Friday 1st April 2011

Ford Fiesta ST Due Next Year

Baby hot hatch to come in 2012 - but it won't be as fast as the WRC car...

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Ford will finally give us an official hot version of the Fiesta, due to arrive next year. The Fiesta ST will sit above the current fastest Fiesta, the rather lukewarm Zetec S. This contradicts Ford's original line at the launch of the current car that there wouldn't be an official hot version.

It is thought that this change of heart has been brought about due to the introduction Fiesta in the WRC this year in order to comply with the new S2000 rules that have come into force this season. The Fiesta ST will get a 180bhp version of the 1.6-litre Ecoboost engine, which is broadly (and we mean very broadly) similar to the one found in this year's WRC car.

The Fiesta ST is set to compete against rivals such as the Renaultsport Clio 200, the Seat Ibiza Cupra and the Volkswagen Polo GTi. Whilst there is no official word on performance, it is a saf(ish) bet that it will be on a par with the Clio, giving away 20bhp but weighing in at almost exactly 200kg lighter than its French counterpart.

There has been no official word on price, but expect it to go on sale at around £16,500 pounds, undercutting its Renault rival by £300 against the Cup version and £1300 against a highly specced model.

Ford is also dipping its toe into the hot hatch water first with a limited run of 500 'warm' 134 bhp S 1600s. This will be used to test the market for a small hot(ish) Ford.

[collateral]

Should be good, and with a turbo it'll be mappable too.

Shame they won't dare to make an RS...

[frosted]

collateral said:

Should be good, and with a turbo it'll be mappable too.

Shame they won't dare to make an RS...

How much more power can you extract from 1600cc ?

[va1o]

If it gets the Ecoboost should be very impressive indeed!

[greggy50]

This should be a great little car when it comes out

[Baryonyx]

I hope this lives up the to ST badge, as the previous generation Fiesta ST was crap. There hasn't been a good sporty fiesta since the mk5 Zetec S! I'd like to see a new RS model even more, I think Ford could easily see off the hot hatch competition in the class (DS3, Clio, Corsa VRX etc etc) with a new RS Fiesta.

[paranoid airbag]

frosted said:

How much more power can you extract from 1600cc ?

well Citroen have got >200, vauxhall 190, fiat and VAG both have 180 from a 1.4... a fair bit more is possible once you're free of certain design constraints

[CraigyMc]

frosted said:

collateral said:

Should be good, and with a turbo it'll be mappable too.

Shame they won't dare to make an RS...

How much more power can you extract from 1600cc ?

Well, it's a turbocharged 1600cc. How much power do you want?

BMW made a slightly smaller (1.5l) 4-cylinder turbo in the 1980's which developed 800-1350bhp depending on boost pressure.

OK, I'm cheating a lot since:

• it was an F1 engine and didn't have to survive for very long
• and ran on exotic fuel with a massive RON rating (toluene, anyone?)
• and didn't have any emmissions compliance requirements

Still, I imagine the little Ford 1.6 turbo could put out well over 200bhp in road trim if they put their minds to it. The VXR corsa engine is 190bhp and broadly similar in specification and purpose.

C

[eddd1e]

200kg less than the Clio? I doubt that very much. That would mean it will only weigh approx 1000kg???

[fathomfive]

eddd1e said:

200kg less than the Clio? I doubt that very much. That would mean it will only weigh approx 1000kg???

Well from my quick Googling, the Clio is listed at 1204kg and the Fiesta Zetec-S at just over 1000kg (not gross weights), so it might not be a straight 200kg for the ST but there will be a useful difference in weight by the looks of it.

[eddd1e]

I had no idea that the Fiesta was that light. Blimey!

[Dimski]

Baryonyx said:

I hope this lives up the to ST badge, as the previous generation Fiesta ST was crap. There hasn't been a good sporty fiesta since the mk5 Zetec S!

My mum had a Zetec S followed by an ST, and I disagree.

The ST was always compared with the Clio 182, which of course it was a fair bit slower than. Bit harsh, I feel. IIRC the fiesta was quicker than a Mini Cooper S round some tracks, and it may not have had quite the sharp edge of the Clio, but was a good handling car, and maybe a better long term ownership proposition?

I know my mum needed nothing on hers in 3 years beyond regular servicing. Also, the Zetec S was fantastic, but tiny inside. The ST was far more practical, with much more space.


Having said all that, Ford's refusal to release a new Mondeo ST is the reason I've left the marque. I loved my old one. I wonder if they'll follow up the Fiesta with Focus & Mondeo?

[fathomfive]

eddd1e said:

I had no idea that the Fiesta was that light. Blimey!

Explains why the 1.25 version I had as a hire car a couple of weeks back felt so spritely.

[nickfrog]

If indeed it is 200kg lighter (or even 150kgs) than the Clio (I am gob smacked to hear that the Fiesta is sooooooooo light, as I assumed it was as porky as other cars of that size), then it will be a MASSIVE help and will make the 20bhp difference irrelevant not only in performance but mainly in terms of grip and handling. Sounds like a bargain real world performance car, particularly if it has a manual box, which will render the Polo/Ibiza/Fabia irrelevant with their non-manual boxes. Sounds like a potential slam-dunk by Ford !

[Oddball RS]

fathomfive said:

Well from my quick Googling, the Clio is listed at 1204kg and the Fiesta Zetec-S at just over 1000kg (not gross weights), so it might not be a straight 200kg for the ST but there will be a useful difference in weight by the looks of it.

Yes but apples for apples, add:-

Turbo and plumbing
Intercooler
Body kit
Bigger wheels
Fancy front seats

Probably end up within 50Kg

A lot of the difference has to be down to engine and drivetrain, most of the front and rear of the clio are plastic as it is.

[fathomfive]

Oddball RS said:

fathomfive said:

Well from my quick Googling, the Clio is listed at 1204kg and the Fiesta Zetec-S at just over 1000kg (not gross weights), so it might not be a straight 200kg for the ST but there will be a useful difference in weight by the looks of it.

Yes but apples for apples, add:-

Turbo and plumbing
Intercooler
Body kit
Bigger wheels
Fancy front seats

Probably end up within 50Kg

A lot of the difference has to be down to engine and drivetrain, most of the front and rear of the clio are plastic as it is.

Hence why I wrote that bit I've highlighted in bold

[liamsp]

Be interesting to see what mountune do for it after its released

[mneame]

Hmmm perhaps I'll hold off on the new car search. Would be a real bonus for me if it was released on the employee discount scheme too

[Gwagon111]

I've always had a soft spot for small, fast(ish), Fords. I may have a little looky, especially if it's as keenly priced, as the article makes out.

[Diabolik]

Definitely better than dropping £15k on a Mountuned Zetec-S.

[LuS1fer]

They should stick on some retro 70's Fiesta Supersport stripes and call i the Fiesta Mexico.