Monday 18th March 2019

New Mountune Fiesta ST gets 225hp

More power, more torque, and not much more money - the Mountune fast Ford recipe is back

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We're unashamed fans of a Mountuned fast Ford on PH - by offering additional performance without compromising the car's usability, they make it hard not to be. The previous Fiesta ST we ran on the PH Fleet was proof of that, the MP215 kit bringing the car alive without any noticeable drawbacks.

Now it's the turn of the three-cylinder Fiesta ST to get its Mountune treatment, the latest M225 kit handily released just as Top Gear has reminded everyone what a hot hatch gem it is. Like before, it uses induction and ECU tweaks to liberate a little more power from the Fiesta, the key numbers now 225hp (up 25hp) and 251lb ft (up 37lb ft); Mountune claims that means 0-60 now takes less than six seconds, as well as deducting a second from the 31-62mph (50-100km/h) time. Apparently the engine now "delivers torque earlier and across the rev range, completely transforming the driving experience with blistering acceleration", too. Which sounds encouraging, to say the least.

Perhaps the most significant part of this upgrade, however, is the mTune SMARTflash app; in conjunction with a Bluetooth OBD interface, it will allow m225 customers to select different configurations depending on their situation, as well as allow for future updates. So a Performance calibration unleashes the maximum power and torque, along with "a more aggressive launch control strategy and enhanced audible exhaust output in Sport and Track modes." Stock Performance returns the car to factory specification, while Anti-Theft immobilises the car. All from your phone!

The m225 upgrade is available now, priced at £795 and with a 12,000-mile/12-month warranty. Add that to an ST like this Performance Pack car, now available for under £20k, and you're surely onto a winner.

[Onehp]

Would love to daily one of these. Remap is practically a no-brainer.

Like the look of the mudflaps and the stripe down the side too... Some more dirt on it would finish it of

[Vocht]

Sounds like a fantastic little bit of kit for not much money!

[Mike1990]

That’s some impressive torque!

My old Astra VXR had less even with a freer flowing exhaust and that had a much bigger 2.0l 4 pot!

I do love technology and what they are extracting from this small engines.

[mooseracer]

Mountune have lost their 'usp' with it not being Ford warranty friendly this time around.

[acme]

I would agree that the lack of Ford warranty is an issue on such a new car, less so once they're out of it. I assume once this is done you've voided the warranty full stop, therefore the 12 months they give you is an issue as it won't take you to the end of the full three years on such a new car.

All said though I recently test drove a standard previous gen MK7 ST back to back with a MP215 one along the same roads and the difference was quite startling, and I don't think the increases were as significant as this one.

[WCZ]

mooseracer said:

Mountune have lost their 'usp' with it not being Ford warranty friendly this time around.

yep, this is the main reason why so many cars had the mp215 pack.

this time most will not bother or if they do go elsewhere and get more power.

[Omega1987]

I would be concerned that the anti theft part of the app could be hijacked by criminals.

It'd be a fun little car at that power though, my own 208 GTi is currently at 230BHP and 280 ft/ibs which is lots of fun in a small hatchback.

[tsp]

mooseracer said:

Mountune have lost their 'usp' with it not being Ford warranty friendly this time around.

I won't be going for the mountune upgrade on mine for this reason.

The standard car is fantastic to drive any way, losing the for warranty for an extra 25bhp isn't worth it. Maybe in 3 years when my warranty is up I'll consider it.

[Jakdaw]

So the idea is that one leaves a Bluetooth OBD dongle attached at all times? Can't see that going wrong... oh no.

[blade7]

WCZ said:

mooseracer said:

Mountune have lost their 'usp' with it not being Ford warranty friendly this time around.

yep, this is the main reason why so many cars had the mp215 pack.

this time most will not bother or if they do go elsewhere and get more power.

12 months Mountune warranty on parts related to the uprate? Or 36 months Ford warranty on practically the whole car. I'd like to see a comparison between the ST200 with a slipper fitted and the MK8.

Edited by blade7 on Monday 18th March 13:16

[wab172uk]

Shame it's not Ford warranty backed as the previous ST.

Looked great on Top Gear last night.

[Onehp]

blade7 said:

12 months Mountune warranty on parts related to the uprate? Or 36 months Ford warranty on practically the whole car.

Read too quickly indeed, warranty situation makes it a lot less attractive. Also don't like how power now peaks earlier, with a big drop after 5,5k rpm. I used to have my 1.0 tuned from 125 to 140, but in the end preferred it without, the engine was more linear and sweeter to rev. So if I had a ST, I would either leave it or have it tuned but with less torque and having the power come later on, if that even is possible with the stock turbo (it should be able to pump a certain amount of air = power, which should be able to come in higher up? Still early on these...)

[great_kahn]

Omega1987 said:

I would be concerned that the anti theft part of the app could be hijacked by criminals.

It'd be a fun little car at that power though, my own 208 GTi is currently at 230BHP and 280 ft/ibs which is lots of fun in a small hatchback.

Is that the pug sport one? How is is taking the tune? Ive heard they can be unreliable when tuned, do you have the stock intercooler?


Regards the fiesta- that looks awesome, proper little rocket, I look forward to one of these in 3 years time

[Peanus]

Mountune used to be priced well for the fact that you retained the warranty. Now they don’t offer that, which makes their prices frankly quite ridiculous for what you get.

It’s a no from me.

[anonymous-user]

Saw Chris Harris was having fun, I didn't notice him saying an extra 25hp was required.
Not really the point of the car surely?
Want more poke, go up a class size.
Not sure how insurance companies will look at this app based upgrade.

[Shiv_P]

Same power output as the mk2 focus ST. This must fly

[dhamilton99]

Why would you buy this over the revo map?
Spend £800 on an induction kit and map tweak for an extra 25hp or go to revo and spend half as much for a minimum of 235hp
Sounds like a no brainer

[Omega1987]

great_kahn said:

Is that the pug sport one? How is is taking the tune? Ive heard they can be unreliable when tuned, do you have the stock intercooler?


Regards the fiesta- that looks awesome, proper little rocket, I look forward to one of these in 3 years time

Hi, no it's a GTi prestige (same engine/gearbox but no LSD and less track focused suspension). The car has been 100% reliable before and after the tune. I did upgrade the intercooler to an Airtec FMIC, you can achieve the same performance figures without it but the standard intercooler isn't great so thought I would to be on the safe side.

The car is making a lot or torque so I imagine I'll have to upgrade the clutch at some point.

[blade7]

Zygot said:

Saw Chris Harris was having fun, I didn't notice him saying an extra 25hp was required.
Not really the point of the car surely?

A multi storey car park or bumpy single track road ain't my idea of fun. And I don't have mates that want to hire a circuit and swap paint either.

[anonymous-user]

blade7 said:

Zygot said:

Saw Chris Harris was having fun, I didn't notice him saying an extra 25hp was required.
Not really the point of the car surely?

A multi storey car park or bumpy single track road ain't my idea of fun. And I don't have mates that want to hire a circuit and swap paint either.

Yes amazing the fun you can have in someone elses car, where there are no personal consequences for damaging it, the consumables and fuel are free, and you're getting paid a nice fat paycheck to do it