Ford Focus ST (2011) first news and photos

The Ford hot hatch is back! The new Focus family will sire a – range-topping, for now – ST performance variant, to be unveiled at the 2010 Paris motor show. There's still a bit of a wait on, however; the mainstays of the new Focus range go on sale in March 2011, while the new Focus ST won't arrive until late 2011 or 2012.

So how fast is the new 2011 Ford Focus ST?

Sounds like it should be pretty rapid. Rated at 247bhp (up 25bhp on the outgoing ST), the new ST is powered by an uprated EcoBoost 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine. Gone is the charismatic mooing and whooping of the old ST's Volvo-derived five-pot. A shame, but then the new engine is likely to be less lethargic.

Few details have been announced yet, but we'd expect a twin-clutch transmission option on top of the six-speed manual pictured here, and marginally faster times than the 6.8sec and 150mph top whack of the last ST. No prizes for guessing that there's still room for an even faster RS version later in the lifecycle, although the basic ST bodykit has been turned up to 11, judging by the size of that grille and the aggressive bodykit. A Rallye Sport one would surely get an Asbo.

Inside, the new Focus ST gets heavily bolstered sports seats, with contrasting support pads in this version, and a rack of three extra dials, like on today's ST nestling atop the dash. Perfect for impressing your girlfriend with the amount of boost on offer.

By Tim Pollard