2019 Ford Focus ST unveiled, gets 280 PS

MANILA: The success of the Ford Focus RS is known to the whole automobile industry. The glory Focus RS achieved was a testament of what Ford could do on their own in the hatchback segment, wasn’t it? The American auto giant has come up with the newest iteration of the Focus, the Focus ST, and we affirm that the manufacturer is sure to taste some success again.

The all-new Focus ST has been developed by Ford Performance and gets two body style options - 5-door hatchback and full-on estate/wagon. But the centre of attraction is not the body types, it is rather the stuff that’s hidden under the hood. First up is a 2.3-litre EcoBoost inline-4 gasoline motor tuned to churn out a maximum power of 280 PS and 420 Nm of peak torque. The second motor on offer is a 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel mill that is capable of producing no less than 190 PS of maximum power and a peak torque of 400Nm. The gasoline engine is also equipped with stuff like anti-lag technology that comes straight from the Ford GT and a twin-scroll turbocharger.

While the rear suspension on the Focus ST is managed by Continuously Controlled Damping (CCD), the front gets an electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD). What this special differential does is that it distributes the power to the front wheels depending on the need at a particular moment.

“Intelligent technologies like eLSD and CCD make our all-new Focus ST the most ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ yet, able to switch from refined tourer to focussed performance car at the push of a button. We’ve incorporated learnings from programmes including the Ford GT and Focus RS to develop a mid-size performance car with a degree of flexibility that’s unique in its segment”, said Leo Roeks, the Ford Performance director in Europe.

Along with different driving modes, the Ford Focus ST gets both manual and automatic transmission options. While the manual is a six-speed box with a stick, the automatic is a ‘quick-shifting’ seven-speed unit. On the inside of the car is a Ford’s SYNC 3 in conjunction with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system equipped with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There is also an option to turn this setup into a WiFi hotspot. How many devices can be connected? Well, ten. Elements like shift knob have ‘ST’ embossed on them and the seats are made of Recaro. The driver can also command audio, navigation, and climate functions via voice control. The hatch rides on 18-inch alloys with Dark Sparkle and Magnetite designs or 19-inch wheels with a Magnetite face. The all-new Ford Focus ST can be had dipped in Shadow Black, Performance Blue, Magnetic grey, Orange Fury, Frozen White, Race Red, and Ruby Red. It’s the summer of 2019 when the European customers will be able to bring home this beautiful beast.