Ford introduced the second generation of the Focus in 2004 and, in the following year, it came with the ST version.
After several sports cars, rally cars, and hot-hatches, Ford was one of the companies that knew how to build them. The Focus had all the necessary technical underpinnings to evolve into a successful street-performance vehicle, affordable enough to blast some of its competitors.

While the first hot-hatches were based exclusively on 3-doors bodyworks, Ford dared to offer its performance version with a three- and five-door version. But it enhanced the look of the vehicle and avoided the all-go-no-show syndrome.

From the outside, the Focus ST featured a modified front bumper when compared to its regular siblings. The wider lower grille and the silver rims around the side-scoops, plus a specific radiator grille in the upper bumper area, made a difference between the ST and the regular version at the front. From the sides, the specific 18” light-alloy wheels helped the car handle better on the road. In the rear, at the top of the liftgate, the designers installed a small roof-spoiler.

Inside, the Focus ST featured high-bolstered seats at the front to provide better support for its occupants, but the rear bench was the same as in any regular 5-door Focus. The carmaker installed three dials cluster with information about the boost, oil temperature, and oil pressure on top of the dashboard.

Under the hood, Focus ST featured a 5-cylinder Volvo engine. Its 2.5-liter displacement with 20 valves and turbocharging provided 225 hp. It was mated as standard to a 6-speed manual gearbox.