Latest news with #FocusST
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Beloved Ford hot hatch officially goes off sale in the UK after 23 years and four generations as orders dry up
FORD has confirmed that one of their most popular cars has officially gone off the market in the UK. The American car giant announced that its Advertisement 2 Stock is still available in dealerships, but customers cannot place new orders Credit: Alamy 2 Ford confirmed that 170 models are still unsold in the UK Credit: Getty The Focus ST was first launched 23 years ago, but has since disappeared from dealer price lists. But for those wanting to get their hands on some of the last remaining cars, the US firm said that 170 are still unsold in the UK. Stock is still available to buy in Advertisement Read more in Ford "But there are around 170 built and unsold currently available within the UK dealer network. "This includes 30 of the special ST Edition variant in Azura Blue.' Ford introduced Focus ST to the world in 2002, with the initial ST170 version. It was powered by a 2.0 litre Advertisement Most read in Motors Live Blog Breaking In 2005, Ford introduced the second generation - the ST500 - with a meatier 2.5 litre engine. Ford Escort van becomes the fastest front wheel drive Ford on the planet Developed alongside Volvo and Mazda, it was powered by a Volvo five-cylinder engine, allowing it to hit 60mph in 6.8 seconds. But the US manufacturer ditched Volvo in 2010 and introduced the Focus St Mk3 with its own engine. It introduced a more powerful four-cylinder turbo and lowered the suspension - putting the 0-60mph time at 6.5 seconds. Advertisement And finally the Mk4, featuring a slightly larger 2.3 litre engine, which was the first version to offer automatic transmission. It remains the fastest iteration of the Focus ST, reaching 60mph in 5.7 seconds. Ford could well be responding to industry trends, with hot hatch cars generally being phased out across the board. Other big manufacturers, including Hyundai, Peugeot and Toyota have started pulling cars off the market as a result of the low interest. Advertisement It comes as the Ford Focus is set to be phased out completely, with its production life cycle terminating in November this year. The move was first announced in 2022, but Ford's European chief Martin Sander He added: "In the long run, we are still deeply convinced that EVs will be the future and we will see a significant increase in volume. "By the end of this year, we will have a full range of electric vehicles and we are quite flexible to adapt to market demand. Advertisement "For the next couple of years, we have a broad choice. "Basically, our customers have the power of choice to pick what they want." The Ford Focus was first rolled out in 1998, off the back of their Escort model. It was one of the last hatchbacks with a manual gearbox. Advertisement However, Ford is now putting more efforts into their Mustangs and Broncos to boost profits. This comes after Ford sales in Europe fell 17 per cent in 2024, the first full year without the
The Sun
a day ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
Beloved Ford hot hatch officially goes off sale in the UK after 23 years and four generations as orders dry up
FORD has confirmed that one of their most popular cars has officially gone off the market in the UK. The American car giant announced that its factories will no longer produce the Focus ST due to a lack of demand. 2 The Focus ST was first launched 23 years ago, but has since disappeared from dealer price lists. But for those wanting to get their hands on some of the last remaining cars, the US firm said that 170 are still unsold in the UK. Stock is still available to buy in dealerships, but customers will not be able to order new models. Speaking to Autocar, Ford UK said: 'There are no new factory orders available for the Focus ST at the moment. "But there are around 170 built and unsold currently available within the UK dealer network. "This includes 30 of the special ST Edition variant in Azura Blue.' Ford introduced Focus ST to the world in 2002, with the initial ST170 version. It was powered by a 2.0 litre engine, reaching 60mph in just under eight seconds. In 2005, Ford introduced the second generation - the ST500 - with a meatier 2.5 litre engine. Ford Escort van becomes the fastest front wheel drive Ford on the planet Developed alongside Volvo and Mazda, it was powered by a Volvo five-cylinder engine, allowing it to hit 60mph in 6.8 seconds. But the US manufacturer ditched Volvo in 2010 and introduced the Focus St Mk3 with its own engine. It introduced a more powerful four-cylinder turbo and lowered the suspension - putting the 0-60mph time at 6.5 seconds. And finally the Mk4, featuring a slightly larger 2.3 litre engine, which was the first version to offer automatic transmission. It remains the fastest iteration of the Focus ST, reaching 60mph in 5.7 seconds. Ford could well be responding to industry trends, with hot hatch cars generally being phased out across the board. Other big manufacturers, including Hyundai, Peugeot and Toyota have started pulling cars off the market as a result of the low interest. It comes as the Ford Focus is set to be phased out completely, with its production life cycle terminating in November this year. The move was first announced in 2022, but Ford's European chief Martin Sander doubled down on the decision in March. He added: "In the long run, we are still deeply convinced that EVs will be the future and we will see a significant increase in volume. "By the end of this year, we will have a full range of electric vehicles and we are quite flexible to adapt to market demand. "For the next couple of years, we have a broad choice. "Basically, our customers have the power of choice to pick what they want." The Ford Focus was first rolled out in 1998, off the back of their Escort model. It was one of the last hatchbacks with a manual gearbox. However, Ford is now putting more efforts into their Mustangs and Broncos to boost profits. This comes after Ford sales in Europe fell 17 per cent in 2024, the first full year without the Fiesta which was axed in July 2023.
Motor 1
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor 1
The Ford Focus ST Reaches the End of the Line
Ford announced earlier this year that it was ending Focus production in Europe this November. That includes the coveted Focus ST, one of the last hot hatchbacks sold with a manual transmission, but your opportunity to order one is dwindling. Ford has filled the order books for ST production in the United Kingdom. Ford UK told Autocar , "There are no new factory orders available for the Focus ST at the moment." That comment suggests the automaker could reopen the order books before production officially wraps six months from now, but there's no way to prevent the inevitable. The Focus and the Focus ST are dead by the end of the year, and the company has no direct successor ready to take its place. The inability to order a new Focus ST in the UK won't prevent you from buying one. The automaker also told the publication that there were around 170 STs unsold in the dealer network. Motor1 reached out to Ford to see if the Focus ST is still available to order elsewhere in Europe. We'll update this story if we hear back. Ford has been killing off its sedans and hatches for the last few years. Mondeo production, which was the Fusion in the US, ended in 2022, two years after Ford pulled the model from American showrooms. The Fiesta died in 2023, and now it's the Focus's time to exit the brand's portfolio, including the fun and enjoyable Focus ST. Here's More Ford News: Here's the 2026 Ford F-150 Lobo Totally Undisguised A Supercharged V-8 Ranger Raptor R Exists, But Not From Ford Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Gallery: 2024 Ford Focus ST Edition 32 Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Auto Car
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Car
After 23 years and four generations, the Ford Focus ST is being retired
Hot hatch is removed from Ford's UK price list before Focus production comes to an end in November Around 170 new Focus STs remain in UK dealers, some 30 of which are the Edition model pictured Close The Ford Focus ST has been taken off sale in the UK ahead of production of the hot hatchback ending in November. The Focus ST had been open for orders as recently as April but disappeared from dealer price lists in an update issued on 26 May, despite remaining on Ford's online configurator. It means the Focus can now be had only with the turbocharged and mild-hybridised 1.0-litre three-cylinder Ecoboost engine, with outputs of 123bhp or 153bhp. Trim choices are limited to Active X Edition, ST-Line and ST-Line X Edition. All are set to go in the coming months as Ford winds down Focus production. The company has courted buyers for the plant in Saarlouis, Germany that has housed assembly of every Focus but has yet to find a buyer. Ford has committed to keeping the plant open with 1000 workers (down from a previous 4600) until 2032 if no sale can be made. Ford UK told Autocar: 'There are no new factory orders available for the Focus ST at the moment, but there are around 170 built and unsold currently available within the UK dealer network. This includes 30 of the special ST Edition variant in Azura Blue.' Asked for clarification on whether that wording means Focus ST orders could be taken again before the end of production, Ford suggested that the situation could change but nothing was confirmed. This leaves the door open to the order book reopening if there is a sudden influx of demand, or for a special edition sending the hot hatch into retirement. The disappearance of the Focus ST is representative of a wider market trend, with the traditional mass-market hot hatch having all but died out in recent years. The business case for such cars has been sullied by the shift to more profitable (and ultimately less dynamic) SUVs, as well as tightening fleet emissions regulations that have pushed manufacturers towards EVs and low-emission hybrids. Hyundai pulled its i30 N and smaller i20 N from Europe last year, the Peugeot 308 GTi didn't survive more than a single generation and Toyota has yet to launch the GR Corolla in the UK. Of the hot hatches that live on, many have either spiked in price – the Volkswagen Golf GTI now starts north of £40,000 – or remain strictly limited in number, as is the case for the Honda Civic Type R and Toyota GR Yaris. Indeed, Ford recently turned down the temperature on the Focus ST's smaller sibling, the Puma ST. Its 197bhp 1.5-litre powerplant and manual gearbox were discontinued, leaving only an uprated version of the regular Puma's mild-hybrid 1.0-litre powerplant with 158bhp and an automatic gearbox. This is the only ST model to survive the cull of the past few years. This doesn't spell the end for fast Fords, though: design director Amko Leenarts last year told Autocar that there was 'definitely' a future for the brand's performance cars, referencing the popularity of Formula 1, the Dakar and the World Rally Championship, among others. 'If we're not doing that, we are making the wrong investments,' he said. 'So it's got to transition to our normal car lines globally.' Join our WhatsApp community and be the first to read about the latest news and reviews wowing the car world. Our community is the best, easiest and most direct place to tap into the minds of Autocar, and if you join you'll also be treated to unique WhatsApp content. You can leave at any time after joining - check our full privacy policy here. Next Prev In partnership with
The Courier
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Courier
Final Ford Focus ST taken on last hurrah in Highland Perthshire
I've been writing about cars for this newspaper since 2006 and this must be at least the 10th Ford Focus ST I've driven, if not closer to the 15th. They're always a pleasure. The latest version has a 2.3 litre four-cylinder petrol engine with 280hp. The model that was dropped on my doorstep in Dundee came in an attention-grabbing bright shade of blue, which was ideal. Hot hatches shouldn't be boring. The headline figures are 0-62mph in 5.7 seconds and a top speed of 155mph. But that doesn't tell the whole story. Plenty of electric cars these days can better that acceleration figure. The delight of a hot hatch is in the way the straight line speed pairs with cornering ability. When I became a motoring writer in 2006 the majority of cars were manual and it was unusual to have an automatic model. That situation has flipped entirely, so much so that this is the first manual car I've driven this year. After my left hand refamiliarised itself with what to do I thoroughly enjoyed changing gears. Fords have always had nice gearboxes and it was a pleasure to snick my way through the speeds, with the engine giving a pleasing roar each time. One day a work job took me up to Pitlochry. It would have felt wrong to cruise home on the boring A9 so instead I wound my way back to Dundee through a series of backroads. Its dynamic chassis, light weight, and accurate steering make it much more fun to string through a series of bends than even the fastest car Tesla can produce. There are loads of drive modes to play around with too: Slippery, Normal, Sport and Track. I found track too savage for day-to-day driving. It didn't rain much when I had the car so Slippery mode went untested, and I spend half the time in Normal and the other half in Sport. Suffice to say there's a mode to suit everyone. The Focus ST comes with an electronically controlled limited-slip differential, which is a fancy name for a piece of kit that helps prevent wheelspin. Even when I gave it full welly from a standstill the tyres didn't spin fruitlessly; they gripped smartly and got on with their job. Regular readers will be aware cars get praised when they have easy-to-use buttons or dials for the major controls. Putting the heating controls on a touchscreen, as Ford has done here, makes me shake my head in disappointment. When you're driving it's so much fiddlier to adjust the temperature or fan settings if you have to stab a tiny corner of a screen. That goes double when the car you're driving is as fast and fun as the Focus ST. That niggle aside, the Focus ST's interior is otherwise praiseworthy. Bolstered part-leather seats hold you in place during even the tightest cornering. They adjust electrically and despite being firm I found them comfortable. Red stitching, alloy pedals and ST-engraved stainless steel plates on the sills further elevate the car above the workaday basic Focus. The fun doesn't stop when darkness falls either – powerful adaptable LED headlights blaze the way ahead on even the blackest of nights. You can accompany your ride with a thrilling soundtrack thanks to the 10-speaker Band & Olufsen stereo system. When you're not using the Focus ST as a performance car it does a perfectly good imitation of a family hatchback. Children have plenty of room in the back and there's space in the boot for a large shopping trip or the family dog. There's even an estate version of the Focus ST if you want a more practical performance car. A not-at-all-unreasonable fuel economy figure of 34.5mpg means the Focus ST can be used as an everyday runaround without feeling like you're pouring petrol down the drain. Prices for the Focus ST start at around £37,000. I drove a limited edition model called, er, the Edition, which comes with a Track Pack that enhances performance. It had a price tag of just under £43,000. Sadly, this is probably the last Focus ST I'll drive. Ford has called time on the car – it will come off sale at the end of this year, pulling the curtain on a run that stretches back to the first ever Focus ST in 1998. I drove my first one in 2007 and my last one in 2025. I'll always have fond memories of it. Price: £42,905 0-62mph: 5.7 seconds Top speed: 155mph Economy: 34.9mpg CO2 emissions: 185g/km
