THE RUNDOWNReFocused
Ford’s Focus ST is a brawny
front-driver. Bring a passport.
The Focus has left the U.S. as part of
Ford’s general retreat from the
unfashionable part of the market that
some of us still refer to as “cars.” But
in Europe, the Focus is thriving, with
both a new generation and now the
sport-oriented ST model to make us
properly jealous.
The old ST’s turbo 2 .0-liter four
is replaced by the brawnier, but
detuned, 2 .3-liter from the Focus
RS. It makes 276 horsepower and
drives the front axle through a
a_^bRcRPa_V[TQVßRR[aVNY.Ve speed manual is standard, but there will also be a seven-speed automatic. .YaU\bTUVaμZ_RZb`PbYNaUV ST is less aggressive than the last one. The engine delivers strong torque low in the rev range with little lag. Despite having a quick rack, the steering feels slower than before and lacks the alarmingly abrupt turn-in \SaUR\YQPN_.QN]aVcRQNZ]R_N_R
standard on the gasoline-powered
model, and its low-speed ride is
markedly better in Normal mode.
Driven gently, this ST feels more
grown-up than its predecessor, but
also a little less exciting.
2019 FORD FOCUS ST ~ BY MIKE DUFF the numbers
Vehicle Type: front-engine,
front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger,
4-door hatchback
Base ............................. $31,425 (U.K.)
Engines: turbocharged and
intercooled DOHC 16-valve 2.0-liter
diesel inline-4, 188 hp, 295 lb-ft;
turbocharged and intercooled
DOHC 16-valve 2.3-liter inline-4,
276 hp, 310 lb-ft
Transmissions: 6-speed manual,
7-speed automatic
Dimensions- Wheelbase ........................... 106.3 in
- L/W/H .................. 172.8/71.9/57.4 in
- Curb Weight ............. 3350–3450 lb
Performance (C/D est) - 60 mph............................. 5.5–5.7 sec
- 1/4-Mile ....................... 14.2–14.4 sec
- Top Speed ........................... 155 mph
EPA Comb/City/Hwy ............. 23–24/
20–21/27–29 mpg (C/D est)
We drove the car on the Route
Napoléon in the South of France, an
asphalt encyclopedia of interesting
corners. In Sport mode, the car’s
character is transformed, with
sharper throttle response, heavier
steering, and molasses for dampers.
Grip level from the Michelin Pilot
Sport 4S tires is huge, but it is the
poise of the ST’s chassis that really
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front and rear axles is almost per-
fectly balanced, and the Focus is
about as throttle steerable as a
street-legal front-drive car can be.
AURPYRcR_QVßR_R[aVNYURY]`V[`Y\d
turns, transferring torque to make
the best use of available grip and
reacting quickly enough to counter-
act torque steer over rough surfaces.
The new engine has more torque
than the 2 .0 -liter diesel that Euro-
peans can also buy in the ST. It ’s a
rev ver, too; peak power comes at
55 00 rpm, and the 2 .3 spins freely
until a 675 0 -rpm redline calls time.
Ford’s claim that the ST is quicker
around most circuits than the Focus
RS sounds plausible.
6aμ`[\a]R_SRPa.[RYRPa_\
hydraulic brake booster leaves the
]RQNYSRRYV[T`YVTUaYfN_aV¼PVNYdUR[
pushed. The accelerator pedal is also
poorly placed for heel-and-toe rev
matching; although, on Perform-
ance-
auto-blip feature in Sport and
Track modes. But the Focus
ST’s greatest sin is one of
omission: failing to come here.More want
In addition to this hatch,
Ford of Europe also sells
the ST as a wagon, which
is both better-looking
and more fun than the
Escape we get here
[see page 54]. Focus ST
wagons get revised rear
suspension geometry
with repositioned
dampers to accommodate
.90 DECEMBER 2019 ~ CAR AND DRIVER