Ford’s Team RS and SVT engineering teams are putting a fleet of around 60 Focus ST prototypes through a punishing regime of testing and development. Cold weather testing in northern Europe has recently been completed, alongside exacting tests to refine steering performance.
“We’ve done all the engineering groundwork, and now we’re using some of the most demanding roads we can find in Europe and North America to validate and fine tune the performance and driving dynamics,” said Jost Capito, Ford’s director of Global Performance Vehicles. “Like the Focus ST and RS models before it, the new Focus ST’s final set-up will be achieved after painstaking tuning on some of the most demanding roads we can find from California to the Nürburgring, and from high-speed German autobahns to classic British B-roads.”
The new Focus ST will be powered by a 250PS version of Ford’s 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine, which is said to deliver significantly better fuel economy than the Volvo-derived five-cylinder engine in previous generation Focus ST.
“Fuel efficiency is a key leadership target for Ford Motor Company globally. We want to be class-leading even with a performance vehicle, so we’re working on getting the best possible blend of high power and fuel economy from the new ST,” said Matthias Tonn, chief program engineer, Global Performance Products, Ford of Europe.
“We’re fine-tuning, testing, and fine tuning again many of the small but critical details to make sure it is worthy of the ST badge,” Tonn said. “We will build upon and improve the ride, steering and handling strengths that defined the current European Focus ST.”
The new Focus ST is Ford’s first global performance car, conceived under the One Ford strategy. It brings the ST performance badge to North American and Asian customers for the first time.
