The auto trade has modified rather a lot over the past 5 to 10 years, to the purpose the place it is just a little baffling to understand that it is already been seven years since Ford stopped promoting the Focus within the North American market. It could not really feel prefer it was that way back, however Ford discontinued the Focus in America all the best way again in 2018, as a part of the corporate’s shift away from compact vehicles and sedans and towards extra worthwhile SUVs and crossovers.
This was a giant loss for lovers, because the Focus was all the time much more than simply one other cheap compact automotive. Within the 2010s, each the Focus ST and Focus RS represented Ford’s dedication to the new hatchback market, and their void continues to be felt by Ford followers as we speak. Nonetheless, as of September 2025, Ford has been providing followers the distinctive alternative to purchase a Ford Focus straight from its now-retired Ford Efficiency Racing Faculty fleet. Is that this an opportunity for a scorching hatch discount, or one thing you in all probability need to keep away from, since these vehicles have seen loads of monitor use? Let’s have a look.
Reminiscences of the Adrenaline Academy
The Ford Efficiency Racing Faculty has been round since 2006. Throughout its almost twenty years of existence, it has allowed drivers of all expertise ranges the prospect to enhance their driving expertise whereas experiencing Ford’s newest high-performance autos first-hand. Through the years, the college has had packages that includes the Mustang, in fact, and off-road experiences with the F-150 and Ranger Raptor.
Throughout the late 2010s, Ford additionally provided the RS Adrenaline Academy, the supply of this fleet of Focus RS scorching hatchbacks that it is promoting. The RS was the flagship of the Focus lineup, and with its 350-hp turbocharged engine and drift-ready AWD system, is taken into account among the best scorching hatchbacks that Ford ever constructed.
Ford is reportedly asking $20,000 for every Focus RS because it liquidates the fleet. On paper, that does not sound like a foul deal, contemplating most respectable examples promote for round $30,000. Nonetheless, some followers have issues concerning the situation of those retired racing faculty vehicles, which had been topic to some fairly heavy abuse, usually by inexperienced college students, throughout their service. On Reddit, some even chimed in with their very own experiences on the Adrenaline Academy, together with tales of burnt clutches and cash shifts.
Gone, however not forgotten
If — and that is a giant if — the vehicles have been correctly maintained and do not want any main work, this may very well be a great way to get right into a Focus RS with out breaking the financial institution. However past that, Ford promoting off this retired Focus RS fleet reminds us of a time, not too way back, when the corporate was all-in on enjoyable, high-performance hatchbacks. It wasn’t simply the Focus RS both, and Ford had the long-gone Focus ST and Fiesta ST in its ranks as properly.
After Ford stopped promoting the third-generation Focus in America in 2018, a brand new fourth-generation automotive debuted for worldwide markets, although not in RS kind. However the Focus will likely be leaving the worldwide market completely quickly sufficient, with manufacturing scheduled to finish within the fall of 2025. Which means a future return of the Focus RS, or another Focus for that matter, is unlikely. Whereas that is unlucky for followers of the Blue Oval’s efficiency vehicles, Toyota will nonetheless be glad to promote you a brand-new, fun-loving GR Corolla, which, in some ways, has carried the Focus RS’ scorching hatch persona into the 2020s.
