This details a lot of the differences between the North American and Euro versions of the Focus ST that have been posted in various threads here in the forum.
May 13, 2013
The 2013 Ford Focus ST is a world car. Important bits like the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, the six-speed Getrag gearbox, chassis tuning, and even the Goodyear summer performance tires are fitted to all STs, no matter what the country. Still, some changes are necessary for the North American model.
What you are about to read enters a world that only savants like myself wander. If you recognize some of the following, it’s because I wrote the section in Wikipedia. I have a slight OCD problem.
Body Style Offerings:
*Four-door hatchback only for North America. Europeans are also offered the very cool Focus ST wagon. The original, MK1 Focus ST (SVT) and Euro-only MK2 Focus ST were offered in two-door and four-door hatchback configurations.
Exterior Badging:
*In addition to the ST badge on the right side of the rear hatch, the U.S. ST features a “Focus” badge on the left side. The Euro ST lacks this second badge. Note: I removed the “Focus” badge on the car I’m driving, as I prefer the simpler Euro setup.
Fuel Tank:
*The U.S. Focus ST’s fuel tank is only 12.4 U.S. gallons. The Euro ST gets a 16.4 gallon tank. Other Euro Focuses come with a 14.5-gallon tank (14.0 for diesel), but the U.S. Focus ST’s tank is shared with the 12.4-gallon tank used in the base North American Focus as Ford only wants to use one tank for North America.
Spare Tire:
*The U.S. ST features a full-size spare (robbing over two-inches of cargo height). The Euro ST gets either a mini-spare or fix-a-flat system (tire inflation/repair system), depending on the specific market and what stereo/subwoofer setup (see audio system).
Lighting Setup:
*The top-spec ST3 gets Xenon headlights worldwide but the Euro ST3 also gains headlight washers. The ST in Europe also has LED taillights.
Tire Pressure Monitor:
*U.S.-spec cars use an active tire pressure monitoring system with pressure sensors on the wheels. Euro cars use a passive, ABS-based deflation detection system.
Audio System Setup:
*MyFord Touch is not available on any European ST. The base ST1 Focus worldwide has a six-speaker audio system, with no MyFord Touch. The ST2 and ST3 in the U.S. get MyFord Touch and a ten-speaker Sony audio system, including a subwoofer mounted on the right side of the cargo area. The European ST2 and ST3 feature a nine-speaker Sony audio system. An upgraded Sony system for the ST2 and ST3 with a subwoofer in the spare tire well (and mandating a fix-a-flat repair kit, replacing the mini-spare used in certain markets) is optional in Europe.
HVAC Vent Adjusters:
*The Euro ST uses HVAC vent adjustment wheels with chrome trim (like those fitted to the U.S. Ford Escape). The North American Focus ST lacks that chrome trim on the adjusters.
Center Console:
*All European Focus STs have a center console with a handbrake next to the shifter, a large armrest/storage area, and twin cupholders. Only the U.S.-spec ST3 has the same setup. Our ST1 and ST2 center console is from the base Focus, with a smaller armrest/storage area and longitudinal cup holders with the handbrake next to them.
Steering Wheel Controls:
*Cruise control is not standard and MyFord Touch is not available in Europe, so the steering wheel is different.
Seats:
*All European Focus STs have German-made Recaro seats. The Euro ST1 model gets an all-cloth manual seat, the ST2 has cloth/leather manual seats, and the ST3 has power heated Recaro seats with full leather. Only the US-spec ST2 and ST3 get Recaros (same as the European ST2/ST3). The U.S. ST1 has Focus SE seats with unique ST covers. The North American Recaros are made in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The ST3 seats in Europe have adjustable thigh support and are eight-way power instead of six-way power (you can adjust the front and rear height of the seat, instead of just the overall height of the seat). The manual backrest adjustment is a rotary knob in Europe and a lever in the U.S. for the ST1/ST2 seats, and the Euro seats are height-adjustable for all trims. The U.S. Recaros have minor structural differences from the Euro Recaros, but the seatmaker says they should feel/fit the same. The European ST3 features a unique leather Recaro rear seat setup and all Euro ST models have a different rear seat headrest design.
Options/Spec:
*The European Focus ST is offered with a host of options and features that aren’t available in the U.S.: Standard heated mirrors, available red seat trim (blue, grey, or orange, only for the U.S.) is offered on the ST2’s part-leather Recaros, the ST2/ST3 gets a heated windshield, the optional cruise control on ST2/ST3 features an active speed limiter, privacy glass (tinted windows aft the b-pillars) is optional on the ST2/ST3, and auto-dimming mirrors and rain-sensing wipers come standard on the ST2/ST3. One of the coolest options not available here is the ST2/ST3 optional pop-out door guards.
There is also a selection of option packages on the European ST2 and ST3 that we can’t get in the States. The optional Navigation system includes a rear camera. The “Driver’s Assistance Pack” includes active city stop, blind spot assist, lane departure system, auto high beams, traffic sign recognition, and driver alert system (drowsy driving alert). There is an “ST Style Pack” that adds grey wheels, red brake calipers, and illuminated doorsills. The City Pack adds rear parking sensors and power-folding mirrors (standard on the ST3).
Here is the well-equipped Focus ST I would wish for:
*Silver or white exterior
*Euro ST1 “minimalist” cloth Recaro seats (dreaming of adjustable lumbar and heated seats, and hoping the Euro Recaro seats are more comfortable)
*Height-adjustable passenger seat
*No sunroof
*Euro (USA ST3) center console
*Basic, ST1 dash (with the Euro Sony nine-speaker setup)
*Euro mini-spare tire, or fix-a-flat
*Heated mirrors
*Xenon headlights with washers
*LED taillights
*Larger, Euro fuel tank
*Rain-sensing wipers
*Grey wheels (and maybe red brake calipers but pass on the illuminated doorsills)
*Limited-slip differential (best left for another blog as no market gets that much-needed option)
Read more: What?s Not "World Car" About Ford's 2013 Focus ST - Rumor Central
