- Messages
- 490
- Likes
- 4
- City
- Houston
Ford‘s next-generation global hot hatch is finally upon us in the form of the 2012 Ford Focus ST being revealed in production trim at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show. With 250 horsepower on tap, this fast Focus cannot get here fast enough for Ford enthusiasts.
The 2012 Focus ST is the first global performance vehicle developed as part of Ford’s much-discussed One Ford program. The internal program has pushed all global design, engineering, and product planning together to create one lineup for Ford’s products worldwide. Unlike the previous-generation Focus ST, which was for European consumption only, the new one will be available in more than 40 markets on six continents, although a Focus ST Wagon will be sold in the European market only.
The new ST uses a tuned version of Ford’s 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost inline four-cylinder rated at 250 hp and 250 lb-ft of torque. Power is routed through a six-speed manual to the front wheels, which wear 18-inch Y-shaped spoke alloy wheels wrapped in high-performance 235/40R18 Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 tires. The 2.0-liter EcoBoost takes advantage of high-pressure direct injection, a low-inertia turbocharger, and twin-independent variable cam timing to help decrease fuel consumption by a claimed 20 percent compared to the outgoing ST. The turbo four also gets a redesigned intake and exhaust system for the ST application, as well as a unique ECU calibration.
