The all-new Focus ST offers the most responsive and agile driving experience ever – on road and track. This is the claim from Ford and given the upgrades, it's plausible. The headline change is the introduction of the 2.3-litre EcoBoost petrol engine, now pushing out 206 kW and 420 Nm. Ford claims a 0-100 kph tume of less than six seconds.
Ford has also introducedan electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD) for a front-wheel drive vehicle further enhances cornering and stability. There is the option of either a 6-speed manual or 7-speed automatic, and Ford has introduced Selectable Drive Modes.“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,” said Leo Roeks, Ford Performance director, Europe. “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.”
Ford also claims its new Focus ST will boast class-leading spaciousness as well as advanced driver assistance systems such asAdaptive Cruise Control now enhanced with Stop & Go, Speed Sign Recognition and Lane-Centring for effortlessly negotiating stop-start traffic,Ford’s Adaptive Front Lighting System with new camera-based predictive curve light and sign-based light that pre-adjust headlamp patterns for improved visibility by monitoring bends in the road and – for the first time in the industry – road signs,Active Park Assist 2 that operates gear selection, acceleration and braking in addition to steering, to enable fully-automated manoeuvres at the push of a button,Ford’s first Head-up display to be offered in Europe andEvasive Steering Assist, a segment-first technology that helps drivers steer around stopped or slower vehicles to help avoid collisions.
Naturally, Ford will also equip its new Focus ST with SYNC 3 connectivity, which features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. At the time of writing, Ford SA is unable to comment on South African availability.
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