Ford Focus ST Performance Academy Tour Rolling into Boston

BEVERLY, MASS. (06/07/2012)(readMedia)-- A select group of New England Ford fans will be getting an early chance to experience the upcoming 2013 Ford Focus ST this summer, and it'll be more than just a test drive at a dealership. Local drivers will be able to put the all-new sport-tuned trim of the Ford Focus through its paces on two special courses at the Ford Focus ST Performance Academy, which will be held at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. on July 21.

Designed to introduce drivers to the Focus ST and build excitement for the car's release later this year, the Focus ST Performance Academy Tour features professional training as well as timed autocross hot laps for participants to earn bragging rights. As one of five events being hosted across the country this summer, the Boston-area tour stop was open for registration free of charge at www.drivefocusst.com; however, the event is currently full due to high demand.

"The fact that Ford has allowed anyone, from regular joes to professional drivers, to sign up to take a crack at the Focus ST shows how much they trust its ability to thrill all kinds of motorists," said Jeff Klein, general sales manager of Thomas Ford, a Greater Boston Ford dealer. "With features like a high-output 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine and bold race-ready styling, we are sure that the Focus ST won't disappoint."

The 2013 Ford Focus ST takes the frame of the popular Focus and adds more muscle thanks to a host of performance-minded adjustments. Under the hood, the EcoBoost engine is specially calibrated to boost output and responsiveness, while an enhanced sport suspension improves cornering. Electronic steering controls are also tweaked so that the Focus ST maintains grip when it thrusts forward with 270 pound-feet of torque. Meanwhile, high-performance front and rear disc brakes can quickly rein in speed resulting from the engine's 247 horsepower.

In the cockpit, the new Focus ST is available with Recaro sport seats that help hold the driver in position through the turns, while customized ST sport gauges keep occupants informed on turbo boost, oil pressure and oil temperature. Outside, the powerful Ford compact is designed to give off a bark equal to its bite, with an ST-badged trapezoidal front grille and an exhaust system tuned to give off a distinctive growl. For those that want to stand out even more, an exclusive exterior color, Tangerine Scream, is available to ST buyers.

While fans that registered for the Focus ST Performance Academy will be among the first Americans to try out Ford's first global performance car, the automaker is also rewarding the first drivers to get in on ownership. Up until Aug. 20, the first one thousand customers that pre-order the Focus ST through their local Ford dealership will get a free GoPro HD HERO2 camera to capture their driving exploits and share them with others.

"Whether it's an advance test-drive at the track or a user-created video of their first experiences with the car on the open road, Ford wants to make the launch of the Focus ST as much of a shared experience among fans as possible," added Klein. "We're very excited to see Ford's performance engineering at its best, but we're more excited to see what customers do with it."

About Thomas Ford:

Thomas Ford, located in Beverly, has been a fixture in the North Shore of Massachusetts for over 40 years. They base their success on their dedicated sales and Ford service departments' commitment to customer satisfaction. It's never been a better time to be a Ford owner, and Thomas Ford encourages you to stop by their dealership to discover why. For more information, call them at 978-922-0059, visit their web site at www.thomasford.com, like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ThomasFordAuto or stop by their dealership at 211 Rantoul Street in Beverly, Massachusetts.