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Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ford's Hot Hatch Is Now Officially History
Ford's Hot Hatch Is Now Officially History originally appeared on Autoblog. The end is here for Ford's last hot hatch as the company confirmed to Motor1 that every factory build slot for the Focus ST is spoken for. 'All Focus ST factory orders until the end of production have now been reserved,' European communications manager Finn Thomasen said. Dealers across the Continent may still have a few unclaimed cars hiding in back lots, but once those are gone—and when Focus production stops in November—the book will officially close on Ford's 45-year hot-hatch chapter. The Focus joins a growing list of Ford passenger cars already in the rear-view mirror. The Fiesta bowed out in 2023, the Mondeo in 2022, and the tiny Ka back in 2020. Without them, Ford's European portfolio is dominated by crossovers such as the Puma and Kuga. The shift has taken a bite out of sales: through April, Ford moved 149,601 vehicles in the EU, U.K., and EFTA markets—down 2.2% year-over-year and less than a third of Volkswagen's haul over the same period. Even Hyundai and Kia have pulled ahead, underscoring how much ground Ford has ceded without its affordable hatchbacks. Yes, the seventh-generation Mustang still flies the performance flag, but it's hardly a volume play. EU taxes punish engines bigger than two liters, dogging the 5.0-liter V-8, while the smaller 2.3-liter EcoBoost was pulled from European order books at the end of 2020. The pony car, therefore, lives on as a niche halo, not a substitute for the daily-drivable, budget-friendly thrills once delivered by ST-badged Fiestas and Focuses. Whether Ford ever revisits the hot-hatch formula likely depends on batteries, not boost pressure. Former Ford of Europe boss—now VW sales chief—Martin Sanders has hinted that the Blue Oval could tap further into Volkswagen's MEB electric platform, the foundation for the forthcoming Explorer and Capri EVs. VW has already promised an electric GTI; a battery-fueled Fiesta ST or Focus ST revival isn't unthinkable if the economics line up. For now, though, enthusiasts must look to the used market or pivot to rival brands still flying the internal-combustion hot-hatch flag. The Fiesta Supersport of 1980 lit the fuse; the Escort RS, Fiesta XR2, and decades of ST variants kept the fire roaring. With the Focus ST's curtain call, the combustion-powered Ford hot hatch becomes history. What replaces it, if anything, will almost certainly hum rather than howl. Until that day arrives, the faithful will remember the glory years and, if they're lucky, snag one of the last STs before they're gone. Ford's Hot Hatch Is Now Officially History first appeared on Autoblog on Jun 7, 2025 This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
Auto Blog
07-06-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Ford's Hot Hatch Is Now Officially History
With the Fiesta ST already gone and the Focus ST now spoken for, the Blue Oval leaves the feisty performance-hatch segment it helped create. Focus ST orders are over The end is here for Ford's last hot hatch as the company confirmed to Motor1 that every factory build slot for the Focus ST is spoken for. 'All Focus ST factory orders until the end of production have now been reserved,' European communications manager Finn Thomasen said. Dealers across the Continent may still have a few unclaimed cars hiding in back lots, but once those are gone—and when Focus production stops in November—the book will officially close on Ford's 45-year hot-hatch chapter. A shrinking showroom in Europe The Focus joins a growing list of Ford passenger cars already in the rear-view mirror. The Fiesta bowed out in 2023, the Mondeo in 2022, and the tiny Ka back in 2020. Without them, Ford's European portfolio is dominated by crossovers such as the Puma and Kuga. Ford Puma Gen-E — Source: Ford The shift has taken a bite out of sales: through April, Ford moved 149,601 vehicles in the EU, U.K., and EFTA markets—down 2.2% year-over-year and less than a third of Volkswagen's haul over the same period. Even Hyundai and Kia have pulled ahead, underscoring how much ground Ford has ceded without its affordable hatchbacks. The Mustang isn't a mass-market savior 2024 Ford Mustang — Source: Ford Yes, the seventh-generation Mustang still flies the performance flag, but it's hardly a volume play. EU taxes punish engines bigger than two liters, dogging the 5.0-liter V-8, while the smaller 2.3-liter EcoBoost was pulled from European order books at the end of 2020. The pony car, therefore, lives on as a niche halo, not a substitute for the daily-drivable, budget-friendly thrills once delivered by ST-badged Fiestas and Focuses. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Electric power could rekindle the flame Ford Fiesta ST Whether Ford ever revisits the hot-hatch formula likely depends on batteries, not boost pressure. Former Ford of Europe boss—now VW sales chief—Martin Sanders has hinted that the Blue Oval could tap further into Volkswagen's MEB electric platform, the foundation for the forthcoming Explorer and Capri EVs. VW has already promised an electric GTI; a battery-fueled Fiesta ST or Focus ST revival isn't unthinkable if the economics line up. For now, though, enthusiasts must look to the used market or pivot to rival brands still flying the internal-combustion hot-hatch flag. Final thoughts The Fiesta Supersport of 1980 lit the fuse; the Escort RS, Fiesta XR2, and decades of ST variants kept the fire roaring. With the Focus ST's curtain call, the combustion-powered Ford hot hatch becomes history. What replaces it, if anything, will almost certainly hum rather than howl. Until that day arrives, the faithful will remember the glory years and, if they're lucky, snag one of the last STs before they're gone. About the Author Elijah Nicholson-Messmer View Profile
Miami Herald
07-06-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Ford's Hot Hatch Is Now Officially History
The end is here for Ford's last hot hatch as the company confirmed to Motor1 that every factory build slot for the Focus ST is spoken for. "All Focus ST factory orders until the end of production have now been reserved," European communications manager Finn Thomasen said. Dealers across the Continent may still have a few unclaimed cars hiding in back lots, but once those are gone-and when Focus production stops in November-the book will officially close on Ford's 45-year hot-hatch chapter. The Focus joins a growing list of Ford passenger cars already in the rear-view mirror. The Fiesta bowed out in 2023, the Mondeo in 2022, and the tiny Ka back in 2020. Without them, Ford's European portfolio is dominated by crossovers such as the Puma and Kuga. The shift has taken a bite out of sales: through April, Ford moved 149,601 vehicles in the EU, U.K., and EFTA markets-down 2.2% year-over-year and less than a third of Volkswagen's haul over the same period. Even Hyundai and Kia have pulled ahead, underscoring how much ground Ford has ceded without its affordable hatchbacks. Yes, the seventh-generation Mustang still flies the performance flag, but it's hardly a volume play. EU taxes punish engines bigger than two liters, dogging the 5.0-liter V-8, while the smaller 2.3-liter EcoBoost was pulled from European order books at the end of 2020. The pony car, therefore, lives on as a niche halo, not a substitute for the daily-drivable, budget-friendly thrills once delivered by ST-badged Fiestas and Focuses. Whether Ford ever revisits the hot-hatch formula likely depends on batteries, not boost pressure. Former Ford of Europe boss-now VW sales chief-Martin Sanders has hinted that the Blue Oval could tap further into Volkswagen's MEB electric platform, the foundation for the forthcoming Explorer and Capri EVs. VW has already promised an electric GTI; a battery-fueled Fiesta ST or Focus ST revival isn't unthinkable if the economics line up. For now, though, enthusiasts must look to the used market or pivot to rival brands still flying the internal-combustion hot-hatch flag. The Fiesta Supersport of 1980 lit the fuse; the Escort RS, Fiesta XR2, and decades of ST variants kept the fire roaring. With the Focus ST's curtain call, the combustion-powered Ford hot hatch becomes history. What replaces it, if anything, will almost certainly hum rather than howl. Until that day arrives, the faithful will remember the glory years and, if they're lucky, snag one of the last STs before they're gone. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Motor 1
04-06-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
The Ford Hot Hatch Is Officially Dead
Ford's hot hatch journey began with a modest attempt in 1980, when the Fiesta Supersport was launched. Things got more serious the following year with the beefier Fiesta XR2. However, it was the 1984 Escort RS that truly cemented the company's contribution to this exciting niche of practical performance cars. 45 years after the Supersport, the Blue Oval is now exiting the segment. After the Fiesta ST was discontinued a couple of years ago, the Focus ST has now followed suit. In a statement to Motor1 , Ford confirmed that new Focus ST orders are no longer being accepted. The company's European Communications Manager, Finn Thomasen, stated: 'All Focus ST factory orders until the end of production have now been reserved.' This disappointing news follows a recent announcement from Ford UK about the retirement of its last remaining hot hatch . Ford Fiesta ST Although configuring a new Focus ST is no longer possible, Thomasen mentioned that unsold vehicles are still available in most European markets. As previously reported, production of the Focus and its derivatives will cease in November . Once that happens, Ford will be left without a regular car in Europe, where the Fiesta was retired in 2023, the Mondeo in 2022, and the tiny Ka in 2020. Sure, the Mustang remains, but it's ultimately a niche product. The pony car's 5.0-liter V-8 is both a blessing and a curse. While it's an excellent naturally aspirated powertrain, high EU taxes on large-displacement engines make it a tough sell. The smaller, turbocharged 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder was pulled from the European market at the end of 2020. With the Ka, Fiesta, and Mondeo already gone and Focus production winding down, Ford's European sales continue to decline. According to figures from the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA), deliveries through April decreased by 2.2% to 149,601 units across the EU, the UK, and the EFTA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland). For perspective, Volkswagen sold 488,033 cars in the same period. Even South Korea's Kia and Hyundai surpassed Ford, with 183,095 and 174,106 units delivered, respectively. Ford Focus RS Whether new models are on the horizon, let alone another hot hatch, is unclear. The combustion-engine era appears to be winding down, so any future performance offering would likely need to be electric. VW's sales and marketing chief, and former Ford of Europe head, Martin Sanders, has hinted at the possibility of Ford gaining more access to the MEB platform to develop new models. These would follow the ID.4/Explorer and ID.5/ Capri . Still, it's too early to say whether Ford will launch something akin to the ID.3, or the upcoming ID.2 and ID.1. VW has committed to electric GTI models , so perhaps one day the Fiesta ST or Focus ST could return as EVs. Meanwhile, crossovers like the Puma and Kuga must do the heavy lifting in the EU, EFTA, and UK regions, where Ford's market share is currently at 3.4% or roughly three times less than VW's. Catch Up With Ford: Volkswagen Could Give Ford More Reskinned Cars Ford Says It Will Lose Billions on Electric Cars in 2025 Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
