The 2008 ford Focus ST benefits from a range of revisions rolled out across the rest of the Focus line-up earlier this year, created by ford TeamRS , the company’s dedicated performance vehicle arm. Fun, fast and fabulously good looking, a new version of Ford’s performance flagship Focus goes on sale at dealerships across Great Britain starts last May 1. Importantly though, while offering new technologies and features, the car’s well-honed dynamics remain untouched. At the heart of the matter is the familiar 225 PS, 2.5-litre turbocharged five-cylinder Duratec engine. Powerful, and accompanied by a suitably sporty soundtrack, this powerhouse delivers a potential 150mph top speed in tandem with 0-62mph acceleration in just 6.8 seconds. A standard production Focus ST set a segment-leading record time of 8 minutes 35 seconds around the Nordschleife circuit at the famed Nürburgring, as a measure of this car’s ability.

The Focus ST has always provided lots of choice and the range retains its simple ST, ST-2 and ST-3 trim grades and three or five-door hatchback bodystyles. It is priced from £18,250 - £20,850. A powerful braking system is top of this list while Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) and Traction Control are now standard on all versions. And the Focus ST boasts 18-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, sports styling, body-hugging Recaro sports seats, a unique sports steering wheel, upgraded instrumentation, Easyfuel capless refuelling system and ‘Ford Power’ starter button. Upgrading to ST-2 adds a Sony audio system, bi-xenon lights, LED rear lights and Quickclear heated windscreen while the ST-3 includes an in-dash six CD player plus full leather trim.