Today, Ford Motor Company introduced the world to the production version of the sporty 3-door Ford Fiesta ST – a high performance hatchback powered by an EcoBoost 4-cylinder that combined performance with fuel economy but sadly – Ford currently has no plans to offer the high performance 3-door Fiesta in the United States.
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The Ford Fiesta ST in production form is based on the 3-door Fiesta that is (unfortunately) not sold in the North American market but for those who live in Europe; this hot hatch should make a big splash in the compact performance car segment. The Fiesta ST mimics the concept version, offering a very similar interior and exterior appearance with power derived from a 1.6L 4 cylinder EcoBoost engine. This mighty little mill sends 177 horsepower and 177lb-ft of torque to the front wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission – enough power to move the Fiesta ST from 0-62 miles per hour in under 7 seconds while also being able to reach top speeds in excess of 125 miles per hour.
Helping the Ford Fiesta ST launch and handle is Ford’s Torque Vectoring Control and a new Electronic Stability Control program with three different modes for different driving situations. The chassis of the Fiesta ST has been tuned by the people responsible for the high performance Focus RS with a suspension system that lowers the car by a little over a half inch while also improving handling significantly over the traditional Fiesta 3-door models. To make sure that this improved chassis, drivetrain and suspension setup was truly worthy of wearing the ST badging, Ford spent over 3,100 hours pushing the Fiesta ST to the limits on the famed Nürburgring Nordschleife…although no times have been offered.
"We believe Ford customers will be blown away by the new Fiesta ST, and not only by the exhilarating performance but by the styling and specification, too. This dynamic new hot-hatch is undoubtedly our best Fiesta ST to date," said Jost Capito, Ford's director of Global Performance Vehicles.
As the picture on the right indicates, the Ford Fiesta ST production version is far sportier than the non-ST versions of the Fiesta 3-door. This begins with the unique front fascia with larger openings for enhanced cooling and aerodynamics while also serving to make the car look for more aggressive. Out back, the Fiesta ST sports a unique lower fascia and a rear spoiler mounted high on the hatch – both of which continue the aggressive look while helping to improve how the Fiesta ST cuts through the air.
The bad news is that the Ford Fiesta is not offered as a 3-door model in North America so there isn’t a great chance of the car shown on the right arriving in your neighborhood Ford dealership. However, with the Ford Fiesta ST 5-door Concept meeting a great reception at the 2011 LA Auto Show, there is a chance that the Fiesta ST trimline could find its way into the US in one form or another.
"We're delighted to be bringing a new generation Fiesta ST to our European enthusiasts in 2013 and we'll have more to say about our plans for other markets in the near future," said Capito. "With the Fiesta ST joining the new Focus ST, we will again be able to deliver a choice of affordable small performance cars that are designed to deliver a unique blend of stand-out styling and dynamic on-road performance with true practicality for everyday use."
In short, to quote Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber – “so you’re tellin' me there’s a chance”.
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