Tamer Focus ST 'on the way'

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Source: Auto Express

Auto Express has learned that a car promising all the visual excitement of the range-topper, but with a cheaper-to-insure, naturally aspirated 2.0-litre engine is likely to be available from summer.

With a potential 145bhp on offer, it is expected to be capable of sprinting from 0-60mph in less than 10 seconds and have a top speed of nearly 130mph.

A 'warm' racer has always featured at the sporty end of Ford's line-up, and this newcomer would see a return to that way of thinking, sitting just below the ST flagship. The car maker currently builds the Focus Sport S, which has more muscular styling than standard models. However, it's available only with engines of up to 1.8 litres - the latest addition would offer more power and even racier looks.

Aimed at young drivers who want to get to grips with the existing turbocharged variant's class-leading handling, the car would appeal because it doesn't come with the 212bhp ST's insurance and running costs. Despite efforts to make the 'junior ST' appear as much like its bigger brother as possible, though, there will be a number of significant differences between the looks of the two models.

Most obvious is the fact that the new car will have uniquely styled alloy wheels, and it won't feature the silver gills which sit on the front wings of the turbocharged version. Inside, it's unlikely to have the dash-mounted instrument display which records turbo boost, oil and water temperatures. The latest variant does, however, get the ST's excellent suspension set-up as standard, which is sure to increase appeal.

Prices have yet to be confirmed, but it is believed the car is going to cost around £3,000 less than the entry-level ST, which is in showrooms at £17,995.
 
Psh 0-60mph in "less than 10 seconds" how slow. :sly: But seriously, more bhp from your 2.0L versus the American Foci 2.0L--but the American Focus is faster. Why? Isn't that 2.0L the same D20 Duratec from North America?
 
Oh. So its a straight up poseur car, like a V6 Cayenne or V6 Chrysler 300.
Edit: Am I too far off base in assuming this is just a normal Focus 2.0 with shiny Focus ST exterior parts? Cause that pulls 60 in 8.7 seconds.
 
It'll get the ST suspension set-up.

The under-ten second claim is just preliminary. It should be capable of doing mid-8s, depending on how they shoe it. I hope they don't give it ridiculously large wheels... 17" inch rims are probably enough for that power level.

Not a bad idea. While I like the current Focus, having driven one with a more sports-oriented set-up proved vastly better than the current "soft" stock settings of the lower-end cars. Even better is the fact that the dampers and chassis can take a stiffer set-up without becoming bone-jarringly hard. What's even better is that a 2-liter NA Focus would have less of that front-end push the ST suffers from.
 
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