dunno anything about ST really.. fords are cr@p 
but oppersite to Volkswagen in dartford is a massive bilboard with an advert for the new astra VXR and the slogen on it is "ASTRA VXR BEATS GOLF GTi"
it does make me laugh 
It winds me up everytime i see that bilboard!
But at the end of the day what would you rather have a VW or a vauxhall, who have always been a cheap imitation right back to the days of the mark 1 astra gte!
I like the look of the vxr's but then i feel guilty for doing so. as its a direct rival of the golf.
The focus ST looks alright i think, doesnt have the same effect like when i see a mark 5 gti tho!
I think it will be a car that they know they can get more out of, but they dnt want to because they will want the RS to be that bit more special (which i heard they are bringing out a 4wd 300 bhp cossworth focus), but dnt quote me on that!
VW seem to have a nack over the years of bringing out the new GTI only for the rivals to wait and bring out there equivalent that is faster! WHY??!!