“Apparently, the current 2.0 l 250 hp engine will be out, appearing in its place a smaller 1.5 , based on 1.5 l EcoBoost”. It's not been more than two weeks since we reported what you've just read, but according to British Autocar, the future Ford Focus ST it will follow precisely the opposite path from the one that was most predictable and discussed — that's why they're called rumors and not facts.
So, according to this latest rumor, no downsizing to a 1.5 — the last Focus ST came equipped with a 2.0 l turbo block — but an upsizing, meaning the future Ford Focus ST will include a larger block capacity.
Future ST with RS engine
The choice, it seems, will fall on a derivation of the Focus RS engine, which also equips the Mustang. Which means that under the bonnet of the future ST we will find the block of four cylinders in line, 2.3 l and, of course, supercharged.In the Focus RS the 2.3 debits 350 hp, while in the Mustang — rejuvenated for 2018 — it debits 290 hp, and it is expected that, according to Autocar, the ST debits a more modest amount, at around 250-260 hp.
It will continue to be a front-wheel drive, and as with the current one, it will keep the manual gearbox as the only choice — there is still no confirmation whether there will be a dual-clutch gearbox as an option, which in this generation is only associated with Diesel, the engine of which also there is no confirmation whether it will be part of the future Focus ST.
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While apparently maintaining the same power level as the current Focus ST, performance is expected to improve — the increased engine capacity should ensure more torque, as well as being expected to be lighter than the current 1,437 kg. Ford announces a weight reduction of up to 88 kg for the new generation of Focus , recently made known, when compared with the predecessor.
Reliability justifies decision
The choice for a larger engine over the smaller 1.5 is due to the fact that the smallest unit, to deliver the high levels of power required, is very close to its reliability limits. The 2.3, on the other hand, has much greater potential, which can be attested to by the 375 hp charged by the Ford Focus RS farewell special edition, the Heritage Edition.
The new Ford Focus ST is expected to be known early next year, and presented publicly at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. The future Focus RS — rumors continue to hint at 400 hp thanks to a semi-hybrid unit (48 V) — will arrive, in expected in 2020.