes 19-inch alloy wheels shod with sporty Michelin tyres, a sports body kit with roof spoiler, adaptive suspension, performance brakes, an electronic LSD, twin exhaust outlets and the bigger engine which delivers a 5.7-second 0-100km/h sprint time for the manual.

The 0-100km/h time in the slightly heavier automatic version is around six seconds flat.

Upgraded safety features include autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with cyclist and pedestrian detection, traffic sign (speed limit) detection, blind-spot monitoring with cross traffic alert and a reversing camera, which help it achieve a five-star ANCAP safety rating.

Focus ST buyers also become Ford Performance Club members, providing access to 'unique benefits', says Ford, as well as a welcome pack.

There are only two optional extras: a panoramic glass sunroof ($2500) and prestige paint ($650). The Orange Fury hero colour is a prestige paint and one of seven hues.

Interior space has improved due to the new fourth-generation Focus donor car's increased length, which yields a bigger 375/1250-litre boot, folding rear seats and four ISOFIX child seat anchorage points.

The Ford Focus ST comes with a five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty.

The Ford Focus ST manual, which features rev-matching technology that works on downshifts, is expected to be more popular due to pent-up demand from enthusiasts. However, over the long-term Ford says the automatic will be the volume-seller and could account for up to 75 per cent of sales.

The boss of Ford Performance Europe, Stefan Meunzinger, said the conventional seven-speed automatic transmission has shift times that are "…comparable with dual-clutch [transmissions] on upshifts, but [is] not as quick on downshifts"

While the small-car segment isn’t as popular as it once used to be – shrinking from around 20 per cent of the market five years ago to around 15 per cent today – hot hatches as a percentage of small cars have grown from 1.6 to over two per cent today.

Stay tuned for our first Australian review and video of the 2020 Ford Focus ST tomorow (May 21) at 3:00pm.

Ford Focus ST Review - International