Ford Focus ST '13
2.0L
252 hp / 5,500 rpm
248 ft-lb / 2,500 rpm
1,462 kg (3,223 lbs)
429 pp
Ford Focus ST '06
2.5L
220 hp / 6,000 rpm
236 ft-lb / 2,000 rpm
1,430 kg (3,153 lbs)
415 pp
The new car makes 32 more horses, 12 more ft-lbs of torque, and weighs just 32 kg (70 lbs) more than the outgoing ST. It also has a smaller engine, by 0.5L, and now has doors for backseat passengers.
Mid-Field lap times on Comfort Soft tires.
1:27.186 - 429 - Ford Focus ST '13
1:28.304 - 415 - Ford Focus ST '06
A little more than 1 full second separates the old from the new.
What cars come close to the new ST?
1:26.718 - 423 - Honda S2000 '06
1:26.816 - 433 - Honda Mugen Motul Civic Si '87
1:26.850 - 415 - Spoon Integra Type R (DC2) '99
1:26.876 - 408 - Lotus Elise '96
1:26.920 - 438 - Subaru Legacy B4 Blitzen '00
1:26.975 - 403 - Opel Speedster '00
1:27.183 - 428 - SRT SRT4 '03
1:27.186 - 429 - Ford Focus ST '13
1:27.237 - 434 - Toyota Supra 2.5GT Twin Turbo R '90
1:27.309 - 395 - Hommell Berlinette R/S Coupe '99
1:27.342 - 423 - Alfa Romeo GT 3.2 V6 24V '04
1:27.363 - 410 - Mercedes Benz 190 E 2.5 - 16 Evolution II '91
1:27.368 - 431 - Mitsubishi Eclipse GT '06
1:27.406 - 408 - Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 '85
1:27.444 - 428 - Audi S4 '98
1:27.460 - 417 - Chrysler Crossfire '04
1:27.530 - 414 - Honda Civic Type R '08
1:27.539 - 414 - Honda Civic Type R (EP) '04
1:27.572 - 410 - Honda Integra Type R (DC2) '99
1:27.613 - 439 - Mazda Mazdaspeed Atenza '05
The Focus ST '13 is a bigger, fatter Neon SRT4, and that's not a bad thing. I'll call this one a sleeper, but only barely.
It's too bad the Mazdaspeed 3 and VW Golf VI GTI weren't in the game, as they would make great rivals for the Focus.