From Hot Hatches to Crossovers: The History of Ford’s ST Line

Spend enough time perusing through a vehicle manufacturer’s inventory, and you’ll notice common trim levels spanning across several different models. Multi-model trims act as a unifying thread that fosters brand recognition and enthusiasm and are especially fun when they signal a high-performing variant, like Honda’s Type R or Chevy’s ZR2. Ford’s ST trim is another one of the greats; a real Hall-of-Famer for sleepers that are as charming as they are fast. In recent years, the ST line has undergone significant changes. Far from being a straight line, the ST’s history is more like a right angle. New directions can be exciting, but if your heart is set on an American-made hot hatch, you’ll need to take a trip to DePaula Ford, your Certified Pre-Owned Ford dealership, to get your hands on one.

Humble Beginnings: The 1997 Ford Mondeo ST24

The first Ford to don the ST moniker was the 1997 Ford Mondeo ST24. The Mondeo is a family-oriented vehicle that got the “world car” branding vehicle manufacturers were so fond of in the 20th century. In 1997, Ford diversified the Mondeo’s skillset with the introduction of the ST24. It’s powered by a 2.5 liter V6, but performance-wise, it doesn’t stray too far from other versions of the Mondeo. It does, however, sport a flashier look with features like leather seats, 16-inch alloy wheels, and a Rally Sport body kit that comes standard. In 1999, the Mondeo ST24 became the Mondeo ST200. It has a more rigid chassis and comes with RECARO bucket seats. The Ford Mondeo ST quietly came and went, but it played an important role: laying the groundwork for the future of the ST line.

Hot Hatches: The Focus and the Fiesta

The Ford Focus was the successor to the Ford Escort, meaning it had large shoes to fill in the cheap thrills segment of the car world. It happily obliged, snagging the European Car of the Year award just one year after its debut in 1998. Souped-up versions of the Ford Focus were released in Europe in the early 2000s, in the form of the ST and RS trims, but It wasn’t until 2012 that the Ford Focus ST made its debut in the United States. It’s powered by a turbocharged 2.9 liter EcoBoost inline-4 engine, specially tuned for the ST line, and the transmission is a six-speed manual. The end result is 250 hp and 250 lb-ft of torque that riled up Ford enthusiasts everywhere. It may have been somewhat overshadowed by the Ford Focus RS, which debuted in 2016, but the Focus ST had a wider reach with slightly more practicality and a cheaper price tag. The Focus ST set hearts racing in the United States for six years before it was discontinued in 2018, but it lives on in Europe.

Despite its tenure, the Ford Fiesta is often described as the kid sibling to the Ford Focus. It debuted across the pond back in 1976 and was Ford’s smallest-yet venture into the “supermini” (AKA subcompact) segment. In 2010, the Ford Fiesta finally touched ground in the North American market, but it wasn’t until 2014 that the Fiesta ST debuted in the United States. Powered by a turbocharged 1.6 liter EcoBoost inline-4, the Fiesta ST cranks out 197 hp and 214 lb-ft of torque, making for a zippy ride. It’s paired with a six-speed manual transmission.

Ford’s Focus and Fiesta made for a dynamic duo. Both were big hits, especially amongst driving enthusiasts. They were built to be tunable, commuted in, easy on fuel, fun, and cost-effective. Both the Focus and the Fiesta were sold in a variety of body styles as well, making them massively appealing across generations and lifestyles. Sadly, in 2018 the United States’ Ford Fiesta got the ax as well. In fact, in 2018, Ford announced they would be dropping all of their cars besides the Mustang, meaning it was the end of the line for the Focus ST and Fiesta ST. Although the hot hatches are still going strong in European markets, in the United States, Ford has opted to shift focus to their larger vehicles, meaning just as one era of the ST line was ending, another was about to begin.

Families Like Having Fun Too: The Edge and the Escape

Americans didn’t have to live without the ST line for long. In 2019, the badge extended to the crossover segment of Ford’s lineup with the 2019 Ford Edge ST. It was for the soccer parents who wanted to go fast or that one person with six dogs who’s also a bit of a thrill-seeker. It debuted in 2007 – adding even more bulk to Ford’s plump SUV lineup – and it’s been adequate ever since. With hatchbacks, sedans, and the like out of the game, the Ford Performance Team had a lot of extra time on their hands to dedicate to the burgeoning crossover segment. The result? High-performance crossovers! Sort of.

The 2019 Ford Edge ST comes standard with AWD and has a twin-turbocharged 2.7 liter EcoBoost V6 that gets 335 hp and 380 lb-ft, but it’s criticized for being more akin to the preexisting Ford Edge Sport than the coveted ST line made famous by the Fiesta and Focus. No crossover would be complete without a trim that favors a sporty aesthetic over athletic engineering, and thus in 2020, the Ford Edge ST-Line was born. It was a new offering in the ST family – a trim that comes standard with luxurious, racing style cues, like a leather-wrapped steering wheel and ST badging, but the engine is swapped for a slower turbocharged 2.0 liter EcoBoost inline-4 that gets 250 hp. The ST-Line is cheaper than the ST, effectively extending the ST brand to different corners of the market.

In 2020, Ford made an ST version of a crossover that struck a chord closer to the glory days of the ST hatchbacks. The 2020 Ford Explorer is bigger, badder, and faster than the Edge ST. It gets 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque with the help of a twin-turbocharged 3.0 liter EcoBoost V6 and a 10-speed automatic transmission. For the 2022 model year, the Escape gets its own ST-Line variation for a ride that’s pretty and practical. A RWD version also gets added to the mix, an appreciated effort on Ford’s part to appeal to hot hatch loyalists. Crossovers may not be track stars, but they are versatile vehicles whose jobs will vary greatly depending on the person behind the wheel. Ford is ensuring the Escape can meet the needs of more drivers in 2022.

New Horizons

It’s always disappointing when great cars meet the end of the road, but ST-enthusiasts need not despair. Its adaptation to the crossover market has been slow to heat up, but making a crossover that comes hot off the line and also comfortably accommodates a family of six is no easy feat. If the 2022 Ford Explorer ST is any indication, Ford is responsive to its customer base and will continue to build on the ST brand. Maybe a few years down the line, we’ll see a crossover that’s fun like the Fiesta ST but paired with a third row and confidence-inspiring safety. Maybe a few years down the line, that’s exactly what you’ll be looking for.