Ford Retires the Focus in Europe, Paves the Way for a Crossover Successor
After a quarter-century and millions of sales, the Ford Focus is bowing out of Europe. In its place, Ford is preparing a new crossover, due in 2027, that it hopes will become the brand’s next mass-market staple in an era defined by SUVs and electrification.
Ford will end European production of the Focus at the close of this year, drawing a line under one of its most successful nameplates. Yet the gap will not remain empty for long. Reports indicate that by 2027, a brand-new crossover will step in as Ford’s volume player, targeting the broad audience once served by the Focus hatchback.
Though Ford already sells the similarly sized Kuga, the newcomer will be sold alongside it. To streamline development, the model will share elements of its platform and technology with the Kuga. The real distinction lies in its drivetrain lineup: buyers can expect gasoline, hybrid, and fully electric versions, giving the model a flexibility the Focus never offered.
That breadth of choice is central to Ford’s strategy. The company hopes an affordable EV variant—priced below today’s Explorer Electric—will boost sales and help meet tightening European emissions standards while appealing to cost-conscious buyers.
Production will be handled at Ford’s Valencia plant in Spain, which has capacity for 300,000 vehicles per year. The model’s name has not yet been decided.
Interestingly, Ford ended orders for the hot Focus ST earlier this summer, yet executives have hinted that the ST and RS badges will live on, likely repurposed for future electric performance models.
The Focus’s departure marks the end of an era for Ford in Europe, but the brand’s direction is clear. SUVs and electrification are the new pillars, and the company is betting that its upcoming crossover can capture the same wide appeal that once made the Focus a household name.
