Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa has confirmed to CARmag.co.za it has “no current plans” to bring the new, fourth-generation Focus to local shores.

Revealed back in April 2018, the latest Focus was expected to launch in South Africa in hatchback guise towards the end of that year (in fact, we were left suitably impressed after driving it on the international launch in France).

While the new Focus was until recently listed on Ford SA’s local website in a “future vehicles” section, it has now been removed, along with the previous-generation Focus hatch and sedan range (which was likewise pulled from the brand’s latest pricing bulletin).

The Blue Oval brand’s local passenger-car line-up thus now comprises the Figo, Fiesta and recently facelifted Mustang, in addition to its trio of SUVs (the EcoSport, Kuga and Everest) and the commercial range (including the Ranger, Transit and Tourneo).

In Europe, the standard Focus hatch is offered with turbocharged 1,0- and 1,5-litre petrol engines (in various states of tune) as well as 1,5- and 2,0-litre turbodiesel units. Six-speed manual and eight-speed automatic transmissions are available.

What this latest news means for the new Focus ST, of course, remains to be seen. While there’s still a glimmer of hope the local arm of the Dearborn-based firm could consider bringing in the 206 kW performance vehicle as a halo model of sorts, the fact the latest-generation Fiesta ST isn’t available in South Africa doesn’t bode particularly well for local hot-hatch fans...

Original article from Car