The third generation Focus, codenamed C346 while being developed, was announced in December 2010 and remained in production in Europe until 2018. Despite the car not being available as a 3-door, Ford continued a long tradition that had started with the Lotus-Cortina and offered a performance orientated version, the ST, which went on sale in the UK in the summer of 2012.

It featured a 247bhp turbocharged 4-cylinder 2-litre EcoBoost engine, mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, giving it impressive real-world performance and a 0–60 mph time of 6.2 seconds. The ST was much praised by the motoring press as a driver’s car and is now considered a modern classic.

The ST featured a torque vectoring system which reduced the torque steer often suffered by powerful front-wheel-drive cars and this, allied to sports suspension that reduced the ride-height by 10mm, gave the car tenacious grip and rewarding handling. The Electronic Stability Control had three options, allowing drivers to pick a level of assistance applicable to their skill and the conditions, while the brakes, which featured 320mm front discs, were powerful and reassuring enough to help exploit this.

The ST was easily distinguished from less performance orientated Focus models by its honeycomb grille, 18-inch wheels, rear diffuser and centre-exit dual exhaust, while the interior featured Recaro sports seats, leather-trimmed ST steering wheel, red-stitched gear knob and Ford Power Starter Button.