Matt Prior
Autocar UK
|June 04, 2025
It’s taking awhile, like closing an ill-fitting lid on a plastic kitchen container.
-
But another corner on the ‘affordable hot hatch’ tub is clicking shut, and, unlike sometimes previously, I don’t think a corner on the other side is about to pop back open again in defiance.
Which is a slightly clumsy way of avoiding the ‘nail in the coffin’ cliché. Also I think it’s vanishingly rare (I could be wrong) that a coffin lid’s opposite corner creeps open again when someone is hammering down the opposite side.
Anyway, what I’m saying is that Ford is preparing to unalive the Focus ST. Production ends in November, and it has been removed from price lists in the UK because all the remaining ones are accounted for. And this time I don’t think anyone is about to launch a new affordable petrol hot hatchback you could choose to consider instead. Although do go ahead and prove me wrong, somebody, please.
It seems like a very long time, partly because it is, since my mate Jason, when he was a young man, bought a Citroën Saxo VTR on lowor no-interest finance and got free insurance thrown in. It even feels like a long time, although it isn’t, since Hyundai offered the i20 N for under £25k.
Denne historien er fra June 04, 2025-utgaven av Autocar UK.
Abonner på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av kuraterte premiumhistorier og over 9000 magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
FLERE HISTORIER FRA Autocar UK
Autocar UK
Testing, testing
We at Autocar talk a lot about buttons and other physical controls in cars and how having at least a few well-chosen ones for essential functions is important.
3 mins
December 31, 2025
Autocar UK
Rapt attention
Ford hopes to score its first Dakar Rally victory with M-Sport's Raptor monster truck. ROB GILL locks in and pummels Greystoke Forest
3 mins
December 31, 2025
Autocar UK
THE FETE TO YOUR FIESTA
This RS is nearly as fun as its ST rival and a better everyday car
2 mins
December 31, 2025
Autocar UK
FORD'S ELECTRIC FIESTA' TO BE BASED ON RENAULT 5
New Ford-Renault tie-up will also result in a crossover based on the 4
3 mins
December 31, 2025
Autocar UK
HOW PORSCHE IS PURSUING A QUIETER LIFE FOR OWNERS
NOISE, VIBRATION AND HARSHNESS (NVH) are three of the most important words in the engineering of new cars. They describe exactly that: noise and vibration generated from hundreds of sources, from the texture and undulation of the road surface to the entire drivetrain, tyres, brakes and structure of the car itself.
2 mins
December 31, 2025
Autocar UK
BYD DOLPHIN SURF
Now is the winter of our discontent: the things we do to boost the range
2 mins
December 31, 2025
Autocar UK
I've let other Lotuses go but this is different
Chris Smith bought his first Lotus, an Elise S, in 1996, when he was 23.
2 mins
December 31, 2025
Autocar UK
CITROEN EYES SUB-£13K EV TO REPLACE C1 CITY CAR
Entry model will tap 2CV's spirit but relies on E-car category green light
3 mins
December 31, 2025
Autocar UK
VOLKSWAGEN ID POLO
Cupra led development of supermini EV but VW insists it's a proper Polo
4 mins
December 31, 2025
Autocar UK
Damien Smith
Max Verstappen was the standout Formula 1 driver of 2025 for me. That's not to denigrate new world champion Lando Norris in any way. In fact, I would argue the opposite is the case. That Norris prevailed in the tense Abu Dhabi finale does him huge credit because, as he will know only too well while reflecting on his hallowed new status, he did so in the face of an astonishing fightback from one of the true greats of motor racing.
3 mins
December 31, 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size

