The Ford Focus RS was canceled years ago, long before the Focus itself left North America. Production of the Ford Fiesta/Fiesta ST has also ended, and soon, the Focus/Focus ST will join those models in the proverbial automotive graveyard in the sky. These days, the only ST models that remain are performance focused versions of crossovers – the Explorer and Puma – but it doesn’t seem as if folks within The Blue Oval want either the ST or RS moniker to go away anytime soon, either.
According to Auto Express, sources within the Ford UK team have “told us they’d like to see the firm’s sporty sub-brands make a comeback,” pointing to the fact that The Blue Oval is more than happy to bring back iconic or simply memorable names from the past, as it has done so on multiple occasions as of late. Whether or not those folks get their wish remains to be seen, but there are other signs that the ST and/or RS labels may one day adorn more models than they do currently.
As Ford Authority previously reported, while there are currently no plans to launch a Ford EV model with either ST or RS badging, there’s at least one person in The Blue Oval’s ranks that hopes such a thing will happen. That person is Ford’s European Product Marketing Chief, Jan Herzog, who said that he “would love an ST or RS variant” of the company’s “EV models,” in fact.
Herzog also stated admitted that the automaker has “a sportier version” of the Ford Puma Gen-E in the works, though he also added that “it’s definitely coming, if not on this model, but the model after” – meaning that it’s bit unclear when this more fun version of the EV crossover might actually go on sale. Such a model would make perfect sense given the fact that the ICE-powered Puma ST already exists, too.
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Well, I can only agree with Ford insiders to a point. The ST badging was brought to us by the Focus then the Fiesta models, followed later by the revived RS moniker that originally was on several small rally inspired hatchbacks like the Escort. Moving these monikers away from their origins to SUV's and Crossovers, is like moving them from a Cheeta to and Elephant. The entire driving experience is so remotely different, that I think these monikers loose their zeitgeist. Please just let them die away if further mutilation of intent is planned.
Same for the Mustang/MachE. The Karenization of everything.
Besides the Puma, Ford is very limited in what it can do in Europe for small car performance. The rest is tied up with Mustang, Mach E, and Raptor. Ford is very limited on what it can do with the MEB cars since it's all VW sourced. The future for performance is in EVs and Ford just doesn't own their future there.
"The future for performance is in EVs". The problem with this is that most of the performance crowd don't like or want the sterileness of an EV, bc there is more to it than strictly performance. Companies would be best served going with hybrids for this in most cases.
Explorer ST should be available with a small V8, say a 289cu with a more burly transmission