Auto Express – August 20, 2019

26 SpecialIssue http://www.autoexpress.co.uk

Sean Carson

[email protected]

@sean_carson_

FORDhasbeenconcedingterritory

inthefull-blownhothatchclassfor

awhilenow,itsageingFocusSTmuscled

outbyrivalsfromHonda,Renault,SEAT,

PeugeotandVW,plusaneweffortfrom

Hyundaiintheformofthei30N.

However,thecompanyisbackwith

anall-newFocusST,whichithopeswill

rectifythesituation.We likeditwhenwe

trieditabroad,butnowit’stimefora

sternertest,withafirstdriveintheUK.

The2.3-litreturbopetrolengineserves

up276bhpand420Nmoftorque,andit

evengetsanti-lagtech.There’sasix-speed

manualgearboxdrivingthefrontwheels

throughanelectronicallycontrolledlimited-

slipdifferential,thechassisgetsadaptive

dampersandthere’sahostofother

trickerytoaddmorefuntotheexperience.

It’sworked,too.TheST’ssteeringis

quick,withkeenerresponseandagreater

senseofconnectionbetweenthedriver

designdeliverscontrolandpoise.On

theothersideofthebend,theengine

isstrongenough,thankstoits420Nm

oftorque;it’sthisfigurethatdictates

howhardthecarpulls.Theelectronic

limited-slipdifferentialdoesafairjobof

transmittingtheengine’spowertothe

tarmac,findingdecenttractionevenin

thewet.However,thereissometorque

steeronacrownedorcamberedsurface.

TheSTwillhit62mphin5.7seconds

and155mphflatout,butit’sthein-gear

punchfromthe2.3-litremotorthathelps

thoseburstsofaccelerationbetween

bends.ThecaralsosoundsgoodinSport

mode,witharasptotheengineanda

fewexhaustpopswhenyouliftoff.

Thesix-speedmanual’sgearshiftisno

morethanokay–notimprecisebutnot

superblyrewardingwhenitcomesto

Ford FocusST

FIRSTUKDRIVEIs newhot hatchuptothe task of competing with its superb rivals?

“The ST hits 62mph in 5.7seconds, but it’sthe

in-gear punch thathelpsbetween bends”

Running costs

35.8mpg (official)

£67fill-up

Performance

0-62mph/top speed

5.7seconds/155mph

NEWCARS FordFocusST

andchassis.MichelinPilotSport4Styres

helptoboostthefront-endbite.

We certainlycan’tcriticisetheST’s

agility,butonbumpyBritishroadswhere

hothatchesshouldthrive,thequick

steeringsometimesmakestheSTfeel

overlysensitiveandalert.Ittakesalittle

timetofindyourrhythm.

Thesuspensionisfirm,too,butinthe

mostcomfortablesettingthe‘continuously

controlleddampers’offercompliance,

diffusingmostbumps.Youstillgetthrown

aroundinyourseatjustalittle,butthe

suspensionkeepsthe19-inchwheels

andtyresincontactwiththeroadwell

enoughtoexploitthegrippotential.

Thecarfeelskeentotuckintocorners,

especiallywithalittleliftofthethrottleto

tightenyourlinewhenyouneedit.The

sophisticatedmulti-linkrearsuspension

NEED

TO KNOW

PerformancePack

adds atrack driving

mode, launch

control and

rev-matching

fordownshifts