BRENTWOOD, Essex, UK, 9 March, 2015 – The new Ford Focus ST, has claimed its first award in the UK – Best Hot Hatch in Carbuyer’s Best Car Awards.

Editor of Carbuyer.co.uk, Stuart Milne, praised the new Ford Focus ST’s sporty new exterior design and enhanced interior:  “Focus ST is a stunning example of practical performance and, with an excellent diesel model joining the petrol, it has become a true real-world champion.”

The Carbuyer website is one of the leading resources for people seeking information about new-car purchases in the UK, receiving more than 1.4 million users a month, who view more than 5.5 million pages.

“It is great to see the new-model Ford Focus ST gathering its first UK award within a month of arriving in dealerships,” said Anthony Ireson, Ford Britain marketing director.  “A third of the 140,000 Focus ST models sold globally since 2002 were bought in the UK, where our appetite for fast Fords shows every sign of continuing.”

The new Focus ST range features two engines, three series and two body styles. Both the 250PS EcoBoost petrol and 185PS TDCi diesel 2.0-litre engines are offered in the ST-1, ST-2 and ST-3 series starting from £22,195. There is also an acclaimed estate body style offering a unique combination of load space and sporty handling.

Featuring sportier and more aggressive styling than the previous generation of Focus ST, the new model has a lower, wider stance; new dynamically sculpted bonnet, slimmer headlamps and rectangular fog lamps. The sports body kit also includes body colour side skirts and diffuser elements either side of the exhaust, and a rear roof spoiler optimised for aerodynamic performance. Black lamp bezels, ST badging and new 19-inch ST Design alloy wheels – available as an option – complete the look.