16-02-2005
Previewing an exciting new performance model – the new Focus ST – Ford is demonstrating to performance enthusiasts they don’t have long to wait for another special model from Ford Team RS. The new Focus ST – sporting around 220PS and finished in brilliant orange for its Geneva preview – will be on sale towards the end of 2005.
Powered by a turbocharged Duratec ST 2.5-litre, 5-cylinder engine and equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox, the Focus ST promises to raise the new Focus’s reputation as a driver’s car to new heights.
“When performance enthusiasts see this car, they are going to have high expectations. The Focus ST is going to live up to them,” said Jost Capito, who heads Ford’s racing and performance arm, Ford Team RS. “This car looks fast from its design, and every functional attribute is being engineered to deliver on that expectation.”
Focus ST’s stance – low-profile 225/40 performance tyres on sculpted 18x8-inch five-spoke cast aluminium wheels – speaks driving confidence and grip. Inside and out, Focus ST’s design makes its performance attributes clear, but in a manner that also supports refinement, craftsmanship and practicality. Focus ST remains a comfortable car for everyday family driving.
Together with the recently introduced Fiesta ST model and the acclaimed Mondeo ST220, the new Focus ST epitomises the sporty attributes Ford ST models stand for: extending the strengths of their core models and enjoying clear differentiation from rally car inspired RS derivatives.
Full technical details of the new Ford Focus ST will be revealed closer to its launch towards the end of 2005.
Text and photos courtesy of Ford Motor Company
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