2022 Ford Focus ST Edition - UK version

Ford announced a new, special edition version of the Focus ST five-door hot hatchback that enhances driving dynamics with upgraded suspension and light-weight wheels for ultimate road and track driving experiences, alongside unique exterior and interior specifications.

The Ford Focus ST Edition is available to order in selected European markets, including the UK priced from £35,785. The most dynamic version yet of the fourth generation Focus ST offers true driving enthusiasts the opportunity to tailor the driving dynamics to their personal preference using a Ford Performance-tuned adjustable coilover suspension system.

Cornering responses and driving dynamics are further enhanced with standard flow-formed alloy wheels that reduce unsprung weight, and Sports Technologies including a hydraulically-activated electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD) and selectable Drive Modes, including Track Mode, contributing to an even more rewarding and confident Focus ST driving experience.

Ford Performance has developed the Focus ST Edition exclusively in five-door hatchback body style to ensure the lowest possible weight for optimised control and precision, and with the 2.3-litre EcoBoost petrol engine and six-speed manual transmission, 1 for maximum driver engagement.

A unique exterior is distinguished by an Azura Blue finish unavailable elsewhere in the Focus line-up, eye-catching high gloss black detailing and a distinctive black roof. Interior enhancements include part-leather Recaro sports seats, blue detail stitching and a red ST starter button.

"The new Focus ST Edition takes the hot hatchback to a new level of handling precision and control," said Stefan Muenzinger, Ford Performance manager, Europe. "Not only does it offer increased poise and responsiveness for the enthusiast, but also gives the ability to tailor the feel and handling balance of the car to the customer."

Precision and control

The Ford Focus ST Edition will arrive with customers featuring a factory chassis configuration that has been extensively tested and developed by Ford Performance, including at Germany's Nürburgring Nordschleife.

Fine-tuned to optimise balance and control through corners while working hand-in-hand with the vehicle's high-performance powertrain, the chassis also offers drivers the flexibility to further tailor suspension settings to their specific driving style or environment.

The two-way adjustable coilover suspension system, produced by motorsport specialists KW Automotive, features twin-tube stainless steel damper housings and powder-coated springs, with a distinctive Ford Performance Blue finish. Focus ST Edition's ride height is lowered 10 mm front and rear compared with the standard Focus ST, with a further adjustment of 20 mm available to the customer. Spring rates are increased by more than 50 per cent compared with the standard Focus ST.

Twelve jounce settings - the degree of upward damper movement allowed as the wheel contacts a bump in the road, and 16 rebound settings - the speed at which the damper returns to position after an upward movement, give Focus ST drivers an even greater degree of control over cornering responses.

The Ford Focus ST Edition is also supplied with a technical document providing recommended suspension settings for a variety of driving conditions - including a dedicated setting for the Nürburgring - to help performance driving enthusiasts fine-tune their driving experiences.

The lightweight 19-inch alloy wheels, equipped as standard with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres, reduce unsprung mass by 10 per cent at each corner of the vehicle. The wheels are constructed using a flow forming process, which compacts the aluminium alloy to retain tensile strength and increase shock resistance while using less material. Able to more effectively follow the profile of rougher road surfaces and reduce the demand on the Focus ST Edition's dampers and springs, the lightened wheels improve tyre contact with the road for enhanced grip and responses.