The Ford Fiesta ST and Puma ST are two of The Blue Oval’s most popular models in the UK, but now, buyers will have to pay significantly more for either of them. These aren’t just typical, year-over-year price increases, either, as a Ford UK spokesperson reportedly told Autocar that the jumps are a direct result of Brexit pricing.
The Fiesta ST in ST-2 trim has seen its MSRP rise by £1,455 ($1,983 USD) to £23,405 ($31,902), while the ST-3 and ST Edition jumped £1,695 ($2,310) to ring in at £26,270 ($35,807) and £28,770 ($39,215), respectively. Meanwhile, the brand new Puma ST, which was just revealed last fall, has seen its base price jump from £28,495 ($38,840) to £30,415 ($41,457) – a £1,920 ($2,617) increase.
Brexit has a direct impact on the cost of producing the Fiesta ST and Puma ST because certain engine components used in the models’ 1.5L EcoBoost I-3 are sourced from the United States. Those components exceed the allowable limit of goods that can be assembled outside of the UK and EU for tariff-free access.
This rule of origin figures to affect other models in Ford’s lineup as well as other automakers, which could lead to further price increases in the near future. However, there is hope that some further clarity can be given regarding the newly ratified agreement, which could have a huge impact on the automotive industry as a whole.
Meanwhile, as recently as last spring, Ford warned the UK government that it could cease manufacturing in the U.K. completely if the government doesn’t step in to help. Despite resuming production at the Ford Dagenham Engine Plant and Ford Bridgend Engine Plant (temporarily, until the plant closed last September) following a prolonged shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, a soft market has made returning to normal levels of production all the more difficult.
We’ll have more on the impact of Brexit on the automotive industry soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for the latest Ford Fiesta news, Ford Puma news, and non-stop Ford news coverage.
Comments
I’m a Ford Performance fan, always have been and always will be. As much as I love Mustangs, Ford really needs to do alot more focusing on it’s full market instead of just having niche markets here and there The bad part to me is that Ford has so much potential but I don’t think they truly see what they have which is why they let go of so much of the wrong stuff and pigeon hole stuff that doesn’t need to be pigeon holed.
I agree with ford on a global market, I agree with Ford bringing in electric cars and hybrids to share the road alongside regular ICE vehicles, I agree with Ford having Ecoboost performance vehicles and I agree with traditional V8 muscle cars. The Ford Puma should be a global vehicle as a crossover to fit in not only the spot of the now gone Focus (as it should be globally available with an ST & RS trim) but also take the place of that ugly ecosport and the Ford Escape. Drop the Ford Edge and let the Mach E (drop the Mustang name off it) have the spot of the Edge, bring in the Bronco Sport, update the Explorer, Bring out the Maverick, keep working with the Ranger and Bronco, update the mustang, bring back the Mondeo as a family of CD6 platform vehicles, bring back the Taurus, update the F150 and Super Duty trucks and electrify all fleet vehicles.
Ford has done alot lately with merging markets and bringing things from Europe and Australia to the US market and vice-versa. I feel like in the shuffle, and also with the world events of the last few years, things have gotten a little shaky and Ford did what it thought was best by culling the entire car market to just the Mustang and now the SUV craze and the Electric craze. I feel like that was an oversight on the company because not everyone wants an SUV or crossover and the greatest thing about the auto industry is, and always has been, choice. Right now Ford does have some great crossovers and SUVs such as the Puma, the Bronco Sport, the Bronco and the Explorer ST. Like I said, a Puma ST and RS would be an Amazing global vehicle and a wonderful addition to the Global Ford Performance family as it would build on the strengths of the Focus RS. The Explorer ST needs a few big brothers such as an Explorer GT, Explorer RS and Explorer XR6T along with styling more inspired by the Expedition, especially in the front end along with better wheel options. The Bronco Sport, the Maverick, the Bronco and the Ranger are all shaping up to be excellent vehicles. Hopefully the Maverick will get a grabber performance package with a Focus RS derived 2.3L 350hp Ecoboost AWD setup for the street. That would be really cool. The new Bronco warthog is something I’m looking forward to seeing along with this new Ranger. Looking forward to some 400hp 3.0L packages and a 6ft bed option on the Ranger along with a Ranger Raptor, Ranger King Ranch, Ranger Platinum and Ranger Limited along with the same packages on the Bronco, just swapping the Raptor for the Warthog. I am looking forward to seeing the Mach E, but I really wish Ford would take the Mustang name off of it. That’s not a Mustang and it never will be. If Ford wants to make an electric Mustang, cool but that’s not it. While I’m on the subject of electrification and larger vehicles, GM just proved that diesel engines are obsolete, effective immediately with the introduction of their GMC Hummer. The Specs are amazing and are worlds beyond anything a diesel truck can do. Imagine this kind of setup in fleet vehicles and super duty trucks as this would be a major reduction in the ford fleet’s carbon foot print. Electric fleet vehicles with semi-automation would be a great way to add electrification to the streets along with a mainstream vehicle like the Mach E and even the Mondeo EVOS. With both of those vehicles being sporty looking and also practical, they’d add to Ford’s Electric lineup along with an electric F150 pickup, which honestly should be it’s own vehicle, the Atlas.
When it comes to cars, Ford very recently had a few very good sedans that it let go in every single market, the Ford Mondeo, the Ford Falcon and the Ford Taurus. Besides, the Falcon, the problem with these vehicles was that they were nice, but very bland and boring. Even the Fusion Sport with the 2.7L Ecoboost and the Taurus SHO with the 3.5L Ecoboost were mundane when put next to vehicles like the Dodge Charger, BMW M5, BMW M4, Audi RS5, BMW RS7, Mercedes C-Class AMG, and E-Class AMG and other performance sedans even including the Lexus GS-F. While not necessarily chasing the price range, Ford could have done alot better with the Mondeo and Taurus and with the CD6 chassis being a modular chassis, Ford now has an opportunity to do things right with these vehicles. Starting with the Mondeo, seeing that it is known as the Mondeo around the world (minus the US) I think the Mondeo should be it’s global name with the base engine being a 200hp 1.5L Ecoboost engine with a hybrid option and a 2.0L 252hp Mondeo Sport package with everything having AWD as standard. The Mondeo should also have a few Ford Performance Falcon models with a Falcon GT model with a 350hp 2.3L Ecoboost engine with a Focus RS derived rear biased AWD system a Falcon XR6-T model with a 436hp 3.0L Ecoboost powertrain with a 48v Hybrid variant of the Tremec TR9080 DCT with a rear biased AWD system. The car should come in roughly about the size of the Audi RS5 Sportback, Acura TLX or BMW M3 with sporty, evolutionary styling blended in with inspiration from the Mustang on the outside and a modern, European styled interior. The Taurus should return as a Charger/M5/E-Class/Kia Stinger sized car on a RWD based AWD version of the CD6 platform. A 250hp 2.0L Ecoboost should be the base engine followed by a 335hp/400tq 2.7L V6 Taurus ST, a 400hp-425tq 3.0L Twin turbo ST, a 450hp/510tq 3.5L Ecoboost powered Taurus R-Spec, a 495hp/530tq 4.0L Ecoboost version of the Barra 325T Taurus RS, a 520hp/630tq 3.0L Hybrid Taurus XR6-T and a 645hp 3.5L Ford GT engine powered Taurus SHO should be at the top of the list. Offer both cars in sedan and sport brake body styles and call it a day. Right here you have everything you need and never have to touch a V8 and it still allows for the Mustang to have it’s rightful place a a coupe/convertible RWD pony car. Give both the Taurus performance models and Falcon performance models styling cues from the Mustangs but still let them be their own cars. Dodge made everything a Charger so why not make everything a Mustang? This gives Ford a sensible way to have a lot of electric vehicles along with automation, several hybrids, a balanced performance portfolio, SUVs and crossovers and three cars that people love.
Hi Just to remind you the FORD ENGINE PLANT IN BRIDGEND LOSED SOME MONTHS AGO.
HAYDN FDAVIES.