Twenty or 30 years ago, if you wanted to make your car faster or feel different on the road or track you had to set about with a spanner set. Today things have changed, as many performance cars come with various drive modes which, at the touch of a button, can transform how a car feels or behaves. Ford, with the Focus ST Edition, has done things differently.
Video: Ford Focus ST Edition Review
There are still drive modes to control the throttle response, the traction control and so on, but there are no clever magnetic or hydraulic dampers to adjust with your index finger. Instead there’s a serious set of coilovers and lighter wheels, meaning, once more, to tweak the car’s set-up you need to do some actual work.
There are benefits to the new system, of course, but it all comes at a price: £35,785, or a smidge under £2,500 more than the regular ST. So is it worth it?

Join our motorsport community
Get closer to motorsport at Goodwood! Join the GRRC Fellowship to be first in the queue for event tickets, to attend the GRRC-only Members' Meeting and to enjoy year-round, exclusive benefits.