Ford Focus ST: First Drive 19 | 01 | 2015

THE FIRST DRIVE of the new Ford Focus ST in Barcelona today was greeted with torrential rain, low cloud … and temperatures which struggled to get above 5-degrees. But through it all, the 247bhp 2.0-litre Ecoboost powerplant in the petrol hatchback had me beaming.

There's a 182bhp 2.0TDCi — yes, a diesel ST — which I'll drive in estate form tomorrow. Just for the record, it's capable of 0-62mph in 8.1 seconds, returns up to 64.2mpg and emits just 110g/km of CO2.

But today it was the petrol (photographed in the gloomy murk at 3pm, believe it or not), which hits 62mph from standstill in 6.5secs, emits 159g/km CO2 and returns 41.5mpg at the pumps.

Much more detail will come in the full roadtest, but here's a mouthwatering fact: the Focus ST starts at £22,195.

And for that money, you get the choice of either the diesel or the petrol in ST-1 trim. ST-1 comes with 18in alloys, manual air conditioning, a rear spoiler, Recaro sports seats with fabric trim, keyless start, Ford's torque vectoring control and DAB digital radio.
Step up to the ST-2 trim, which starts at £23,695, and you also get a heated windscreen, automatic headlights and wipers, dual-zone air-conditioning. ST-3 trim adds an 8.0-inch touchscreen, xenon headlights, electric and heated front seats, cruise control, red brake callipers, rear parking sensors and illuminated ST-branded front door scuff plates. This costs from £25,995.
The ST Estate costs £1100 more than the equivalent hatch in all three trims, and also comes with black roof rails.

Related: Peoples Ford hits record £4.3m profit

Keep up-to-date with all the latest news by following us on twitter.com/scotcars

Jim McGill