Ford Motor Company has a long history of building successful hot hatchbacks. Soon to join the ranks of such icons like the Cosworth Escort and Focus RS could be the next hot-rod Fiesta, the ST. Unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the Ford Fiesta ST Concept hits at the upcoming line of high performance small cars to come out of the blue oval.
“The Fiesta has a rich history of high-performance models so a new ST performance model is a logical next step in our performance vehicle strategy for our global small cars,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development.
Under the hood of the concept is the 1.6 liter version of Ford’s EcoBoost turbocharged inline four cylinder. Using variable cam timing, direct injection and a single turbocharger, the ST makes a stout 178 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. Matched to a six speed manual transmission and front wheel drive, 62 mph can be achieved in less than seven seconds. In a straight line, the Fiesta ST will officially be a hot hatch.
On the outside, the ST looks the part as the body lines have been tweaked and sculpted. New is the large, “trapezoidal” grille with a honeycomb mesh finish. The rear bumper features a functional diffuser with dual exhaust and everything is lower than the standard Fiesta. 17 inch wheels round out the ST, which manages to pay homage to both its rally car cousin, the Fiesta WRC, and its big brother, the Focus ST.
“The Fiesta ST Concept shows in the most dramatic way possible that the qualities that define an ST are not limited to one model. The potential for delivering the ST experience to an even wider audience are laid bare by this striking new concept,” said Jost Capito, Ford’s director of Global Performance Vehicles.
Source: Ford
