Thursday 26th February 2004

Fiesta ST

Successor to the XR2 is launched

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Ford is attempting to introduce a spiritual successor to the XR2. The new Fiesta ST will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show next week.

The Fiesta ST will be the first of Ford’s ‘Sports Technologies’ models to carry a new ST badge, without the use of numbers. The generic branding will be adopted by all new ST models introduced from now on.

The car will get a 150PS 2.0-litre Duratec ST engine and chassis mods to improve handling.

Its unique design elements include new front and rear bumpers, new side and rocker mouldings and colour-keyed details such as body colour door handles, rub strips, exterior mirror caps and 17-inch alloy wheels.

Inside, racing style seats embroidered in black leather with bold red cloth centre sections and the distinctive new ST logo hug the driver and passenger. A leather steering wheel features a bright steering wheel spoke. Added brightwork on the handbrake and door pull handles also distinguishes the interior performance look.

"More than 34,000 XR2i's were bought by Britain's hot hatch fans. The new Fiesta ST puts Ford back into the heartland of small-car performance in a great-to-drive package that’s accessible for driving enthusiasts to own and insure ,” said Paul Thomas, Managing Director, Ford of Britain. “The latest generation Fiesta is solid as a rock. It was the ideal basis for a performance derivative ,” said Thomas.

The Fiesta ST will go on sale in the UK in the winter of 2004. Full specification and pricing details will be announced nearer the time.

[dinkel]

[v8thunder]

I have a feeling that blue LEDs on the window washers and bodykits stuck on top of the existing ones will be the unfortunate norm.

Pity really, looks like a half-decent hot hatch.

[ridds]

Just what it needed!!!

Lets see if they can compete with the Clio though? De-Turbo from the RS, maybe?

[MILF]

Call me cynical, but I bet the real reason Ford arent going to incorporate the BHP of these ST Fords in their model designations are that quite simply 150 BHP no longer cuts it when Clios and 206s are now rated at between 170 & 180 BHP.

As for the Focus ST 170 when Civics, Leons and Astra all have 200 BHP.............

[Frik]

MILF said:

Call me cynical, but I bet the real reason Ford arent going to incorporate the BHP of these ST Fords in their model designations are that quite simply 150 BHP no longer cuts it when Clios and 206s are now rated at between 170 & 180 BHP. As for the Focus ST 170 when Civics, Leons and Astra all have 200 BHP.............

Hopefully as they aren't trying to compete in the "mines got more bhp than yours" competition, they will concentrate on making it a cracking little drive instead.

Is it just me or does it look a little X5-like from the rear?

[sjg]

MILF said:

Call me cynical, but I bet the real reason Ford arent going to incorporate the BHP of these ST Fords in their model designations are that quite simply 150 BHP no longer cuts it when Clios and 206s are now rated at between 170 & 180 BHP. As for the Focus ST 170 when Civics, Leons and Astra all have 200 BHP.............

Ford have said the way they're dividing things up from now, the STs will be warmish, RSs quick and Cosworths absurdly quick.

Besides, seeing what the tuners are doing with the Duratec (lots going in caterhams - it's only about 3kg heavier than a K-Series) it seems over 200bhp is comfortably possible.

[johnny senna]

I bet this car is a cracker. Before I got my Boxster S, I hired a Fiesta 1.25 litre (03-plate) and it was brilliant. The steering was top-notch, the handling was delightful and the brake pedal was lovely and firm. Importantly, the interior was of high quality. The package was way better than Corsa and Pug 106 hire cars I have hired. They felt very last-generation and low quality.
With 150 BHP, all the tarty bits and hopefully a good price tag.....this car will be a very sensible choice. Never mind the chasing the BHP-record thing.

[Cotty]

Looks very nice I could live with one as a dayly runaround. Like the seats.But then again I would love the white on in the first post that looks great

[T88CAN]

Worked for FMC for 10yrs so i spoke to a "contact" to day,there are plans for a 170bhp plus version, and possibly a RS version but definatly NO cosworth badged/powered car, the marketing guys want to have a £12500/12995 start price, and don`t see this car as a 206Gti/R172 rival, the Focus RS has been the benchmark as far as the Handling/ride is concerned and they are happy with this with 150 brake, and feel 200 will give to much torque steer. If the car is half as good as the old Zetec S then they will have another winner.
Tony

[t350csupercharge]

Is it destend for the US?

[sgt^roc]

MILF said:

Call me cynical, but I bet the real reason Ford arent going to incorporate the BHP of these ST Fords in their model designations are that quite simply 150 BHP no longer cuts it when Clios and 206s are now rated at between 170 & 180 BHP. As for the Focus ST 170 when Civics, Leons and Astra all have 200 BHP.............

yep no street cred at all Mr Ford

[dinkel]

T88CAN said:

Worked for FMC for 10yrs so i spoke to a "contact" today,there are plans for a 170bhp plus version, and possibly a RS version ( . . . ) the Focus RS has been the benchmark as far as the handling/ride is concerned and they are happy with this with 150 brake . . . Tony

Quite right, when 170-version will look a bit like the JWRC (and maybe a bit lighter) Ford will have a nice range of Fiestas . . .

The RS Focus is in league with Civic, Leon, etc. Fiesta compares to 206, Polo, etc . . . Or am I wrong?!

[plfrench]

I agree about the Zetec-S T88CAN, my missuses has got one, and it is an absolute laugh a minute to drive, you don't need tonnes of power when it handles like a go-kart! It's how you use what you have got.

Also at least the owners of these don't seem compelled to drive around with the fog lights permanently on, unlike every single saxo VTR/VTS on the planet!

Will they be making a 5 door version a la ST170 focus? It would be very useful in my plan to convince my parnter to upgrade, as we now have a baby.

Cheers,

Paul.

[plfrench]

MILF,

don't even mention the awful 206 in the same sentance! Do you really think that 30bhp extra in that hideous contraption would mean that an ST wouldn't see which way it went. I think you'll find it will be the other way round on all but the straightest, flatest pieces of tarmac

[silverback]

Ahh...It looks a bit bland to me, bring back a bit of red piping I say!

[MILF]

Oh dear I appear to have stirred a hornets nest with my (quite logical) observation that Ford will not display the BHP on the rear of the new Fiesta for fear of being overshadowed by Clios & 206s with 182 & 180 BHP respectively.

Whilst we car enthusiasts may not automatically equate raw BHP with driver satisfaction, the fact remains that the general populace (who comprise the vast majority of the individuals who will actually buy this sort of car) sadly will. As I said I do not wish to appear unduly cynical, but I am genuinely of the opinion that if Ford could extract 180 BHP from this engine and charge the same OTR price as Renault & Peugeot do, then they would.

As for the RS Focus being a 200 BHP competitor for the Civic Type R & Seat Leone Cupra R etc, not only is the Focus approximately 20% more expensive than these machines, but it is also sadly not actually in production any more. Hardly a direct competitor then is it ?

I am also well aware that the K series lump that I am forced to endure in my own mode of transport is hardly at the cutting edge of technology, but since this enables Lotus to make a car that even with only 118 BHP can just about outhandle anything on the road, can be run on a relatively affordable budget and will be used as everyday transport, then endure the engine I gladly will.

[plfrench]

I see what you are saying Milf - that it was the general dumb public and not yourself who would be buying based upon what the the number on the back stated. Unfortunately this is undoubtedly true, but surely ford should be applauded for not just following the french trend and making the car more of a complete package rather than just headlining the power output.

The thinking mans hottish hatchback!!!

[T88CAN]

MILF
Just to answer a couple of your points, the Focus RS was always going to be a limited run car and yes at £20k it wasn`t cheap however it will more than make this up in residual value after say 3yrs,as well as being the most desirable of the your 3 mentioned cars
The Fiesta ST is not ment to be the top performance model if you read my post you will see that there will
possibly be a 170/180Bhp RS version this figure is easierly reached in the Duretec 2.0 ltr lump (Focus ST170)I personally think FMC are right to market the car on overall drivability and leave the BHP talk in the bar, im sure any saleman worth his salt could over come the BHP "objection" and sell the car on it`s own merits,i`m not sure whether todays punters are so narrow minded to think purely BHP any way Tony

[T88CAN]

A few pages of this weeks autocar covering the Fiesta ST/RS well worth the the read and confirms some of the speculation from earlier in the thread

[Podie]

MILF said:

Oh dear I appear to have stirred a hornets nest with my (quite logical) observation that Ford will not display the BHP on the rear of the new Fiesta for fear of being overshadowed by Clios & 206s with 182 & 180 BHP respectively. Whilst we car enthusiasts may not automatically equate raw BHP with driver satisfaction, the fact remains that the general populace (who comprise the vast majority of the individuals who will actually buy this sort of car) sadly will. As I said I do not wish to appear unduly cynical, but I am genuinely of the opinion that if Ford could extract 180 BHP from this engine and charge the same OTR price as Renault & Peugeot do, then they would.

Why compete in a secotr that is already full? Drop the power, drop the price and make it a cracking drive... it'll sell.