Latest news with #FordUK
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
Irish Daily Mirror
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish Ford Kuga owners issued with urgent fire defect warning
Ford is set to implement early warning software to over 2,500 Kuga models across Ireland, following a defect which could cause some plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models to short-circuit and catch fire while on the move. The US carmaker issued a recall notice in March, affecting thousands of motorists. While no Irish incidents have been reported, the early warning software is expected to be available here in at least ten days - until then, Kuga drivers are instructed to refrain from charging their cars, and to drive only in 'Auto EV' mode to avoid further short-circuits. If a short-circuit occurs while driving, owners will be shown a 'Stop Safely Now' message and a warning light in the instrument cluster. A loss of power might also be experienced, although other electronic controls will remain operational, as well as the steering and brakes. 'To all of our affected customers, we're really sorry that an issue has occurred with the Ford Kuga PHEV battery," said managing director of Ford UK and Ireland Lisa Brankin. "Our engineers are working closely with the supplier of the affected part, and are putting all of their resources into perfecting a software update to remedy the issue." Brankin describes the software fix as giving the car's battery energy control module "enhanced capability to detect cell anomalies indicative of separator damage, providing advance warning to owners of a high-voltage battery issue before thermal venting occurs." "In the event of anomaly detection, dealers will replace the vehicle's high voltage battery pack." Currently, Ford dealers in Ireland are offering complimentary "Kuga PHEV Check-Ups" until the software updates are rolled out. The check-up consists of a 29-point inspection including wheels, tyres, brakes and wheel bearings, steering and a Ford Video Check - a video report of the car's inspection sent to the owner's phone. In addition, Ford has extended the warranty on all high-voltage Kuga parts to ten years or 240,000 kilometres for all affected PHEV models. "Resolving this issue speedily and expertly is our priority, and while our engineering and software team fully focuses on that we will continue to monitor vehicles in operation," said Brankin. "Only a very small number of vehicles on the road worldwide have reported an issue with battery thermal venting with zero reported issues in Ireland." Only the latest third-generation Kuga is affected by these issues. The model suffered another unrelated recall shortly after going on sale in 2020, after seven models caught fire while charging. The fourth-generation Ford Focus is based on the same platform as the Kuga, but is thought to be unaffected. Customers with further concerns are asked to contact Ford's Customer Relationship team on 1800 771 199, between the hours of 09:00 and 17:00, Monday to Friday.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ford launches EV incentives to win over buyers with new Puma
Ford UK believes the launch of the new Puma Electric can prompt buyers of its existing vehicles to make the switch to electric, and is launching a new range of incentives to help buyers do so. The manufacturer has launched a new Power Promise, giving every buyer of one of its EVs a free home charger with home energy credit from Octopus Energy to cover up to 10,000 miles. That adds to a free five-year service plan including EV towing, and an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty for the battery and high-voltage components. Ford currently offers the Mustang Mach-E, Explorer and Capri EVs, which are all bespoke electric cars. But the arrival of an EV version of the smaller Puma – Britain's best-selling vehicle – is key for the brand's ambition to grow its EV sales. Catherine Blee, Ford UK's passenger vehicles sales boss, said: 'The Puma has been the best-selling vehicle in the UK for several years, and we have customers who really love that car that have been waiting for an electrified version. There are also some of our Fiesta customers who have been waiting for this vehicle. 'Our dealers are really excited: they think this is the game-changer for them in terms of EVs. For some buyers the upfront cost [of going electric] can be a deterrent, but when you can charge at home the total cost of ownership story is really compelling. So with this new scheme we think we can tap into a group of customers by providing a real benefit.' The Power Promise is similar to schemes offered by other manufacturers, and Blee said it was developed based on both customer feedback and a survey that showed 25% of people were put off by the complexity of switching to an EV. 'From a customer perspective, having a really compelling offer will help overcome some of those perceived barriers to entry, such as the cost of a wallbox and how to get it installed,' she said. 'There are so many anxieties and concerns driven by the myths that are out there, so we want to help people thinking about making the move, and hopefully win over some doubters.' Blee said that the new initiative would run in conjunction with recent efforts to work with dealers to better explain concepts of the total cost of EV ownership. 'We know that the next wave of EV customers, the early majority that come after early adopters, are really data-driven individuals, so we can persuade them with a total cost of ownership story,' said Blee. 'We're talking to dealers to give them the tools to explain that to customers. We're also working on dialling up test drive opportunities, because we know once people get in a test drive of an EV they're really surprised by how well It drives and how easy it is to switch. 'We've gone from having just the Mustang Mach-E to having four EVs in dealerships, so we've done a lot of work. We've been able to make sure we have the right training in place to support dealers with the knowledge that they need, which helps them assist customers in making the right decisions.' While the deal is largely focused around the free charger, people who don't want one – or can't have one installed – will instead receive £500 in credit. The firm is also ramping up efforts to promote its virtual Blue Oval Charging Network, which gives access to around 33,000 public chargers through Ford's app. ]]>
