As of 26 May, the Ford Focus ST has been quietly removed from UK dealer price lists, despite still appearing on Ford’s online configurator. Orders for the performance hatchback had been open as recently as April.
This change leaves the Focus range limited to models powered by the 1.0-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost engine, offered in 123bhp and 153bhp variants with mild-hybrid assistance. Customers can now choose only from the Active X Edition, ST-Line, and ST-Line X Edition trims.
These remaining variants are set to be phased out in the near future, as Ford prepares to end Focus production. The company continues to seek a buyer for its Saarlouis plant in Germany, where every generation of the Focus has been assembled. In the absence of a sale, Ford has committed to keeping the facility operational with a reduced workforce of 1,000 employees—down from 4,600—until 2032.
A Ford UK spokesperson 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 examples of the ST Edition in Azura Blue.”
When asked if Focus ST orders could resume before production ends, Ford indicated the situation remains fluid, though no confirmation was provided. This leaves open the possibility of a limited re-release or a final edition, should demand warrant it.
The withdrawal of the Focus ST reflects a broader trend across the industry, where mainstream hot hatches are increasingly being sidelined. The shift towards SUVs—favoured for their profitability—and stricter emissions targets have pushed manufacturers towards electrified alternatives.
In recent years, Hyundai has withdrawn both the i30 N and i20 N from Europe, Peugeot dropped the 308 GTi after a single generation, and Toyota has yet to launch the GR Corolla in the UK.
Ford has also scaled back its performance offering on the Puma ST. The 197bhp 1.5-litre engine with manual transmission has been discontinued, replaced by a 158bhp version of the mild-hybrid 1.0-litre unit, paired with an automatic gearbox. It now stands as the sole ST-badged model remaining in the line-up.
Despite the decline of its traditional performance hatchbacks, Ford maintains that the ST badge still has a future. Speaking to Autocar last year, design director Amko Leenarts confirmed the company’s commitment to performance vehicles, citing motorsport involvement—including Formula 1, Dakar, and the World Rally Championship—as evidence of ongoing relevance. “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.”