Ford Fiesta S2000 Finally Breaks Cover

Full details and video of Ford's new rally contender

The new Fiesta S2000-spec rally car will make its public debut this weekend when it appears as course car on the final round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) in Scotland.

Ford finally took the wraps off the new rally challenger at its M-Sport HQ in Cumbria yesterday.

"This is the first global rally car for Ford and M-Sport," says M-Sport Managing Director Malcolm Wilson. "I really believe that we have produced a fantastic rally car and this launch is a big step to seeing it out competing in rallies. It's the first time in five years that we have been able to offer a Ford rally car that can challenge for overall victory in national championships across the world."

The new car will make its competitive debut in 2010 and is eligible for S2000 and IRC regulations, but is likely to form the basis for Ford's next full-house WRC car when new rules come into effect in 2011 or 2012.

The 280bhp, 192lb ft four-wheel drive Fiesta S2000 has gone from the drawing board to the rally stage in just nine months.

"It's a fantastic feeling to see the car actually launched to the world after all the hard work and testing behind closed doors," says M-Sport Technical Director Christian Loriaux. "Everyone at M-Sport has had to pull together in order to get the Fiesta S2000 finished in such a short period of time and it has been a great team effort to get to this point so quickly.

You can click on the video below to see the new car on the move without disguise for the first time, while tech-spec aficionados can pore over the full details on the car below that.

Engine:
Ford 1998cc Pipo built I4 Duratec S2000 engine. Four cylinders, 16 valves. Bore 87mm. Stroke 83mm. Cosworth electronics engine management system. Catalytic converter.

Power:
280 bhp at 8000 rpm.

Torque:
260 Nm at 6500 rpm.

Transmission:
Permanent four-wheel drive. M-Sport / Xtrac six speed sequential gearbox with AP clutch.

Suspension:
Front and rear: MacPherson struts with Reiger external reservoir dampers, three-way adjustable. Fully adjustable fabricated steel links. Front and rear anti-roll bars. Machined aluminium uprights.

Brakes:
Gravel (front and rear): 300mm Brembo ventilated discs with Brembo four piston monoblock calipers.
Asphalt (front ): 355mm Brembo ventilated discs with Brembo four-piston monoblock calipers.
Asphalt (rear ): 300mm Brembo ventilated discs with Brembo four-piston monoblock calipers.
Hydraulic handbrake.

Steering:
Power-assisted high-ratio (12:1) rack and pinion. One and a half turns lock to lock.

Wheels:
Gravel: 7in x 15in (aluminium) wheels with 650mm tyres.
Asphalt: 8in x 18in (magnesium) wheels with 650mm tyres.

Bodyshell:
Unitary construction. Unique composite side panels. Welded T45 steel safety roll cage. Aerodynamic rear wing. Unique front 'bumper' treatment.
Electronics: Full Cosworth electronics data acquisition for on-event diagnostics and performance development.

Fuel tank:
FIA FT3 tank, 80 litre capacity, located centrally.

Dimensions:
Length: 3958mm. Width: 1820mm. Wheelbase: 2489mm. Weight: 1200kg minimum.

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Richard-G

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