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2012 Ford Focus ST Preview: 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show

 
1 2,887 views Sep 12, 2011
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2012 Ford Focus ST

HI-RES GALLERY: 2012 Ford Focus ST

The 2012 Ford Focus ST has been traversing the show circuit for a while now, making its debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. Today, the production version was revealed at the Frankfurt Auto Show, and along with it, some forbidden fruit: a wagon version for Europe.

The regular hatchback version of the 2012 Focus ST will be coming to America, however, so we can at least enjoy that. As previewed a year ago, the Focus ST will deliver 247 horsepower from its 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo engine. All of the power is sent to the front wheels, but given that Ford piped even more power through the front wheels of the last-gen Focus RS for Europe, we don't doubt the ability to handle it all, as much as we might have liked to see all-wheel drive.

It won't just run well, however. Ford says it'll sound great, too, thanks to exhaust tuning through a "sound symposer," also used on the Focus RS and RS 500. As Ford's Jost Capito puts it, "People loved the sound of the previous Focus ST. The physics and acoustics of a 5-cylinder engine compared to a 4-cylinder are very different, but like Beethoven and Mozart – both of whom created fantastic yet very different music – we believe the engine note of the new Focus ST will delight enthusiasts in the same way."

Ford has also applied electric power steering for the Focus ST, which enables the car to control torque steer via its Torque Steer Compensation system. Aggressively-tuned stability control lets the driver apply full throttle without wheel slip or steering disturbances by compensating for undulations or torque steer with counter-acting force through the electric power steering system. Ford has also tuned the electric power steering to be less sensitive in a straight line, yet more sensitive in corners, to improve handling and make it easier to maneuver in tight situations.

As you'd expect, the 2012 Focus ST also gets a sport suspension, unique alloy wheels, and a host of exterior and interior styling tweaks. For the full details, read the release on page two.




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Comment (1)

  1. fb_100001542310307 avatar Matt Loson Posted: 9/12/2011 3:17pm PDT

    YES PLEASE!!! I can't be the only one who thinks we need the station wagon over here can i? I'm 19, but i'd drive it lol. The Powershift and paddle shifters too please, never driven a car with paddle shifters but it seem so much more fun than having the clutch pedal to deal with...and no first gear stalls.
     
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