Limited Edition Ford Focus ST500 Released

Ford Motor Company, in an apparent move to keep excitement for Focus loyalists in the U.K., has begun selling a new, limited edition tuned up Ford Focus ST. Only 500 editions of the new Ford Focus ST500 have been produced, and will only be available for sale in the United Kingdom.

Starting at £20,495 (US$42,700), the ST500 is powered by a five cylinder, 2.5 litre Duratec engine. The 20-valve engine churns out 221 horsepower at 6,100 rpm, and 236 ft-lb of torque at a scant 1,600 rpm. This is roughly the same power produced by the limited WRC edition of the Ford Focus ST, produced for the Swiss market earlier this year.

The ST500 comes with scarlet leather Recaro seats, matching upholstery, xenon headlights, auto-dimming rear view mirror, rain-sensing windshield wipers, solar-reflect windscreen, and ST500 badging almost everywhere. Outside, the metallic black car is graced with a silver hood (bonnet, for you Brits), and racing stripes inspred by the GT40's 1-2-3 finish at Le Mans in '66.

Over 13,500 Ford Focus ST models are on the street now, just two years since its introduction. Some of the hot hatch's success must come from the bragging rights associated with its 2006 WRC manufacturer's title, as well as its 2007 WRC table position, according to Ford (of course).

Press Release:

BRENTWOOD, Essex, 07 November, 2007 – Ford has announced the arrival of a new special edition of the high performance Focus ST. Called the Focus ST500, and priced from £20,495, it will be available to just 500 UK customers.

The Ford Focus ST500 is based on the top-of-the-range Focus ST3 with the addition of unique features. All models are finished in metallic black with classic silver bonnet, roof and side stripes which are designed to echo the livery of the winning GT40 in the 1-2-3 victory at Le Mans in 1966.

Power comes from the Focus ST's acclaimed 20-valve five-cylinder Duratec 2.5 engine, which develops 225PS at 6,100rpm and 320Nm of torque at just 1,600rpm. Since its introduction in 2005, the Focus ST has established itself as one of the finest "hot hatchbacks" ever made and received critical acclaim from the specialist media and enthusiast customers alike.

With sales of over 13,500, the Ford Focus ST is now firmly positioned as the most sought after performance hatchback in the UK, and reflects the motorsport success of the all-conquering Focus RS WRC, which saw Ford take the 2006 WRC manufacturer's title, and which currently heads the 2007 World Rally Championship.

Included in the Focus ST500's unique specification are scarlet leather Recaro sports seats and matching upholstery, special ST500 badging, automatic Xenon high-intensity headlamps, auto-dimming rear view mirror, rain-sensing wipers and solar-reflect windscreen.