Ford Focus hatchback is still an important
model for the Blue Oval in Europe, so much so that it remains committed to
building a hot hatch for the region. And if these images – which Carscoops
pulled from a private forum – are any indication, the upcoming ST will be quite
a tasty looker indeed.
This undisguised unit, painted in the signature
searing orange hue, sports a few choice visual upgrades over the standard
Focus, including a honeycomb mesh for the trapezoidal grille, larger air
intakes with contrasting matte black surrounds, a sizeable gloss black rear
spoiler and a rear diffuser with a body colour insert. The ST’s usual centre
exhaust exits have been swapped out for circular pipes at each corner.
Other items of note include the side skirts, Y-spoke
alloy wheels and black door handles, as well as heavily-bolstered, ST-branded
Recaro seats on the inside to go with the flat-bottomed steering wheel. In what
will be good news to enthusiasts everywhere, the manual shifter remains, likely
linked to a six-speed gearbox.
That gearbox is expected to be paired to the
Mustang‘s 2.3 litre EcoBoost turbo four-cylinder engine, which makes 286 hp and
440 Nm in the pony car. Given that rivals like the Hyundai i30 N, Peugeot 308
GTi and Renault Megane RS are all pushing close to the 300 hp mark, that’s good
news. However, other rumours suggest that the car will instead get the Fiesta
ST‘s 1.5 litre three-pot, boosted to around 280 hp.
