2012 Ford Focus ST and F-150 EcoBoost Baja 1000 Racer

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The “EcoBoost” signage on the side takes on a whole new meaning without the usual leaf growing out of it.

As we’ve seen with the recent reviews of the 2011 Mustang and Fiesta, Ford is just a rockin’ and a rollin’ right now. Eager to keep the momentum up are two new products, only one of which will be for sale to the public. First, the one that we can’t actually buy, is the F-150 EcoBoost SVT Raptor that will compete in the Baja 1000 desert endurance race starting November 10, 2010. The Raptor will use the exact same engine as the one available in the 2011 Ford F-150, which is a twin-turbo 3.5L V6 with 365 hp at 5,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft torque at 2,500 rpm. Suffice to say that expectations for this beast are high.

The second new vehicle, the one that will actually be on sale to the Canadian public, is the 2012 Focus ST. The ST, like the Baja Raptor, uses EcoBoost technology to achieve 247 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque from a 2.0L four-cylinder, all while improving fuel economy by 20% over the last generation (which we didn’t get in Canada). No, it won’t make up for the lack of a Focus RS on our shores, but it will provide a third alternative to buyers deciding between a Mazdaspeed3 and a GTI.

[Ford]