Accordingly the new Focus ST has the biggest engine in its class in the 2.3-litre, 280PS (276bhp) EcoBoost four-cylinder; others may have more horsepower but in torque terms it punches harder than its closest rivals and has the cachet of being derived from the motor in the previous Focus RS. Like most of its rivals it’s still front-wheel-drive, though in the modern way it features fancy torque-shuffling technology described as an electronic limited-slip differential but actually distinct in mechanical terms. Without getting mired in engineering semantics it basically means the Focus can proactively send drive torque to the wheel that can benefit most, the i30 N, SEAT Leon Cupra and fancier Golf GTIs using equivalent technology. Ford will argue it’s a more sophisticated solution than the mechanical diffs used by the Megane R.S. 280 and Civic Type R and it comes paired with other on-trend technology like self-adjusting dampers, all of which can be adapted via the driver modes.
It’s the tech any modern hot hatch needs but comes at a cost, the five-door petrol version of the ST knocking on £32,000 before options. This is Golf GTI money, something to raise eyebrows given Ford hot hatches have always traded on affordability. Ford will argue the car is well-equipped as standard – and it is – but with Hyundai offering an equivalent mechanical package for well under £30,000 the ST faces additional scrutiny. The diesel version has a simpler spec and is actually a little cheaper to buy but, from the outset, all eyes will be on the petrol and its ambitions to capitalise on the Golf’s pending retirement and assume its position as the class benchmark.
Good news? Once you’re done with the number crunching the Focus ST demonstrates Ford’s long-standing knack for transforming mainstream hatchbacks into performance heroes is as strong as ever. And there is a return on the additional investment.