The New Automatic Ford Focus ST Is Slower Than The Manual
Only a few days ago we were talking about how we’re used to automatics being quicker to 62mph than their manual siblings. But there are rare exceptions, however, and now there’s a new one - the Ford Focus ST.
While the six-speed manual version of the hot hatch can - with launch control activated - crack the benchmark sprint in 5.7 seconds, the newly released seven-speed automatic takes a more leisurely six seconds.
The top speed is identical at 155mph, and the overall WLTP MPG figure is the same at 34.4. The three-tenth deficit remains for the automatic version of the estate, which will hit 62 from rest in 6.1, compared to 5.8 for the manual wagon.
It comes with ‘Adaptive Shift Scheduling’, which - as with similar tech on most modern automatics - fiddles with the timings of the gear changes depending on how furiously you’re driving, and presumably the mode you have the ST set to. Manual control is possible via steering wheel-mounted paddles, while changing between park, reverse, neutral and drive will be done via a rotary controller like the kind Jaguar recently abandoned.
Auto versions of the Focus ST are priced at a £1450 premium, making the hatchback £34,710 and the estate £36,110. It’s available to order now, and deliveries will be starting next month. Ford UK tells us that the auto is expected to make up 25 per cent of the overall ST mix.
Given the choice between the manual and the auto, would you be tempted by the latter?
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
Who wants an auto hot hatch anyway?
Well, quite a lot of people. Golf R sales were so heavily weighted towards autos the manual ended up getting dropped…
A lot of people want the daily advantage of an automatic gearbox. I don’t understand why any automaker hasn’t already create an auto/manual, where you can shit manually AND put it in drive when you want. It would be perfect !
Good. That’s what you get for being lazy.
A bit mean for people who might have difficulty with their left leg but ok
How is the automatic version of the ST slower than the manual one?
Because it’s a Ford…
My guess is that it adds weight and the gearing of the Manual is better suited for 0-60.
The transmission is probably not a good match for the engine, the regular 1.5 Ecoboost has the same 0-62 with manual and automatic. Since the automatic ST gets better highway fuel economy (worse in cities so the combined figure is the same), my guess is that it has longer gearing than the manual.
Interesting.
these blokes actually do a test between the two:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnSQP50gMuE
At least that gear selector thingy looks cool