The Ford Focus ST and Ford Fiesta ST have faced some turbulent times in recent months as both performance-focused models have been discontinued in Australia as a result of supply chain issues. The futures of both the Ford Focus ST and Fiesta ST remain a bit murky in general as the manager of Ford Performance Europe, Stefan Muenzinger, acknowledged back in 2020 that the current-gen Focus ST may be the last of the automaker’s traditional hot hatches, while a Focus EV is also reportedly in the works. Now, the future of both models remains a bit uncertain, according to Drive.
“I’m not sure the reason why we’ve stopped selling the Fiesta ST in Australia, I love those cars to death, they are really important to us as a Ford Performance brand and I think there’s a reality that we probably need to reinvent from an (electric vehicle) perspective,” Trevor Worthington, Ford’s vice president of ICE product programs, told the press at the 2022 Detroit Auto Show. “I’m not willing to say that they’re the last or they’re the end because that’s effectively revealing our plans. But they are incredibly important vehicles. They have an incredibly important role.”
At the same time, Worthington noted that Ford has a limited supply of semiconductor chips, and it must make a decision about what vehicles it will use those chips in, which is what has prompted cuts in Focus and Fiesta production. Regardless, there are reasons to believe that both models could stick around for the foreseeable future, aside from Worthington’s reassurances.
The Blue Oval recently announced that the Saarlouis Assembly plant in Germany – which produces the Focus – will cease manufacturing operations in 2025. However, the Focus is also built in China and Taiwan, so this move also doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s being discontinued, either. For now, Ford plans to seek “alternative opportunities” for the plant, which could include selling it. Additionally, the Fiesta will continue to be produced at the Cologne Assembly Plant in Germany, which is being converted to build EVs starting next year.
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Comments
Well, I don’t know about new Focus or Fiesta models, but my 2016 ST-2 in Tangerine Scream paint just beat out a 1965 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe replica at our local Mustang Clubs All Ford Show 15 points to 5. Pretty hilarious I might add, as everyone thought the Shelby replica would runaway with the category. I can hear its little 2.0 turbo whispering, “I’m not dead yet!”
Models only dead if you are in Australia. Why has the supply chain issue still continuing? Covid has been pretty much over for about a year. Bet these issues would be largely resolved if that “terrible” last president was still around.
And so is Ford!
Prez Trump would have fixed all the supply chain/ chip issues 2 years ago. Anywho, Why can’t the Focus vehicle be reworked/ repackaged into a production version of the Lincoln C-Concept shown a few years ago? Six passenger luxury in a small package. Can run on a HiPo 4-cyl motor and a plug in. C-Concept was something new, exciting and different for Lincoln and could serve as an entry model $25K-$30K range to get younger buyers into the Brand.