The Focus ST is worth revisiting two and a half years after its launch simply because of the facelift that was introduced in May. Nothing dramatic has gone on. All Ford has done is add the new interior and exterior styling details which other Focuses received at the start of 2008.Why the delay? Well, Ford builds the Focus in huge numbers, but the ST can't represent more than a tiny fraction of overall sales. There was bound to have been a backlog of existing STs waiting for owners which had to be shifted before the slightly restyled versions came to market.We've already dealt with the ST in a launch report and a road test whose subject was the ST2, a slightly less high-spec model than the one being considered here. A quick recap might be in order, though. The heart of the ST is a 222bhp 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine which actually comes from Volvo, the only remaining manufacturer in the now largely dispersed Ford Automotive Group.With that amount of power, the ST fairly whistles along in a straight line, and really that's its main claim to be a hot hatch. Ford says that the car is quicker round a lap of the fabled Nürburgring race circuit in Germany than the less powerful but distinctly angrier Focus RS which was sold briefly at the start of the century, but I suspect this is because it makes shorter work of the flat-out sections.I've driven the ST in enough environments (including two of the test tracks at the Bedford Autodrome) to be quite confident in saying that it's less nimble through the twisty stuff than the RS was. Ford describes the ST as "one of the sharpest handling cars in it class", but it depends on what class you're talking about. There are other hot hatches - my favourite being the Volkswagen Golf GTI in Edition 30 trim - which are much more fun through a series of bends.On the other hand, the ST has more than enough grip to make it very capable, if less than wholly exciting, round corners, and its soft and slightly rubbery feel are a definite advantage when you're not pushing so hard. In fact you could lend it to your Aunt Dahlia for a trip to the shops, pretending that it was a perfectly standard Focus, and as long as she didn't press too firmly on the throttle pedal she would probably be none the wiser on her return.Ford says that the ST "may well be the definitive choice for enthusiastic drivers who also demand comfort round town", and I think the company is on surer ground there. Remember that quote and forget the one about sharp handling, is my advice.So what about the exact model tested here? Well, it's a three-door, so it's £600 cheaper than it might otherwise be, and it's in range-topping ST3 trim, which according to Ford makes it slightly less popular than the ST2. All STs have 18" alloy wheels, Recaro sports seats, a starter button and a capless refuelling system (both new for 2008), a sports steering wheel and extra instrumentation in the form of three small dials in the centre of the dash.The basic ST costs £18,250 in three-door form. Add £1000 and you get the ST2, which has all of the above equipment plus a Sony audio system, bi-xenon headlights, LED rear lights and a heated windscreen, while a further £1000 gets you the full leather trim and in-dash 6-CD player of the test car. As with other Focuses, optional extras include tyre deflation warning, an "audio connectivity module", satellite navigation and voice control.Absolutely none of this affects the driving experience, which remains the same regardless of what trim level you choose. As a result, there is no ST capable of enthralling its driver, but if that's what you want don't worry, because the new RS - with a substantially more powerful version of the same engine - will be along soon. Engine 2522 cc, 5 cylinders Power 225 bhp @6000 rpm Torque 236 ib/ft @1600 rpm Transmission 6 speed manual Fuel/CO2 30.4 mpg / 224 g/km Acceleration 0-62mph: 6.8sec Top speed 150 mph Price From £19766.00 approx Release date 01/01/2008
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