Ford is offering Focus ST performance upgrades through a special dealer-fit option.

The Mountune Performance package will retail at £1,120 (plus fitting) and consists of a larger intercooler, a high-flow air filter and revised engine calibration. Together, this lifts power output from Ford’s potent 2.5-litre Duratec ST engine from 225PS to 260PS at 5,500rpm and from 320Nm to 400Nm at 2,500rpm.

The upgrade reduces the 0-60mph sprint by 0.6sec to 5.9sec, and the 0-100mph  time by 1.9sec to 14.1sec.

The performance gain follows similar Mountune upgrades for the popular Fiesta ST which have been made available from Ford dealers earlier this year.  Both have been verified on British B roads and over numerous laps of the famous Nurburgring circuit in Germany.

Developed by Mountune Performance in association with Ford Team RS, these packages will only be available at selected specialist Ford dealers' from Sept 2008. The upgrades carry a minimum of 12 months/12,000-mile dealer warranty up to a maximum of three years/36,000 miles. The upgrade kit does not affect the vehicle warranty.