See 2013 Ford Focus ST Full Photo Gallery

Ford has announced that its 2013 Ford Focus ST, its new, high-performance hatchback, will start at $24,495 including destination, making it very competitively priced with the Mazda Mazdaspeed 3 and the Volkswagen GTI. The Focus ST will be offered with a variety of options, including sport seats, an upgraded radio, moonroof and navigation system. Those who want a high profile look will likely want to order the ST-exclusive Tangerine Scream metallic paint and the race-inspired Recaro seats in with matching accents.

The Focus ST is powered by a 252 hp, 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine that produces 270 lb-ft. of torque. It features a sport suspension with a variable-ratio steering rack and electric power-assisted steering to provide more confidence in high-performance driving situations. “Some cars in this category are entertaining on the track, but much less practical for daily driving,” said Lisa Schoder, Ford Focus ST Marketing manager. “We think we’ve hit the perfect balance between pure driving exhilaration and everyday livability with this car.

Dealers started taking orders today for the 2013 Ford Focus ST. The first 1000 people who place orders between now and August 20 will receive a GoPro HD Hero2 Motorsports Edition Camera pack after they take delivery of their vehicles.

See 2013 Ford Focus ST Full Photo Gallery