Mountune has pumped the Ford Focus ST up to 275bhp. Maybe more

What’s better than a fast Ford? A faster Ford, obviously.

Which is why we’re rather excited about the new 345bhp, 4x4 Ford Focus RS, which promises to be the fastest Ford. At least until the new GT supercar arrives.

In the meantime, here’s the new Blue Oval speed champ: the Focus ST Mountune. Yes, Ford’s official tuning arm has announced its upgrade package for the facelifted Focus ST (in petrol form – sorry, ST TDCi fans), and the numbers are promising.

Thanks to a new induction system, beefed-up intercooler and a fiddle with the 2.0-litre engine’s electronic brain, power jumps from 247bhp to 275bhp. Torque swells 26lb ft to 296lb ft – and bear in mind these are Ford USA’s results, which are conducted on watered-down 93-octane ‘gas’. Whatever that is.

Here in Europe, with fiery 95 or 98-octane petrol in its belly, the Focus ST Mountune could be faster still.

And here’s the thing – Ford has history in making its underdog Focus seriously quick. Back in 2009, it stunned the hot hatch market by unveiling the 300bhp Focus RS.

At the time, a power figure beginning with a ‘three’ seemed like utter madness for a front-wheel drive car, and the RS rightly stood at the peak of the hot hatch power pile.

Except, it didn’t. Quietly, Ford also allowed Mountune to do a tune-up kit for lesser Focus ST, which back in the good old days, was tugged along by a Volvo-soured five-cylinder engine.

Officially, Mountune insisted the car developed 260bhp, safely inferior to the pricier RS. However, the internet was soon abuzz with rumours Mountune was playing its cards close to its chest.

Some suspected the engine was actually pushing out near-RS levels of power – and shaming the flagship car in drag races. Ford even went so far as creating a limited-run Focus RS500 – with 345bhp – to redress the balance.

And yes, eagle-eyed readers: that’s the exact same power figure the new Focus RS boasts. Coincidence?

Yep, there’s quite a battle brewing in fast Ford land. And then there’s the small matter of the imperious VW Golf R, upstart Seat Leon Cupra and evergreen Renaultsport Megane Trophy to take on. Place your bets…