2013 Ford Focus ST

Compared to the RS500, the ST drops a cylinder in favor of a less powerful 2.0-liter EcoBoost four generating 252 hp and 270 lb-ft. Fortunately, it's also a lot less costly, starting from just $24,495 delivered – a price that shades the far less powerful 200-hp, five-door Volkswagen GTI ($25,365). 

In fact, the ST is nearly as powerful as the Golf R while offering more torque (VW's all-wheel drive hot hatch registers 256 hp/243 lb ft) for a lot less money – the R starts around $35k. Subaru's AWD WRX is an interesting option, too, with more power (265 hp) but less torque (244 lb-ft) for more money ($26,345). The ST's closest natural rival, however, is theMazdaspeed3 – ironic, as it rides atop the last-generation Focus' platform. The Mazda carries a marginally bigger stick, though: 263 ponies and 280 torques, coming in at $24,795.

Speaking of unavailable features, before you ask, no, we're not getting the wagon model, and yes, it looks sensational. All North American STs will be sourced out of the Blue Oval's Wayne, Michigan assembly plant, and since Ford of North America doesn't even offer the standard Focus in a wagon configuration, the costs to homologate an additional bodystyle made building a business case all but impossible – especially when the automaker believes it will only shift around 9,000 STs annually in the States to begin with.

 Ford says the first STs will begin arriving in dealers this September. Ostensibly, Mulally's One Ford agenda opens up the door to even more delicious offerings like a future RS variant, but officials dutifully refuse to confirm plans for an even higher-performance Focus. We're just going to have to take the liberty of looking forward to a second instance of déjà vu, hoping Ford gifts us with another opportunity to make a French connection with a hot Focus. We just hope we don't have to wait another two years.