Ford pits Focus ST against its rivals... including a BMW M3

Just about every car in the industry has a short list of natural rivals. The way we see it, the cars going head-to-head with the 2013 Ford Focus ST are the Mazdaspeed3, Subaru WRX and Volkswagen GTI. Consider: each of these models has a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and is offered in a five-door hatchback shape.

One car we wouldn't naturally think of as a competitor to the Focus ST, though, is the BMW M3. Ford, on the other hand, seems to think the two models can be stacked up against one another... well, enough at least to include BMW's V8-powered screamer in its latest web video for the ST.

Here are some stats: The Focus ST boasts 252 horsepower, 270 pound-feed of torque and costs almost half an M3. Meanwhile, the more expensive BMW M3 pumps out 414 horses, 295 lb-ft... not to mention the fact that it has two doors and a trunk instead of hatch. Not much in common, then.

Curious to see how Ford pitches the Focus ST against the BMW M3?

Click here to check out the video.