First came the redesigned Ford Fiesta ST, now its bigger brother has been locked in for Australia.
The 2022 Ford Focus ST will come in two trims when it arrives Down Under, likely in the second quarter of 2022.
Both models will feature a new look, a massive 13.2-inch touchscreen inside running Ford’s latest Sync 4 infotainment software, and the Mean Green colour option also coming to the Fiesta ST.
The ST also benefits from the addition of blind-spot assist, which will intervene to stop an impending accident, and an intersection assist system which automatically brakes when it detects a potential crash pulling out of an intersection.
Gone are the Recaro seats from the previous Focus ST, replaced with a set of in-house designed seats similar to those in the smaller Fiesta ST.
Outside, the new Focus ST sports a new seat of headlights with revised LED detailing compared to the current car, along with new bumpers.
The tail lights have also been gently massaged with new LED signatures and what looks like a smoked finish on their lenses. Not exactly groundbreaking, but there wasn’t much wrong with the ST from the outside anyway.
Power still comes from a 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with 206kW of power and 420Nm of torque.
It’s hooked up to the front wheels through a six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic transmission, both of which are combined with an electronic limited-slip differential. The ST X benefits from a Track Mode, which loosens up the ESP when you’re feeling frisky.
Full specifications haven’t been confirmed, but we know the base Focus ST will feature the following standard equipment:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- 14-way powered Ford Performance sports seats
- Seat heating
- LED headlights
- 13.2-inch infotainment touchscreen
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Factory satellite navigation
- FordPass Connect app connectivity
Moving to the ST X will add pixel LED headlights with anti-dazzle high-beam, active curve lighting, and adaptive beam based on road signs and weather.
The ST X is likely similar to the current ST-3 specification, and will ride on 19-inch alloy wheels.
The 2022 ST and ST X will be the only Focus models sold in Australia from 2022.
The ST-Line and Active are officially being culled locally, after Ford killed the ST-Line Wagon, and the Trend and Titanium hatchbacks for 2021.
Ford points to the fact small cars accounted for just 12 per cent of sales in Australia last year, compared to 20 per cent in 2014, as the reason for its decision.
MORE: Everything Ford Focus
