A visual history of the Ford ST cars

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Illustration for article titled A visual history of the Ford ST cars — Image: Ford

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.

1999 Ford Mondeo ST250 ECO Concept

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.

2002-2004 Ford Focus ST170

North American equivalent was the Ford SVT Focus.

2002-2007 Ford Mondeo ST220

2004-2006 Ford Fiesta ST

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

Photo: Ford

2004-2006 Ford Fiesta ST Gp.N

2004-2007 Ford Mondeo ST TDCi

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

Update: I also found that there was a pre-facelift Ford Ka ST package in Brazil too. — **Update:** I also found that there was a pre-facelift Ford Ka ST package in Brazil too.

2004 Ford Fiesta STX Concept / Ford Fiesta Sedan STX Concept

Update: I also found these. Ford have long since used STX as a sportier styling package for their pickup trucks, but that predates the ST brand by at least a decade, and the logos don’t really match. However, Ford did show off 2 STX badged Fiesta concepts in Brazil, as a “sporty off-roader” trim. There is definitely a connection here, with the other Brazilian STs revealed at the same show, and the logos match.

Photo: Best Cars, Marcelo Guedes Fotografia