Want an inside look at how the development of Ford’s Focus ST hot hatchback is coming along? You don’t need to have a contact at Ford’s SVT group, you just need to visit Ford’s Focus page on Facebook and “Like” the Focus.

Ford has had good success with social media on the launch of the Fiesta and the base-model Focus, so they’re applying the same tactic to the launch of the Focus ST. Ford will use Facebook to release updates, images and videos of the Focus ST undergoing development testing at their Lommel Proving Grounds in Belgium, track testing at the Nürburgring in Germany, and undergoing hot weather testing in Spain. The site will provide regular updates until the car’s launch in early 2012.

The Focus ST promises to be a serious competitor to the Mazdaspeed3 and the Volkswagen GTI. Powered by a 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine, the Focus ST is expected to make 247 horsepower, and will use Ford’s Torque Vectoring Control to mirror the effects of a limited slip front differential. In addition to “sufficient” power and stellar handling, the Focus ST is expected to be available with Ford’s Sync / MyFord Touch telematics system, making it the most driver-connected hot hatch on the market.

You can get a feel for the type of information Ford will be leaking in the video below.

Source: Ford