The Puma Gen-E could be the first electric Ford to get an ST badge, while the Mustang Mach-E GT looks fit for an even hotter RS treatment
- Ford executives are eager to revive the ST and RS variants as part of the brand’s EV lineup.
- A sportier Puma Gen-E will “definitely” come, either in the current or in the next generation.
- Ford will phase out hot hatches with the upcoming demise of the Focus ST later this year.
Ford may be retiring its hot hatches, but that doesn’t mean it’s walking away from performance. While the Fiesta ST has already been axed and the Focus ST is next in line for the chopping block, the automaker is eyeing a different future for its go-fast badges, one powered entirely by electricity.
More: Jim Farley Wants Ford To Be The “Porsche Of Off-Road”
Right now, the ST badge is limited to just a few models: the Explorer in the US, and the Puma and Focus in Europe. The RS nameplate, once worn proudly by high-performance Fords, last appeared on the previous-generation Focus RS, which ended production in 2018 with the special Heritage Edition.
Electric Performance Is on the Table
Despite the shrinking list of current ST and RS models, Ford doesn’t plan to let the performance-focused sub-brands fade away entirely. Jan Herzog, Ford’s European Product Marketing Chief, told Auto Express that the company “would love an ST or RS variant” of its fully electric vehicles.
Herzog was clear that nothing has been confirmed yet, but did say a sportier version of the Puma Gen-E is “definitely coming,” either in this generation or the next.
Puma Gen-E May Lead the Charge
The Puma Gen-E is exclusively available with a single electric motor generating 166 hp (124 kW) and 290 Nm (214 lb-ft) of torque, which is 2 hp less and 42 Nm more than the mild-hybrid Puma ST. A more powerful version would likely exceed both numbers and include suspension and chassis upgrades to back up the extra muscle.
Even so, the Puma Gen-E won’t be the most powerful electric Ford on sale. That title still belongs to the Mustang Mach-E GT, which delivers 480 hp (358 kW) from its dual-motor setup, along with a stiffer suspension and upgraded brakes. Meanwhile, Ford’s VW-based electric SUV, the Capri EV and Explorer E, offer up to 335 hp (250 kW) in their dual-motor versions, though they lack the handling and hardware upgrades seen in the Mach-E GT.
More: Peugeot Is Bringing Back The GTI To Make Electric Cars Fun Again
This isn’t the first time Ford has hinted at keeping its performance division alive in the EV era. Last year, Amko Leenarts, Ford of Europe’s design director, told Autocar there is “definitely” a future for fast Fords.
“If you look at Ford Performance, we’ve been bigger than ever: Formula 1, Dakar, WRC, Pikes Peak, Nascar”, he said. “I can’t think of another brand that is present everywhere, so that must have an influence on our daily cars. If we’re not doing that, we are making the wrong investments. So it’s got to transition to our normal car lines globally.”
For now, there’s no timeline for when the ST or RS badges will reappear on Ford’s EV lineup. But when they do, they could find themselves competing with electric hot hatch newcomers like the Mini JCW EV, future VW GTIs, and Peugeot’s revived GTI models.
#Ford #Killing #Focus #Wilder #Coming
