Today's reminder of how much more awesome the Euro-market Ford Focus is than our own comes from Ford UK, where the latest, greatest Focus ST goes on sale starting Thursday. As you're probably well aware, in ST trim the newly-restyled Euro Focus gets the once-over from Ford Europe's in-house tuning arm, TeamRS. The standard engine offerings are replaced by a turbocharged 2.5L five-banger underhood that's good for 225 PS (around 223 hp), is mated to a six-speed stick, and lets the Focus ST do 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.8 seconds. According to Ford, the new ST also lapped the Nordschleife in 8:35. The exterior is dressed up with 18-inch wheels, the expected body kit and available racing stripes. Inside, the proper cockpit gets a push-button starter and Recaro seating. Depending on the ST trim level selected (there are three) and available options chosen, you can add all manner of comfort and convenience features to the spiffy-looking pocket rocket. Even Bluetooth... but not SYNC. Something tells us the Brits aren't crying in their beers over this.
We'll admit it. We didn't think sales of the 2008 Ford Focus would take off like they have, even after we had a 2008 Focus SES Coupe in the Autoblog Garage and for the most part liked it. The redesign for 2008 just left a bad taste in our mouths, and we didn't think anyone would fall for those garish fender vents. For whatever reason, be it the car's smooth ride, competitive pricing or exclusive availability of the SYNC system, the 2008 Focus is selling like crazy. Ford says that it sold 49,070 Focuses this year through March alone, which is up 23 percent compared to last year. More importantly, all of those additional Focus sales were to retail customers, not fleets. Last year the Blue Oval built 191,000 Focuses, but today it has announced that production will be ramped up at its Wayne Stamping and Assembly Plant so that 245,000 units can be built in 2008.
For comparison's sake, Toyota sold 371,390 Corollas in 2007, while Honda sold 331,095 Civics and Chevy sold 200,620 Cobalts. The Corolla and Civic are both handily outselling their domestic competition so far this year, but the Focus is now slightly ahead of the Cobalt, which sold 48,024 units through March.
Autocar claims to have the skinny on Ford's new Focus RS that may debut as soon as this summer's London Motor Show. The new Focus RS will get all the updates seen on the 2008 Ford Focus in Europe, which means it will combine the standard car's new Kinetic Design styling cues with big intakes, flares and a serious dose of attitude as seen above in the teaser image released last month. Autocar claims the new RS will be powered by the same 2.5L five-cylinder turbo from the Focus ST, but with modified pistons, cams and valve springs, a bigger turbo and a larger intercooler, all of which will bump power up from 222bhp to an impressive 280bhp. Autocar has also confirmed that power will be sent to the front wheels alone, but claims Ford has a new electronic front differential to keep the car steady under power. What transmission will be offered is still up in the air, with Volvo's new six-speed PowerShift dual-clutch gearbox still being considered.
The new Focus RS should be able to reach 60 mph in under six seconds without breaking a sweat, but its top speed will likely be governed to 155 mph. Projected pricing of around £25,000 is aimed squarely at the Volkswagen R32 in Europe, though the new Mitsubishi EVO X and Subaru Impreza STI are also in the car's crosshairs. We're happy for our European brethren that the new Focus RS sounds every bit as good as advertised, and continue to patiently wait until Ford's plan of integrating platforms on a global scale delivers unto us a worthy successor to the late, great Focus SVT.
