Ford unveils Focus sportwagon

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Ford unveils Focus sportwagon
Bruce Newton
September 13, 2011 - 12:20PM


The Blue Oval has taken the covers off a turbocharged load-hauling version of its bread and butter small car.

The small club of performance wagons has received a surprise boost, with Ford unveiling a load hauling version of its new Focus ST in Frankfurt.

Unveiled at the same time as the much-anticipated hatch, both cars get an uprated 184kW/360Nm version of Ford's 2.0-litre Ecoboost four-cylinder engine that is headed for Falcon.

Going by the numbers the 2.0 is a better performer all-round than the Volvo inline five turbo found in the old ST (dubbed XR5 in Australia).

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The sole transmission choice will be a six-speed manual and the hatch accelerates from 0-100km/h in 6.5 secs, 0.1 sec faster than the wagon. As yet no official fuel consumption and CO2 emissions averages have been claimed, but Ford says they are improved by more than 20 per cent.

The new hatch is definitely Australia-bound in 2012, and is expected to be badged ST. But while the wagon is available in right-hand drive no decision has been confirmed.

Distingushed by their gaping full-mouth grilles and relatively modest body kits , the STs ride on 18-inch wheels, Nurburgring-honed sports suspension and are directed via a newly-developed sports steering system.

Keeping the front-wheel drive ST pointing straight under heavy throttle loads is an enhanced version of the Torque Vectoring Control that features in lesser Focus models.

Inside the cabin there are specially designed pedals, steering wheel and gearshift, unique part-leather Recaro seats and a new-design three-seater bench in the rear.

Meanwhile, Ford also showed off a super-frugal Focus Econetic 1.6-litre turbo-diesel in Frankfurt that averaged 3.4/100km and 89g CO2/km. It promptly outdid itself with a Fiesta Econetic that swallowed just 3.3/100km and mitted 87g CO2/km.

Ford also announced a new 1.0-litre three-cylinder direct injection turbo-petrol that will make its debut in the Focus in 2012.