Ford Focus production ends
The last one was made over the weekend - what next?
Even prior knowledge of the Ford Focus’s demise doesn’t make this any less strange. After nearly 30 years of production (remember how daring the first one was in 1998) and 12 million built, the Ford Focus is no more. According to Autocar the news was broken by employees on social media over the weekend, with the last one built on Saturday. As has been discussed previously, the Focus is making way for Ford to further electrify its European offering. Which certainly needs a shake up - why a Capri, Explorer and Mustang Mach E all exist as electric SUVs within a few thousand pounds of each other is anyone’s guess.
Whatever happens next for Ford family cars, a world without a Focus is going to be a strange one. Much like the Escort was for decades before, it’s become part of the street furniture of Britain, the go-to car when you just needed a car. Except the Focus was always so much better than that; the first generation in particular redefined the C-segment hatch, as bold to look at as it was superb to drive. Even now it’s a smart looking, sweet driving car, which is more than can be said for, say, Vauxhall Astras of the same era. In response to those boring folk put off by the original, the Mk2 was less audaciously styled, which seems a pity now; but interior quality was improved, it was still brilliant to drive, and the era of the five-cylinder Focus was born. Which was tremendous fun.
As the SUV became more important and the hatch a little less so, the third generation was launched 15 years ago without a three-door option. But what Ford took away from enthusiasts with one hand it gave with the other, bringing back the ST estate and creating something of a fast Ford hero in the process. It was affordable, it was rapid, it would gladly lift-off oversteer and you could get an orange one - job jobbed. There were probably other notable firsts for the Focus during the third generation, though for folk like us the really big news was the first four-wheel drive RS. Drift Mode, 350hp, an optional drift brake and a glut of special editions meant it was unlike anything we’d seen before. Or has come since, in fact. Little indicates just what’s changed in 10 years; when that car was shown in February 2015 it seemed like Ford could do no wrong from an enthusiasts perspective, with the Fiesta ST hugely popular and RHD Mustangs imminent. The RS was timed perfectly. Now it’s November 2025, there’s no more Fiesta ST, Mustangs are £60k and the Focus is gone as well. Yikes.
While we knew pretty early on in the Mk4 Focus’s life that there wouldn’t be another RS, the best ST yet did help compensate. Once more the estate was back, and once more it was great; even against a wealth of competition, from Civic Type R to i30 N and Renaultsport Megane to Golf GTI, the 2.3-litre ST was always near the top of the pecking order. It got even better with various Editions, too, the lighter wheels and fancier suspension really bringing the best from the platform. It’s the kind of car you can expect people to suggest buying and preserving, but quite frankly it’s too good for that; if you want a great hot hatch right now, there really is little better than a Focus ST Edition of any kind. A Civic Type R is thousands more and not thousands better.
It’s impossible to avoid a quick glance at the classifieds knowing there’ll never be another Focus. Or at least not another one powered solely by an engine. Already there are immaculately presented early cars ready for summer shows, plus the odd Focus saloon (remember those!) for anyone after something a bit different. The first ST, the 170, is around for £3k (though can be three times that) and the wonderful first RS anywhere from £16,000 to another £30k on top of that. That still has to be one of the best looking hot hatches of all time.
There are plenty of 2.5-litre STs around from £5k, and the appeal of those 20 years on shouldn’t take too much explaining; for not much more the later, slightly less charming four-cylinder Ecoboost is available - this wagon at less than £6k looks like a bargain. And don’t forget all the Mountune goodies available back in the day; this 2007 ST is 260hp strong, plus the extra few hp for stripes. It’s just £5,500.
The RSes, because they’re Focus RSes, will always command a lot of money. There are still Mk2s around, 17 years after they were launched, at £45,000, so it feels safe to say that they’re not going anywhere now. Interestingly, the four-wheel-drive cars are now from £20,000, with Mountuned, special edition and even PH Auctions cars available. Which is certainly good timing. As for the most recent Focus ST (we’re nothing if not thorough at PH), they’re currently below £20,000; owing to their rarity, the estates are a little more money. Finally, as mentioned, the Track Pack is well worth seeking out at just under £30,000. And now you can breathe. The Focus as we know it might be gone, but we’re spoilt for choice secondhand…
d this year (EGR valve, clutch) but I have a strange affection for.Ford are completely ceding their affordable value market in Europe to the Chinese brands, and rightly so, given their main focus on vans and pick-up trucks (my local main dealer now only sells commercial vehicles).
I can't see myself ever buying another Ford, and that's a shame.
I like the fact that you found a blue example for the front page, thereby continuing a recent theme of blue cars splashed all over the webpage.
Mk3 look great to my eyes.
I find it quite hard to see Ford staying in Europe for too much longer.
It is performing its role perfectly and I think will be around for a while.
It took a few weeks to get used to fwd front engined layout after a long time away, but lots of fun to be had.
I missed out on the Sierra Cosworth generation, so this is my nod to Fast Fords of days gone by…
No doubt they will find some way to blame the failure on the EV transition rather than them killing off their two best selling models.
Back in the 90s Jacques Nasser knew the future was in "premium" and non Ford brands and the entire PAG adventure was the solution, unfortunately for Ford they were forced to divest themselves of that following 2008 just before much of their enormous investment started to bear very significant fruit.
Mk3 look great to my eyes.
Ford have totally lost the plot, and no doubt their sales numbers will now go from bad to worse.
Ford have totally lost the plot, and no doubt their sales numbers will now go from bad to worse.
It did them no good selling all those Fiestas when they made little to no profit on each one, and that situation is only going to get worse for small cars. You could argue it's short termist because the zero profit Fiesta customer of today is the some profit Kuga customer of tomorrow of course, so it's another expeditious choice forced on them that ultimately will do more damage in the long run.
They were completely backed into a corner by decisions made decades before this EV transition was anything to think about, although as always if you're the one holding the parcel when the music stops then you get all the blame!
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