Although the outgoing Ford Fiesta ST had its loyal fan base, its bland styling never did it any favors. So while we wait for the Blue Oval to decide on what Fiesta body-style should make it to American shores, the real litmus test over on the British Isles will be what sort of performance derivatives the dynamically-styled new Fiesta will spawn.
One of the principal rivals to any new hot-hatch Fiesta will be the Abarth variants of the Fiat Grande Punto. And like the two-stage Abarth models, the Fiesta is expected to follow Ford's double-barrel formula for a warm ST and, if the fantasies of Ford performance fans are fulfilled, a Fiesta RS as well. The Fiesta ST is anticipated to use a 1.6-liter turbo, which could get an upgrade to 200hp for the Fiesta RS. Add to that an aggressive aero kit, bulging wheel arches, a stripped-out cabin with racing buckets, tightened suspension, beefed-up rolling stock and potentially a dual-clutch transmission and Ford could have a real barn-burner in the Fiesta RS. If projections are accurate, the Fiesta ST should bow next year and the RS a year after that. Whether Ford deems us worthy of seeing them Stateside, however, remains to be seen.
[Source: AutoExpress]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Phoebe 1:57PM (3/26/2008)
I want it!
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Pinhead 1:58PM (3/26/2008)
I'm still waiting for my abart. Hurry up fiat.
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Alex 2:04PM (3/26/2008)
sadly, i doubt FoMoCo will be bringing us any of the fun. i'll be super pissed if all we get is a 4-door.
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Robert 2:32PM (3/26/2008)
It's all but confirmed at this point that we'll get a hatch (5 or 3-door). The question is if we'll get the hot EcoBoost engine/dual-clutch transmission combo... that would be my ideal next vehicle.
ken_aisin 2:35PM (3/26/2008)
Alex, I'm sure you'll be super pissed.
Seriously, how come these good looking European versions never appear on this shore? Manufacturers seem to enjoy wasting time and effort to uglify a car before they bring it to us.
The Ford Focus is a very good example. Why can't they just bring the European version over? What's the real point of manufacturing a piece of sh!t North American version? Is Ford trying to tell us that North American's got no taste?
Euro-Focus:
http://faimg1.forum-auto.com/mesimages/224269/ford-focus-st-s1b.jpg
U.S.-Focus:
http://www.thetorquereport.com/2008_ford_focus_cpe-thumb.jpg
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ken_aisin 2:37PM (3/26/2008)
Finally, it's the Honda Civic. There's nothing wrong with the Civics that we get here..... until you see the European version: http://cars.blogs.ca/2006/09/18/honda-brings-back-type-r-with-european-civic/
I'm not in the market for any of the above cars. However, it is sad to see them on North American roads.... knowing that their much better looking twin sisters can be seen anywhere around the world but here.
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Ken Stamper 2:56PM (3/26/2008)
Although in fairness our civic is actually a better car from a tech stand,point... their civic is stuck with a strut suspension all around to make room for the load floor. Ours has wishbones in the front.
ken_aisin 2:39PM (3/26/2008)
Another good example is the next Acura TSX. What's wrong with the beautiful grill of the next European Accord? They could have just slapped an Acura badge on that grill, and call it the Acura TSX. Instead, they came up with the ugliest ever grill for the North Americans.
2009 Euro-Accord:
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/03/03_live_accord_euro.jpg
2009 U.S.-TSX:
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/02/09_acuratsx_officialpreview.jpg
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novanglus 3:55PM (3/26/2008)
Considering the EcoBoost 1.4L makes about 200hp, and Ford plans on putting the Powershift trannies in a bunch of stuff, the odds are pretty good that a Verve/Fiesta with the 1.4L EcoBoost and Powershift will be the range topper.
As long as they are smart enough to make the nav system available in the Fiesta, it should be a pretty sweet ride for the money.
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