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By Jonathan Crouch

Ford's Focus ST hot hatch is back, with a mission. Jonathan Crouch takes a drive in the revised version.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 86

The improved version of Ford's fourth generation Focus ST is now smarter - and more sophisticated inside. In hatch or estate guise, with manual or paddleshift automatic transmission, it's a car that's easy to get the most from. And a machine you can enjoy to the full on your favourite road without afterwards having to pay for it with the kind of over-firm ride you simply don't want in everyday traffic. Ultimately, so many quick cars can feel.... well, rather irrelevant. Here's one that's anything but....

Backgroundword count: 170

'ST' is a badge that, when it comes to Ford, stands for 'quick but not concussive', a performance level that sits just above the company's fast-but-family-friendly 'ST-Line' models. A badge applied to the kind of car a red-blooded racer could afford, enjoy and use every day. A car like this - the improved version of the fourth generation Focus ST. The Focus ST is the kind of car that's always democratised performance, giving you something of the speed of a supercar within the body - and the budget - of something much more ordinary. Other brands promise this kind of thing but in reality, often do little more than bolt a set of spoilers and a turbo onto something more mundane. Ford though, has a different approach, the Blue Oval brand boasting a long history of developing proper performance versions of its mainstream models, designed by enthusiasts to be driven by enthusiasts. That's certainly seems to be what's been delivered with this improved MK4 Focus ST. Let's take a look.

Driving Experienceword count: 223

Ford now only offers one engine to Focus ST customers, but it's the one you probably wanted anyway, the 280PS 2.3-litre EcoBoost petrol unit. The 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel option has been dropped. Buyers choose between a 6-speed manual gearbox or a quick-shifting 7-speed auto transmission with steering wheel paddleshifters. Selectable Drive Mode technology enables drivers to adjust the car's character to suit the kind of drive experience they want. The various settings tweak steering feel, throttle response and stability control thresholds - plus suspension response too, courtesy of the 'CCD' 'Continuously Controlled Damping' system that further improves the sophisticated 'SLA' multi-link suspension set-up. CCD monitors steering, braking, suspension and body inputs 500 times a second to adjust damping responses to deliver optimal ride comfort and cornering control. You also get an 'e-LSD' Electronic Limited Slip Differential. The system uses hydraulically activated clutches to limit the engine torque delivered to a wheel that has reduced traction on the road surface, and redistributes up to 100 per cent of available torque to the wheel with more traction to counteract wheel spin that can hamper acceleration through, and out of, corners. You'll want to know how fast it is; well, plenty quick enough. This car offers 420Nm of torque and uses the most free-revving Focus ST engine ever, sprinting to 62mph in less than six seconds.

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