Ford terminates sales of Focus ST (EU)

Following in the footsteps of the Honda Civic Type-R, Ford has announced that it will axe the Focus ST due to strict emission regulations.

The 2.5 litre turbo-charged 5-cylinder petrol engine has joined Honda's 2.0 litre petrol engine in falling foul of the Euro5 emission law, due in January 2011.

An all-new 4 cylinder 2.0 litre turbocharged engine will replace the 2.5 five-pot and is anticipated to debut at the Paris motor show.

British production of the Honda Civic Type-R will diminish in October because Honda has decided to axe it from the UK line-up, rather than alter the engine. In excess of 12,000 Civic Type-Rs have been purchased in the UK since January 2007.

Sales of the Civic Type-R will end in December in the UK and it will continue to be sold in Japan, South Africa and Australia until next year, however, a replacement model has not been confirmed.

Other Euro5 victims include the 3.2 V6 engine in the Alfa Romeo Brera, Mazda RX-8 and the VAG 5.0 TDI V10.