Hot hatch enthusiasts knew that this day was coming, but its arrival doesn't make things much easier. Sadly, it's the end of the line for Ford’s version of these affordable, manual transmission icons, and as the Focus ST rolls off the end of the Saarlouis production line in Germany, the chapter comes to a close.

Even though the Ford Focus was the cornerstone of the European hot hatch segment for more than two decades, a perfect storm of issues would ultimately spell its demise. But did it have to happen, and what does the future hold?

The Focus ST first appeared in 2002 as the ST170 variant of this popular family hatchback. The base car itself was already a success and won the coveted European Car of the Year award in 1999, so the ST version would naturally spark a lot of interest. Eventually, the ST badge would appear across all four generations of the Focus, and it was to gain a rabid following. After all, this car had all the versatility and practicality of a family hatchback, with plenty of rear legroom and space for your stuff, but all the thrills of a tight sports car. It looked good, had lowered suspension, and you could choose from a number of vibrant paint schemes, but most of all it was relatively affordable. With a current starting price of about £37,000 in the UK (around $50,000), it’s definitely more affordable than some pricier rivals, like the Volkswagen Golf GTI.

In many respects, the Focus ST was the poster child for the hot hatch segment. The first-generation ST170, which was a collaboration with Cosworth, already had some exceptional handling. The second generation was to feature a bigger five-cylinder turbo engine from Volvo, which gave the vehicle some additional character. Along came the 2.3-liter EcoBoost in the third and fourth generations to refine performance while still retaining the manual gearbox, an increasing rarity in an automatic-dominated market. And across all generations, you’d find a car that was perfectly usable in an everyday environment while also featuring plenty of track-ready dynamics.

Sadly, the death of the Focus ST is down to a mixture of economic, regulatory, and strategic factors. Firstly, there's the undeniable rise of the compact SUV, reflected by the Puma and the Kuga in the Ford lineup, which has gradually eroded demand for traditional hatchbacks. Regulatory pressures also played their role within the EU, where politicians added taxes if an engine was larger than two liters. This meant that the Focus ST’s 2.3-liter EcoBoost was immediately less viable and that problem was exacerbated by stringent emissions standards. Ford had already pulled some of its other 2.3-liter engines as far back as 2020, such as the Mustang, so the Focus ST was really the company's last large displacement passenger car in any case.

Ford has already seen some declining market share across Europe and this would put another nail in the coffin of the Focus ST. Years back, Ford was one of the biggest sellers, but it now ranks fifth, behind Volkswagen, BMW, Audi and Kia, and has suffered from a 24% UK sales drop in 2024. The Focus becomes just the latest regular car to disappear from Ford’s European lineup, following on from the Fiesta, which disappeared in 2023, the Mondeo in 2022, and the Ka in 2020. We can also see a general decline in the hot hatch market elsewhere, with rivals such as the Hyundai i30 N and the BMW 128ti sailing out of the door.

Hot hatches such as the Focus ST were cultural icons as well as fun modes of transportation. After all, they made performance available to the masses and their demise will certainly leave a void in the markets. Ford has more than four decades of hot hatch legacy and the company has always been a key player in competitions such as the World Rally Championship, where the legendary Colin McRae would pilot a Focus hatchback rally car on gravel tracks around the world. Today, rivals like the Volkswagen Golf GTI or Toyota GR Yaris are still around, but they tend to be difficult to find and command much higher prices. Vehicles like this also tend to be far more niche, while the Focus ST was the “everyman” and would deliver a blend of value, performance and engagement that was difficult to match.

Traditional mass market hot hatches are like dinosaurs today as manufacturers focus on premium performance models and especially SUVs. Some hatches may survive in electric form, such as Volkswagen’s potential electric GTI, but we're not likely to see internal combustion hot hatches like the Focus ST again. Instead, enthusiasts may now need to scour the used car markets in search of their fix.

For those who would really like a sporty Ford, the pickings are slim. There's the Puma ST, which has a repackaged 1.5-liter engine, and definitely lacks the raw appeal of a Focus ST. The Mustang is a niche halo car, but regulators hate its 5.0-liter V8 and its cost is rather high. There may be some potential for an electric hot hatch revival if market conditions align, such as for Volkswagen’s GTI, but Ford is noncommittal. On the used car market, there are plenty of Focus STs around and there are still some new versions on dealer lots. You may be able to find a third or fourth generation ST on the used car market, but you should be aware of high mileage examples, as some of these may require a lot of suspension work or turbo maintenance and rust could be an issue.

In the Focus ST, you could expect a driving experience that would rival and often surpass that of a more expensive sports car. It had a manual gearbox option, communicative steering, and a well-balanced chassis that made it a delight to drive on twisty roads, and its practicality was perfect for everyday life. Moreover, it would definitely leave its own legacy within the hot hatch segment and show that you didn't need to pay a premium price for performance.

The departure of the Focus ST will shine a spotlight on the challenges that any internal-combustion performance cars face in an EV-driven world. Certainly, companies such as Ford do need to make pragmatic decisions and go where the market points them, but a wholesale shift away from a given segment will always leave a gap that's very difficult to fill.

When the Focus disappears in November 2025, Ford’s 45-year hot hatch history, dating back to the 1980 XR2, will come to an end. Shifting market demands, regulatory pressures, and EV strategies may be to blame, but Ford's decision will certainly reverberate throughout the enthusiast world. After all, in the Focus ST you'd find a great blend of performance, practicality, and affordability, so its loss is a true turning point. And yes, you may be able to get a used version or find something from a rival brand, but there's no doubt that the ST’s unique charm will be irreplaceable.

Ford Media.