Autoblog

Save the hot hatch for last. That's what we kept telling ourselves as we wandered the Belgian countryside looking for Ford's Lommel Proving Ground. As it turns out, the facility, located next to an air force base – restricted airspace, you know – is so secret, our hosts at Ford could hardly find it. So we had a little extra time to repeat the mantra: save the hot hatch for last.

On our way to Italy to drive the new Fiesta, we took a detour to Lommel to sample some of Ford's European C-segment offerings. A variety of vehicles, including one with the new dual-clutch gearbox, a Kuga crossover and the fire-breathing Focus ST, would be on hand for us to drive around the track. But we knew that if we gave into temptation and drove the ST first, the rest would seem sluggish by comparison, even though the vehicles aren't comparable. So did we resist the urge, or give into the little demon that's always whispering in our ears to go faster? Follow the jump and we just might tell you.

Photos Copyright ©2008 Noah Joseph / Weblogs, Inc.

Click above for a high-res gallery of the new Ford Focus ST

Today's reminder of how much more awesome the Euro-market Ford Focus is than our own comes from Ford UK, where the latest, greatest Focus ST goes on sale starting Thursday. As you're probably well aware, in ST trim the newly-restyled Euro Focus gets the once-over from Ford Europe's in-house tuning arm, TeamRS. The standard engine offerings are replaced by a turbocharged 2.5L five-banger underhood that's good for 225 PS (around 223 hp), is mated to a six-speed stick, and lets the Focus ST do 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.8 seconds. According to Ford, the new ST also lapped the Nordschleife in 8:35. The exterior is dressed up with 18-inch wheels, the expected body kit and available racing stripes. Inside, the proper cockpit gets a push-button starter and Recaro seating. Depending on the ST trim level selected (there are three) and available options chosen, you can add all manner of comfort and convenience features to the spiffy-looking pocket rocket. Even Bluetooth... but not SYNC. Something tells us the Brits aren't crying in their beers over this.

Yes, we know that the next-gen Focus will be global and that the U.S. will share the same car sold in Europe. No, that doesn't make looking at this any easier in the meantime. Ford's official missive is pasted after the jump.


[Source: Ford]

Click image for photo gallery

Yesterday's Focus ST500 special edition is cool and all, but what most Focus fans overseas are looking forward to is the next ST. Well, the wait's over thanks to the UK's Auto Express. The mag has pulled the cover off of the updated hot hatch, which incorporates all the latest Ford of Europe design cues. The headlights are very Mondeo, and that gaping lower intake shows us that the maw on the Verve concept was not some show car exaggeration. It's a styling element that's now officially been used on a production vehicle. Around back, the hatch is updated and the rear bumper has a diffuser insert.

As before, 3- and 5-door models will be offered, and the new car's powertrain also remains unchanged. It packs the same 2.5L 222-horsepower turbo five-cylinder underhood as the outgoing car, and it even keeps the same pricing scheme. The three-door ranges from £17,995 for the ST to £19,995 for the loaded-up ST-3. Five-door versions add another £600 to the bottom line. The updated Focus ST goes on sale in March 2008. While our pals across the pond get this toy to play with, we're stuck with the new car whose front end looks like it's made of Duplo blocks. But it has Sync, so rejoice.

[Source: Auto Express]

click above image to view more high-res pics of the Ford Focus ST500

We'd rather not start a flame war in the comments about the U.S.-spec Ford Focus versus the arguably superior model sold in Europe, but it's almost certain one will begin following the announcement of a new special edition Focus in the UK dubbed the ST500. Based on the top shelf Focus ST3, the ST500 is mostly an appearance package with little in the way of upgraded mechanical hardware. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as the Focus ST is a hot hatch of the highest order already. What buyers will get with the ST500 is a metallic black paint job with silver racing stripes that mimics the livery of the famous GT40 that led the 1-2-3 sweep of the 24 Hours of LeMans in 1966. Also included are red Recaros with matching inserts dotted about the interior, Xenon high-intensity headlamps, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, rain-sensing wipers and a solar-reflect windscreen. Oh, and ST500 badging, can't forget the badging. The Focus ST500 will start £20,495 and only 500 will be made. Sure, it's basically just a paint job package that pays homage to Ford's racing history, but buyers will likely snatch up the limited run very quickly.

You may now begin lamenting the fact that the Euro-spec Focus is not sold in the U.S.

[Source: Ford]

Click image for photo gallery

Ford has announced a new special-edition Focus exclusive to the Spanish market called the WRC-S. Despite the fancy name, it's mechanically identical to the existing Focus 2.0 TDCi. The 136-horsepower WRC-S is limited to 666 units, each of which sports the Focus ST's bodywork, is painted white, and wears the graphics package you see above, combining a checkered-flag motif, the WRC logo, and each car's serial number. 10-spoke 18" wheels round out the external features.

Inside, the black seats are trimmed with Alcantara and feature white piping and contrast stitching. Bluetooth, dual-zone climate control, and a leather-wrapped wheel are also standard, and each car is signed by BP-Ford World Rally Team driver Marcus Grönholm, which certainly adds some interest and collector's appeal to what is otherwise an appearance package. The price is set at €23,895.

[Sources: Autoblog Spanish & km77.com]

Here's an interesting tidbit of information: Our counterparts over at Autoblog Spanish are reporting that come January, some countries not named the United States of America will receive a diesel version of the Ford Focus ST. Details are scarce, but what is known is that the Focus ST TDCi will have the Oval's 2.0-liter diesel underhood. Feel free to speculate as to whether the boys at Ford's skunkworks will tune the powerplant to produce more than the 136-horsepower it generates in stock form. If it's really going to get the ST treatment, we'd imagine Ford would want to do something besides just slapping the ST bodywork and interior mods on.

We'll find out soon enough. In any case, add this one to the list of cool Foci that we won't be seeing here.

[Source: Autoblog Spanish (translated)]