Ford Focus ST global performance car

Ford’s first global performance car, the new five-door Focus ST, debuts in production-ready form at Frankfurt. Focus ST five-door will launch around the world in 2012 and be sold in over 40 countries.

Performance comes from a 2.0-litre Ford EcoBoost engine, providing 250 PS and 360 Nm of torque.

The fuel-efficient new 4-cylinder engine helps Focus ST cut CO2 emissions and fuel consumption by more than 20 per cent compared to the previous-generation European Focus ST.

Focus ST builds on the DNA of the Sport Technologies badge, combining strong performance, fine handling dynamics, eye-catching style and the refinement needed for everyday use.

The Ford Focus ST will replace the XR5 in Australia and its 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine is more powerful and uses less fuel than the XR5's Volvo-sourced 2.5-litre five-cylinder donk.

The hatch is a guaranteed starter but Ford Australia will have to assess the wagon before giving it a tick, given the extra space could put it in competition with the four-cylinder Ford Falcon which will use the same engine, though tuned for economy rather than outright go.

Outputs are 180kW/360Nm and will be delivered to the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox. A claimed 0-100km/h time of 6.5 seconds puts the car in direct contention with the Renault Megane RS and Golf GTI.

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"The Focus ST is our first global performance Ford -- the company DNA is evident in the design and the overall philosophy," Ford's chief technical officer Paul Mascarenas says.

A Fiesta ST also joined its big brothers on the stand. Ford released little detail on the Fiesta but said the 1.6-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder is good for 132kW/240Nm.

Like the Focus, the Fiesta ST will use a manual gearbox and CO2 emissions are "under 140g/km", Mascarenas says.