Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa has launched its all-new Focus ST locally, with the firm saying that this car will deliver a unique balance of outstanding performance, handling, refinement and style to local buyers, when it goes on sale in South Africa this November.

Powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged EcoBoost engine that enables sensible drivers to obtain fuel economy figures of around 7.2 ?/100 km, which is a 20% improvement over the previous Focus ST. More importantly though in a vehicle like this, is the fact that this engine churns out a 184 kW of power and a maximum amount of torque (360 Nm) that is delivered within a wide rev band, between 2000 and 4500 RPM. This is enough go-juice to propel the car from standstill to 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds, on to an illegal terminal velocity of nearly 250 km/h.

It is not just the grunt of the engine that will put a smile on the faces of hot hatch fans though.  Ford marketing manager, Gavin Golightly explains: “Every detail has been considered including optimising the sporty sound occupants experience. It leaves the driver in no doubt that this is a special car.”

A newly-enhanced sound symposer relays the engine sound directly from the intake into the cabin. The engine sounds amazing, so much so that it will have you turn off the six speaker audio system in favour of the auditory symphonics emanating from the bonnet, whilst also encouraging you to keep your right foot planted.  

Complementing the sporty performance of the engine is the Focus ST’s enhanced driving dynamics that includes a new Sport Steering System with variable ratio steering rack that reduces steering sensitivity when driving in a straight line and then increases sensitivity whilst cornering. This system links up with a comprehensive range of driver assistance features such as Cornering Under Steer Control (CUSC) and Torque Vectoring Control, which applies brake torque to the inner wheel through a corner in order to reduce understeer.

Having been given the opportunity to put these systems to the test on Port Elizabeth’s Aldo Scribante race track, we can confirm that they works remarkably well, assisting you in pointing the car exactly where you want it within corners and hairpins.