ECOBOOSTED 2012 FORD FOCUS ST DEBUTS IN PARIS [LIVE IMAGES, VIDEO]

[NINETY EIGHT REGENCY]

ECOBOOSTED 2012 FORD FOCUS ST DEBUTS IN PARIS [LIVE IMAGES, VIDEO]

LIVE IMAGESOFFICIAL IMAGES

By Mark Kleis

Although the standard 2011 Ford Focus hasn't even hit the road yet, the automaker unveiled a range-topping Focus ST earlier today at the Paris Motor Show.

Unlike its Focus ST predecessors, the new turbocharged model will actually make it to North America - but not until early 2012.

The specs

Ford is holding on to many of the details for the end of the month, but for now we know to expect a EcoBoosted (turbocharged) 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, good for 247 horsepower. In terms of specs, that's all Ford has for us, but they did promise "an addictive sound" and "an intoxicating cocktail of exhilarating performance and handling."

This new Focus ST will replace the outgoing model which utilized a less eco-friendly, and less powerful turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine, which was also only good for 225 horsepower.

We do also know that the ST shown in the images is dawning an all-new color - Tangerine Scream - exclusive to the ST Focus. Ford did not specify if the vehicle will be available in other colors as well when it actually goes on sale.

Focusing on the significance of the next Focus

The 2012 Focus marks the first truly global product to be developed under Ford's ONE Ford product strategy. As a result, parts commonality is at 80 percent globally, and features a platform that will underpin at least 10 vehicles and an expected two-million global units of production by 2012.

The Focus ST is then of course the first high-performance model developed under its global Performance Vehicles strategy, making its success an important gauge for similarly minded future vehicles. If Americans truly want a Focus RS as badly as they say they do, the sales of the ST will likely play a key role in determining the possibility of an all-new Focus RS based on the latest platform.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWEZZ-fh-dQ&feature=player_embedded

link:

http://www.leftlanenews.com/ford-focus-st.html