The final Ford Focus ST has come off the production line.

      The conclusion of Ford's passenger car lineup in North America was rapid. After the announcement to discontinue the Fiesta and Focus in 2018, the Fiesta continued for one more year in the U.S., while the Focus stopped production almost immediately. In other markets, both models received another generation, and considering Europe’s historical fondness for small cars, it seemed they would last indefinitely. However, the final Focus ST reportedly came off the production line in Germany last week, marking the end of a beloved series of hot hatches.

      You might recall our last experience with the Focus ST, which was thrilling; however, the fourth-generation model we didn’t get to see was something special. It boasted even more power—276 horsepower, to be exact, aligning it with the Elantra N and many renowned Japanese sports cars. Ford included an electronic limited-slip differential, refined its steering knuckle geometry for increased agility, and added anti-lag to the turbo. The six-speed manual transmission was still available, along with an option for a seven-speed automatic. Visually, it was much more appealing than North America's final ST hatches, which featured prominent grilles.

      The last Focus ST rolled off the line on September 26, as evidenced by a photo from Ford’s Saarlouis plant, shared on Reddit and reported by Ford Authority. This plant is set to cease all operations in November, although a minimal team of 1,000 workers—3,500 fewer than the previous workforce—will supposedly stay on to handle … something … until Ford finds a buyer for the facility.

      It seems like a regrettably undignified end for a location and a vehicle that held great significance for Ford and its enthusiasts over the past two decades. This situation is even more frustrating given a recent report that the automaker is contemplating reviving the Fiesta and Focus as electric vehicles, potentially using Volkswagen's platform similar to Europe’s Explorer.

      The dust is still settling from the retirement of these models, said to be discontinued due to poor sales compared to SUVs, and yet Ford is already considering a more expensive comeback to leverage the goodwill associated with their names. If you have ever valued or owned one of these cars—I had a Focus hatchback in 2012 and a Fiesta ST in 2017—this makes your blood boil. Unfortunately, here we are, but at least we can take comfort in knowing this red ST will bring joy to someone for a long time.

      Do you have any cherished memories of Ford hot hatches? Reach out to us at [email protected]