The End of a Sports Era: Ford Focus ST Bows Out

After two decades of production, the Ford Focus ST — the brand’s iconic hot hatch — has officially reached the end of the road. The final standard Focus is also scheduled to roll off the assembly line this November.

The last Focus ST, finished in bright red, left the factory on September 26, marking the end of an era. It remains unclear where this particular car will be sold or what will become of it next. Ford spokesperson Finn Thomassen has previously confirmed that the model will not receive a direct successor.

The high-performance ST version has been part of the Focus lineup for over 20 years, first hitting the European market in 2002. Since then, it has gone through four major updates. The most recent version, introduced in 2019, featured a 2.3-liter EcoBoost gasoline engine producing 280 horsepower. The model received its last refresh in 2022.

With the discontinuation of the standard Focus, Ford is effectively ending production of all passenger cars in Europe, shifting its focus entirely to crossovers and SUVs. It’s worth noting that the Fusion sedan (sold in Europe as the Mondeo) was phased out in 2022, while the beloved Fiesta hatchback ended production in 2023.