By Staff Reporter

After a long wait, Ford has finally revealed its new Focus ST aimed to dethrone the Volkswagen Golf GTI and other hatches in the same hot hatches stable.

Although Ford SA is reluctant to reveal when the new Focus ST will be launched locally, the hatchback will come in petrol and diesel engine options – more like the GTD in Volkswagen model line-up.

According to Ford, the new Focus ST will borrow a host of new technology from the GT and the Mustang.

In terms of powertrain, the ST features a 2.3 litre EcoBoost turbo engine with twin-scroll turbo and anti-lag. Power is at 206 kW and 420 Nm (22 kW and 20 Nm more than the outgoing ST) channelled to the front wheels via a standard 6-speed manual transmission. For the first time, a 7-speed automatic transmission will be available at an additional cost.

With that amount of power, the new Focus St should be able to dash from 0-100km/h in less than 6 seconds.

Rumours suggest that the ST will receive multiple driving modes such as, Slippery, Normal and a Track mode for versions equipped with the Performance pack.

A diesel ST is also rumoured to be on the cards but remains unclear if the Ford is going to bring it anytime soon. It will challenge VW’s oil-burner Golf GTD with its 2.0 litre EcoBlue engine with 140 kW and 400 Nm.

Sadly, we have to wait for the new Focus to be launched before we could lay our hands on the new ST.