Forbidden Fruit: Ford Focus ST Hot Hatch Revealed With Brawny 276 Horsepower EcoBoost Engine
Although the United States received previous generations of the Focus along with the Focus ST and monstrous Focus RS, we won't be receiving the fourth-generation model or its special variants. You can blame America's obsession with crossovers for death of the Focus here (and all Ford cars in general, save for the Mustang).
That means we'll just have to sit here and weep as Europe gets to enjoy the more powerful engine ever put into a Focus ST: a 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder that pumps out 276 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 310 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 rpm. According to Ford, that's enough to push the hot hatch from a standstill to 60 mph in less than 6 seconds.
For those that want the sublime chassis melded with a more efficient engine, Ford also offers the Focus ST with a 2.0-liter EcoBlue engine that generates 187 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. It's the most powerful diesel engine ever strapped into a Focus.
The Focus ST gets an electronic limited-slip differential this time around and gains "anti-lag" technology borrowed from the F-150 Raptor and the Ford GT hypercar. This is said to reduce turbo lag in Sport and Track driving modes. The previously mentioned 6-speed manual also gets a rev-matching feature with the optional Performance Pack (2.3-liter EcoBoost only), while the 7-speed automatic comes with flappy paddles behind the steering wheel and Adaptive Shift Scheduling.
The Focus ST will be available in both 5-door hatchback and wagon configurations, which must really annoy the small but loyal wagon fanbase here in the States. European customers will start taking deliveries of the new Focus this summer, while us Yanks will just have to admire the vehicle from afar.
As for us, we'll have to settle for the upcoming 2020 Ford Escape, which uses the new Focus platform. However, the Escape is yet another compact crossover that will get lost in the sea of other crossovers that have flooded American roadways. [Sarcasm] Yay for conformity! [/Sarcasm]
