Although the Focus ST hasn’t exactly changed a lot since we last drove one (a new face and new interior) it is always something we never turn down the chance to get back into.
And it is also worth taking another look at Ford’s ballistic little FWD weapon before the heavy-hitting AWD Focus RS lands here shortly, even if just to get us more excited about the rival of the blistering road beast.
While the ST is still a massively fun car, it does have its shortcomings, the chief of which is that it is never, ever relaxed.
While it is increasingly common for performance cars to give you the ability to dial the attitude up or down, depending on your mood, the ST is just always on. Always feral, always angry.
And always awesome, to be completely honest, but there are times when you simply aren’t in the mood for all its belligerent wheelspin and insanely aggressive torque steer. At those times, the ST is simply a pain in the arse.
But when you ARE in the mood the ST is possibly the most fun you can get on four wheels for the $52,840 Ford ask for it.
Yes, the torque steer is ridiculously unrefined and aggressive, but that is part what makes the ST so much fun – it is an absolute handful in all conditions, making out something of a rarity; a car that is challenging and ridiculously satisfying to drive fast.
While you can attack the ST with ham-fisted enthusiasm and little skill – and it will respond with massive torque steer and undisguised fury – approaching it with a more sensitive touch rewards massively. Driving the ST up to, but just before its electronics interfere and correct things is hugely fun and incredibly satisfying, while occasionally pushing it beyond that is a hilarious reminder that you have gone a bit too far as the nose aggressively pushes wide and the wheel bucks and kicks in your hands.
Back off, however, and it all pulls nicely back into line and forgives you. But it will still kick your head in if you don’t behave.
Anyway, like most modern Fords, the ST has a nice, modern and comfortable interior that will probably start rattling somewhere in about six months, plus Ford’s excellent Sync2 infotainment system. It also has some awesome Recaro bucket seats that look fantastic, but are really only going to be comfortable for someone considerably smaller than my 185cm large frame…
The fact that it is only available with a six-speed manual transmission, the fact that it uses a LOT of fuel for a car its size (ignore the official claim, it is pure fantasy) and the fact that it is a feral animal that never really calms down will put a lot of people off, but to the people like me who actually see those things as an advantage, the ST is a true modern incarnation of the Hot Hatch ethos.
It is nice to know that some things are still alive and well.
- PRICE (incl. GST/excl. on road costs): $52,840
- PRICE AS TESTED: $52,840
- ENGINE:184kW/360Nm 2.0-litre inline 4-cylinder petrol
- TRANSMISSION: Six-speed manual
- PERFORMANCE: 0-100km/h: 6.5 seconds
- FUEL ECONOMY: 6.7L/100km
Click here for full specifications and more information on the Ford Focus ST
