Ford rolls out diesel Focus ST at Goodwood [w/poll]

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If you’re in the market for a hot hatch, there are some excellent choices at your disposal – especially if you live in Europe. But if you want a diesel, well, your choices become rather more limited. Volkswagen tends to that niche market with the Golf GTD (essentially an oil-burning version of the GTI available Stateside), but that’s about the extent of it. The pleas of those looking for more diesel-burning hot hatch choices haven’t fallen on deaf ears at Ford, with the Blue Oval not only rolling out a face lifted gas-powered Focus ST at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend, but also a new diesel version as well.

The diesel Focus ST (which we hope and pray isn’t marketed as the STD) packs a 2.0-litre turbo diesel four producing 182 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque to propel the oil-burning hot hatch to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 8.1 seconds en route to a top speed of 217 kilometres per hour (135 miles per hour). With less power and only slightly more torque, that makes the diesel Focus ST considerably slower than the gasoline one, which packs 252 hp and 270 lb-ft, runs to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.5 seconds and tops out at 247 km/h (154 mph), but (in a testament to how far particulate filters have come) the diesel model cuts carbon emissions by nearly a third compared to the petrol version and returns about 50-per cent better fuel economy, which makes that much more of a difference in markets where diesel is already priced better than gasoline at the pump.

For buyers who wouldn’t consider anything other than a diesel, it also represents 23-per cent more power than the previous top-level diesel Focus. The VW Golf GTD, for reference, offers up 181 hp (just 1 horse less), 280 lb-ft (15 fewer torques) but is somehow estimated to reach 60 mph (96 km/h) in a considerably fleeter 7.4 seconds.

Regardless of engine choice, buyers get the same six-speed manual transmission and all the other enhancements introduced on the updated Focus ST, including re-calibrated suspension and steering, updated front- and rear-end styling and upgraded interior equipment. Plus they’ll get to choose between the five-door hatchback or extended wagon body styles, giving our European compatriots four configurations where American buyers only get the one. Increased utility and fuel economy aside, we’re still convinced ours is the pick of the litter, and we’ve got our doubts that a diesel ST would sell in America. What do you think? Vote in our poll below and then have your say in Comments.

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Ford rolls out diesel Focus ST at Goodwood [w/poll]

Ford rolls out diesel Focus ST at Goodwood [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Tue, 01 Jul 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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