- Ford’s go-fast ST and RS badges could make a comeback on the company’s EVs after gas versions are retired.
- The Puma Gen-E is likely the first EV in Ford’s portfolio to get the ST treatment.
Ford’s ST and RS badges, which made a name for themselves thanks to the fantastic Fiesta ST, Focus ST and Focus RS, could come back with a vengeance—and an electric punch.
It’s been a minute since Ford had an RS offering in the United States. The Focus ST still lives in Europe, albeit for a short time until it’s axed later this year. That said, the ST badge isn’t dead yet. There’s the Explorer ST in the U.S. and the Puma ST in Europe.
The latter is also offered as an all-electric model dubbed the Puma Gen-E, and it’s this model that’s most likely to get the sporty treatment first. Speaking with Autocar, Jan Herzon, Ford’s European product marketing chief, said that the automaker “would love an ST or RS variant” of its battery-powered cars.
There’s no confirmed timeline, but all signs point in the direction of the next-generation Puma Gen-E getting an ST badge, with Herzog adding that a sportier version of the electric crossover is “definitely coming, if not in this model but the model after.”
The Puma has been the breadmaker for Ford in Europe after the Fiesta city hatch was discontinued and Focus sales fell off a cliff, so it makes sense to pour more money into a product that has the highest chance of success. But Ford’s European marketing boss stopped short of confirming when a sporty Puma Gen-E or even a Mustang Mach-E would hit the market.
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Source: Ford
In the case of the Mach-E, an ST or RS version wouldn’t necessarily be a game-changer. That’s because Ford already offers the GT version with a dual-motor, 480-horsepower setup. There’s also the Mach-E Rally, which is a niche product. However, a small crossover like the Puma would be a great fit for more powerful motors and a retuned suspension setup, as attested by the existence of the gas-powered Puma ST.
Last year, Amko Leenarts, Ford of Europe’s design director, said that fast Fords “definitely” have a future. “I can’t think of another brand that is present everywhere, so that must have an influence on our daily cars,” he said for Autocar. “If we’re not doing that, we are making the wrong investments. So it’s got to transition to our normal car lines globally.”
