The Focus ST Edition is Ford’s most hardcore hot hatch

Welcome to what is probably the most hardcore hot hatch Ford makes right now. It’s called the Focus ST Edition, and the big news is its trick new suspension. 

To a regular five-door, petrol-powered Focus ST Ford has fitted two-way manually adjustable coilover suspension from KW Automotive. The setup gives you 12 jounce (“the degree of upward damper movement allowed as the wheel contacts a bump in the road”) and 16 rebound (“the speed at which the damper returns to position after an upward movement”) settings, and comes with a “technical document” with recommended settings for various different scenarios (one of which is driving around the Nürburgring). 

Spring rates are up 50 per cent and the Edition rides 10mm lower than a standard ST, and there’s another 20mm of adjustment there should you with to go for the full slam. Elsewhere lightweight flow-formed alloys shod with sticky Michelin rubber shave 10kg of unsprung weight from each corner. 

The ST Edition keeps the standard car’s eLSD and 2.3-litre 276bhp four-cylinder petrol engine. 0-62mph takes 5.7 seconds and the top speed is 155mph. You can’t get the Edition upgrades with the diesel engine, the automatic gearbox or estate bodystyle to “ensure the lowest possible weight for optimised control and precision” and “for maximum driver engagement”. 

Aesthetic mods include Azura Blue paintwork and high-gloss black detailing. Inside there’s blue stitching and a red start button. It costs £35,785 – a couple of grand more than a normal petrol manual ST hatch – and the order books are open…now. Unlike the Fiesta ST Edition, which got similar upgrades as this Focus, it does not appear to be a limited edition. 

Click here to read our review of the normal Ford Focus ST. We’ll get our hands on an Edition ASAP and report back, so watch this space.