Nicked from a thread on seatcupra.net, this Focus looks VERY nice IMO (colour excepted).

PREVIEWING THE NEW FOCUS ST

Exciting all-new ST (Sport Technologies) Focus on sale towards the end of 2005

Turbocharged Duratec ST 2.5-litre 5-cylinder engine will deliver around 220PS

Head-turning design signals sporting intent, but Focus ST remains practical for everyday use

Sporty interior communicates purpose and emotion

New Focus provides a strong base for performance road cars, competition models

Quicker to market than previous generation ST thanks to Ford Team RS

Previewing an exciting new performance model

I quite like the wheels on the orange'un , but the saloon is deathly dull

Tangomobile looks like a Leon...

Tangomobile looks like a Leon...

Well the new leon looks like a squashed Altea , so someone may as well re-use the old shape

I quite like the saloon version but it definately needs dropping a couple of feet.....

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.................orange. looks very very nice in that pic. only seen one in the metal and the pics didn't do it justice at all

I followed a current ST170 this afternoon. Looked quite normal from the back except the shiney exhaust (which I could see wobbling about against the bodywork ) but from the front it looked smart indeed. Is the ST170 a N/A engine as well?

Yeah, its just a 2.0-litre engine, similar to the 2.0-litre Zetec. Most of what I've read about it suggests the ST170's powerplant is disappointing - struggling to produce the claimed power.

Umm.. I really like that orange ST......

Aye...does look interesting....2.5 turbo 5 cylinder.....220ps.....potential for more......

...."The Chav Strikes Back" spring to mind.

"a turbocharged Duratec ST 2.5-litre, 5-cylinder engine"

Duratec? I can't see anything Ford about that engine! Surely that's Volvo's T5?

Anyway... nice. Pity it's still FWD, especially when modding it up to 250-260 hp.

Am curious as to how Ford will price this one - here its Golf GTI rival is dead-cheap...

"a turbocharged Duratec ST 2.5-litre' date=' 5-cylinder engine"

Duratec? I can't see anything Ford about that engine! Surely that's Volvo's T5?

[/quote']

Good call Mattijs

Anyway... nice. Pity it's still FWD' date=' especially when modding it up to 250-260 hp.

Am curious as to how Ford will price this one - here its Golf GTI rival is dead-cheap...

[/quote']

Slip diff a la Focus RS?

Then there's the Vauxhall/Opel Astra VXR....240PS for around

I think the Focus will murder the VX.... purely on engine note... am sure i cant be the only one to remember how nice a straight through exhausted loud dv equipped 5 cyl can sound at full tilt.....

I agree it must be a worked over Volvo unit... which is no bad thing... as we all know that lump will go to 300-350 w/o too much work....

Orange one looks like a new puma... Very similar shape to the puma

I actually really like the orange one and i would have one - god i've come across all feint

I think the Focus will murder the VX.... purely on engine note... am sure i cant be the only one to remember how nice a straight through exhausted loud dv equipped 5 cyl can sound at full tilt.....

Aye...was one of the reasons I got a Golf VR6 originally....the sound.

Interested in the VXR.....but undecided if it's too chavvy.....epscially the alloys.

Funny though...my perception is that Ford/Vauxhall are more main stream than Skoda and a little beneath it in the grand scale of things. Of course the majority of punters will think it the other way round purely on past history.

Back to badge snobbery.

I like it. Just dont like the fact over 40 MPH the old one shakes and rattles more than elvis!

Just noticed it's got a boost gauge on top of dash......well just a remap then.

I like it. Just dont like the fact over 40 MPH the old one shakes and rattles more than elvis!

mine never shook(SP), rattled or wobbled and no trim issues at all. brothers is actually more solid than mine and nearly as solid as my octavia(very very nearly, hard to tell the difference in most places)

Yeah, its just a 2.0-litre engine, similar to the 2.0-litre Zetec. Most of what I've read about it suggests the ST170's powerplant is disappointing - struggling to produce the claimed power.

not just a 2.0 engine, more like the vtec engines, also got variable inlet manifolds and stuff