A visual history of the Ford ST cars

"Kar Wai Wong" (kingawesome467)
10/15/2020 at 13:29 • Filed to: A visual history of, ford, st, Fiesta ST, Ford Fiesta ST, Ford Focus ST, focus st, fist, FoST, Ford Edge ST, EDGE ST, Explorer ST, Ford Explorer ST, list, Lists

ST, or Sports Technologies. Replacing the XR models, ST is Ford’s sub-brand for their higher performance cars, and the beloved badge of enthusiasts. Well it was until Ford started killing their renowned hot hatches everywhere except Europe, and diluting the brand with expensive ST badged auto only crossovers and ST-Line models. So with all this disruption to such a cherished two letters, I wanted to look at the history of the ST badge, even if a lot of the lesser known ones aren’t exactly what you’d call “proper ST” models. But what even is a proper ST model?

ST models are known for being sporty hot hatches with excellent handling and therefore the Ford Edge ST was lambasted by enthusiasts for being an upsold Edge Sport with upgraded suspension and 20 extra horsepower, mediocre to drive, and based on a large, boring family car bodystyle. Thing is, that’s kinda what the very first ST car was. The Ford Mondeo ST24 was an upsold Mondeo Si with lowered suspension and no additional power, fairly adequate to drive, and based on a large, boring family car bodystyle. Now I’m not saying that that’s what all ST models should be but-Drat! This post is turning into some proclamation. I just wanted to show off some obscure ST models I found!

1997-2000 Ford Mondeo ST24

Rather than power output like later models, it was named after it’s (unchanged) 24-valve V6 engine. I think this was because it was the cheapest way to get the V6 when it came out. North American equivalent would be the Ford Contour SE Sport?

1999-2000 Ford Mondeo ST200

North American equivalent was the Ford SVT Contour.

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Fitted with a supercharged 3.0 litre V6 that can run on LPG. Prototypes were made but crushed when the project was cancelled. One survives under a private owner, but the original chassis was changed.

1999 Ford Puma ST160 Concept

Was renamed the Ford Racing Puma for production as it could only manage 153hp, and I guess it would be a bad look to have a lower number than the concept.

1999 Ford Cougar ST200 pre-production

Fitted with the same engine as the Ford Mondeo ST200. Would have been named the Mercury Cougar S in North America had it not been cancelled.

2001 Ford Mondeo ST Concept

No number attached to the ST badge for the concept that previewed the Ford Mondeo ST220, presumably having learned their lesson from the Puma concept.

2002 Ford Falcon XR6 VCT ST

Originally announced as the Ford Falcon XR6 Sprint, but was renamed for production. Special edition that was essentially a Falcon XR6 VCT with the Falcon XR8 Rebel’s bodykit. Probably not meant to be the same ST as the logos don’t match, but it refers to a sportier version, so I’m including it.

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North American equivalent was the Ford SVT Focus.

2002-2007 Ford Mondeo ST220

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First model from the newly formed TeamRS organisation. New ST logo introduced, and numbers were ditched from names.

2004-2006 Ford Fiesta ST Gp.N

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Less powerful turbodiesel alternative to the Ford Mondeo ST220. Exclusive to the UK.

2004-2007 Ford Focus ST

The Brazilian Ford Focus ST was just a styling package, with no relation to the Focus ST170 or the Focus ZX4 ST outside of their shared Focus base.

2004-2007 Ford Fiesta ST

Another Brazilian styling kit, rather than a proper performance trim.

2004-2008 Ford Ka ST

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2004 Ford Fiesta STX Concept / Ford Fiesta Sedan STX Concept

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Less powerful, indirect replacement to the Ford SVT Focus.

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Was called the Ford Focus XR5 Turbo in Australasia, where they continued the old XR naming schemes for fast Fords.

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Bond’s rental in Casino Royale was apparently badged as an ST model, seeing as it shares the Focus ST’s engine. Was renamed as the Ford Mondeo 2.5T Titanium Sport for production. Also known as the Mondeo 2.5T Titanium X Sport in the British Isles, and the Mondeo XR5 Turbo in Australasia.

2007-2009 Ford Territory ST

Turns out the Ford Edge ST was not the first ST SUV. This was the name of the Ford Territory Turbo in South Africa.

2006-2008 Ford Fiesta ST

Was called the Ford Fiesta XR4 in Australia.

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I won’t list every single special edition ST, but I thought the naming was interesting. Unfortunately changes are only cosmetic, it does not have 500hp. Only 500 built to send off the pre-facelift models, and exclusive to the UK.

2008-2011 Ford Focus ST

Once again called the Ford Focus XR5 Turbo in Australasia.

2008 Ford Fiesta ST 500

Like before, only 500 built to send off this generation Fiesta ST. Cosmetic changes only and exclusive to the UK. Maybe the space was added so it didn’t look like it had 500hp?

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Another Brazilian styling package.

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Ford made several electric Focus prototypes, one of them an ST version that was used on The Jay Leno Show.

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2011-2014 Ford Ka ST

Ditto.

2012-2015 Ford Focus ST

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2013 Ford Focus TrackSTer / Ford Focus Block STyle / Ford Focus STanced

3 modified Ford Focus STs made in partnership between fifteen52, Ken Block and Ford. Mainly listed here for their fun names.

2013-2016 Ford Fiesta ST RX43

2013-2014 Ford Focus ST-H

Was exclusively available to hire from Hertz in the Netherlands.

Ford Transit Connect ST prototype

A one-off after hours project by Ford engineers with Ford Focus ST parts. Revealed in 2019.

2014 Ford Fiesta ST-H

Once again exclusive to Hertz in the Netherlands.

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2016-2018 Ford Fiesta ST-Line / Ford Focus ST-Line

Introduction of the ST-Line models, Ford’s sporty appearance trim level, sorta replacing the Zetec S models. Nearly every European Ford has had this since, and it started being introduced worldwide from 2019. I won’t be listing the rest of the ST-Line models here, this list is long enough already.

2016-2017 Ford Fiesta ST200

Another final year special edition, but this time changes aren’t just cosmetic, with power boosted to 200hp. Way more than 200 built and not exclusive to the UK this time.

2017- Ford Fiesta ST

2018 Ford Fiesta ST Supercar

2018 Ford Fiesta WRC

The Fiesta WRCs raced by Hoonigan had ST branding, but the Fiestas raced by M-Sport don’t.

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Another after hours project, this time with Ford Fiesta ST parts.

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2021- Ford Puma ST

DISCUSSION (16)

rctothefuture > Kar Wai Wong
10/15/2020 at 13:47

Really wish Ford dropped in the RS drivetrain into a new Transit. Need another Supervan, damn it!

Milky > Kar Wai Wong
10/15/2020 at 13:50

TIL Ford sells a more upright-rear Edge, elsewhere.

Kinja'd!!!

KnowsAboutCars > Kar Wai Wong
10/15/2020 at 14:00

This post reminded me that 90's Mondeos are pretty much gone today.

Kar Wai Wong > Milky
10/15/2020 at 14:04

For some reason. Explorer? What’s that?

Kinja'd!!!

And boy does it look like a Ford Galaxy.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Kar Wai Wong
10/15/2020 at 14:05

Kinja'd!!!

Very interesting to see how the ST models, concepts, and special editions evolved over the years. And now you’ve gone and reminded me that we never got an ST wagon here in the US and won’t be getting the current Focus at all. And that we only got one generation of proper ST cars at all, really.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Milky
10/15/2020 at 14:05

Wait. . . . . . . . huh? Looks like a Subaru Forester but alternative universe. Woah.

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > Kar Wai Wong
10/15/2020 at 14:36

You missed one, but I’m not going to tell you what it is........

Milky > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/15/2020 at 14:47

Its not even bad, just so weird to offer 2 of almost the same thing. Seems like it would have been a lot easier to split the difference and make one.

Kar Wai Wong > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI
10/15/2020 at 15:00

Kinja'd!!!

The new Fiesta ST Edition?

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Milky
10/15/2020 at 15:06

Easier, yes. More profitable, maybe not, as they'd have to crash test it twice or more anyways and Europe clearly likes their upright hatches.

Textured Soy Protein > Kar Wai Wong
10/15/2020 at 15:40

The Pyoooooooma ST says hi because it’s perpetually happy.

Kinja'd!!!

Except you included it.

Napoli > Kar Wai Wong
10/15/2020 at 16:10

My first car was a 96 Ford Contour Sport. I had so many great memories driving that car. It blew a head gasket at 88k miles. A bunch of other people on the Contour forum had the same problem. Ford supposedly warrantied the other models they sold that had the same problem but not the Contour. I never bought another Ford after that. I wish I could find a low mile SVT that hasn’t been beat to hell but I don’t think any exist.

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > Kar Wai Wong
10/15/2020 at 17:39

I’ll never say!

Kar Wai Wong > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/16/2020 at 08:14

Sorry...

Kinja'd!!!

The Focus ST 170 also came in an estate form , very rare.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Kar Wai Wong
10/16/2020 at 08:26

And we actually got that exact car but no ST at all on any body style.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Kar Wai Wong
10/16/2020 at 08:30

We don't get the Ford Galaxy here but it's not a bad looking MPV thing. I can't blame them after the failure that was selling the C Max here.