Ford has announced that its Focus ST hot hatch is now available with a new automatic gearbox.
Joining a manual version of the ST - which has been on sale since July 2019 - this new seven-speed automatic gearbox is available on both hatchback and estate variants of Ford’s most powerful Focus model.
Rather than a traditional gearshifter, the Focus ST uses a rotary dial instead, but also features flappy shift paddles attached to the steering wheel if you wanted to change gear manually.
The automatic gearbox is available on the petrol Focus ST, which uses a 276bhp 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine. With the auto, it can sprint to 60mph in 5.8 seconds (just 0.3 seconds slower than the manual) and reach a top speed of 155mph. It also shares the same efficiency figures as the manual, too – returning a claimed 34.4mpg, with CO2 emissions of 188g/km.
A 187bhp 2.0-litre diesel ST model also remains available for those wanting something cheaper to run (it returns 50.4mpg, with CO2 emissions of 148g/km), but is only available with a six-speed manual gearbox.
Prices for the new automatic versions start from £34,710 for the five-door hatchback and £36,110 for the estate, which makes them £1,450 more expensive than manual models.
Order books for the automatic Focus STs are now open, with the first deliveries expected from July.
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