It may be Volkswagen that has the GTI heritage, but the hot MkV Golf will have some tough competition in the shape of Ford's fiery new Focus ST.
Now Auto Express can exclusively reveal what blue oval fans have got to look forward to. If sporty styling, V6 power and the promise of sharper handling than any other hot hatch get you excited, this is the car for you.
The firm is gearing up for the Paris Motor Show later this month, where the standard three and five-door Focus, as well as the estate and coupé-cabriolet, make their official debuts. However, top brass are keen to stress the importance of future performance variants - and have let slip that this ST model will be the star of the company's stand at next March's Geneva Motor Show.
The picture in this week's magazine clearly shows how the conservative lines of the new Focus will be transformed into a true Golf GTI rival. The Ford's naturally swollen wheelarches are easily extended, and the addition of air scoops and deep bumpers gives the family hatch an aggressive appearance.
While the current ST170 has offered only lukewarm performance, the next-generation car will be an all-out performance machine. For the first time in the history of the Focus, or indeed that of its Escort predecessor, Ford is considering giving the car V6 power.
Taken from the Mondeo, the 2.5-litre engine produces 217bhp - a massive power hike over the existing Focus ST's 168bhp. There's also speculation that Volvo's five-cylinder unit could feature. Insiders suggest the car's performance will be close to that of the current RS, which means drivers can look forward to a sub-seven-second 0-60mph time.
What's more, work is already underway to ensure the Ford's chassis can deliver plenty of thrills. As our spy shots in issue 814 revealed, the ST is undergoing a development programme at the Nürburgring in Germany, with test drivers and engineers keen to ensure the hot Golf won't have the edge on the road.
Both three and five-door versions will be available, although the estate won't get the sporty treatment. What's more, for customers put off by the running costs of a potent V6, a diesel variant combining torquey performance with frugal fuel economy is a possibility, too.
The ST's debut is being held back until Geneva as Ford is concentrating on promoting the standard Focus. It will go on sale here before the end of 2005.
zx3_rex wrote: No picture's! What the hell, me want to see.
2.5l from a v-6, there are several I-4's on the market that are 2.5l.
We'll never see that car in the state's.
Europe is a small displacement market, they make power on small displacement because their fuel prices are well above ours. A car with a 3.5L V6 wouldn't sell, simply because fuel cost would be way way way to high for it. Something most people don't realize but I read somewhere once that the average displacement for a vehicle in Europe was about 2.2L or something like that.
Yup... ill back up that high price of fuel there. Filled up a Vauxhal Astra last time i was there. Little econ car.... still had about 1/4 tank left... cost me over $50 that hurt!!
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Pokes wrote: Yup... ill back up that high price of fuel there. Filled up a Vauxhal Astra last time i was there. Little econ car.... still had about 1/4 tank left... cost me over $50 that hurt!!
Vauxhall = Chevy/GM HA! I drove a Vauxhall Cavalier (I think?) when I was in the UK...yep, talk about freakin' crazy gas prices. I don't know how you all do it! It cost over £40.00 to fill back in 1999
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that hurt!!