New Ford Focus ST Estate joins hatch in line-up

Following hot on the heels of the debut of the Ford Focus ST hatch, images of the ST Estate have been revealed.

The Focus ST Estate takes a similar performance approach to the conventional hatch, albeit with the benefit of a 608-litre boot. From a styling point of view, the changes around the back are fairly subtle: there’s a larger rear spoiler, and the bumper design is much like the item found on ST-Line models, but it gets two large tail pipes on either side of a mock diffuser.

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Elsewhere, the estate is treated to similar go-faster upgrades as the hatchback. From the front, it gets a honeycomb grill complete with wide air dam below, and the ten spoke alloy wheels are the same design.

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As with the ST hatch, the ST Estate rides 10mm lower than the rest of the Focus range, while the dampers are 20 per cent firmer at the front and 13 per cent at the back. A quicker steering rack, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres and an electronic limited slip differential complete the chassis changes.

Under the bonnet, there’s two engines to choose from. Performance fans will be most keen on the 2.3-litre turbocharged four cylinder unit, which makes 276bhp - 29bhp more than the outgoing car - and 420Nm of torque. The Estate’s extra weight relative to the hatch have slightly blunted the 0-62mph time, dropping one tenth to 5.8 seconds.

A diesel engine will provide a more BIK-friendly option. With 187bhp and 360Nm of torque, the 2.0-litre unit is the most powerful diesel ever fitted to a Focus and it covers the 0-62mph sprint in 7.7 seconds. The petrol is available with a choice of six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic gearboxes, while the diesel is manual only.

The new Focus ST Estate will be priced from £30,595 for the diesel and £33,095 for the petrol when it goes on sale this summer - each £1,100 more than the equivalent ST hatch.

Do you like the look of the new Ford Focus ST Estate? Let us know in the comments section below...