Autoblog

Ford reveals production Fiesta ST

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Hatchback, Ford

This is the production version of the Ford Fiesta ST, and except for the fact that it's missing a couple of doors, it looks just like the Fiesta ST Concept we saw at the Los Angeles Auto Show last year. Of course, the two-door version is cooler, which should be all the clue you need that we won't be getting it in America. Ford is, however, "open to the idea" of bringing it here.

The specs match the concept: 1.6-litre EcoBoost with 177 horsepower and a top speed beyond 125 miles per hour, along with torque vectoring, three ESP stages and Ford' MyKey - all of which should make it a fabulously good time when it goes on sale in Europe in 2013.

A "pre-production" example will get a showing at the Geneva Motor Show tomorrow, and we'll have a fuller report on it then, but there's a press release below with more details. Perhaps between the show and 2013, Ford can be convinced to ship it this way when it decides to "say more about our plans for other markets."

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Ford reveals production Fiesta ST originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford's tiny 1.0-liter EcoBoost to net 177 hp?

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Hatchback, Ford, UK

Ford will begin rolling out its 1.0-liter, three-cylinder Ecoboost engine this year in overseas models like the UK-spec Ford Focus and C-Max. Replacing the naturally-aspirated 1.6-liter four-cylinder, the little Ecoboost lump translates its minimal displacement into versions with 99 horses and 118 horses, and up to 125 pound-feet of torque. A report in Autocar suggests Ford can do even better, speculating that The Blue Oval is currently testing a unit outputting 177 hp.

The supplemental power would come from another turbocharger in a production guise, but for testing purposes comes from a supercharger feeding a turbo taken from Ford's 1.6-liter, four-cylinder Ecoboost. A hi-po option would be slated some kind of "performance version of the Focus positioned some distance below the forthcoming 247bhp Focus ST."

Or, if Ford could really get that output to work for production the engine could be an option for the Fiesta ST. Shown off last year, the hotted-up Fiesta was paired with a 180-hp, 177-lb-ft version of the 1.6-liter Ecoboost. Granted, this is all hypothetical, but even with the loss of a noticeable chunk of torque the idea might have its merits.

Ford's tiny 1.0-liter EcoBoost to net 177 hp? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Fiesta ST Concept is a five-door street tough

Chris Shunk — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 12:58:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, LA Auto Show, Performance, Hatchback, Ford

If you're wondering about the future of Ford powertrains, the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show and the 2013 Ford Escape should provide all the clues you need. The entry-level crossover features a pair of EcoBoost four-cylinder engines and exactly zero V6 options.

The smallest EcoBoost displaces only 1.6 liters, and promises terrific fuel economy and performance. That engine is the thriftiest engine in the Escape, but what if it were to reside under the hood of something much smaller? That's where the Fiesta ST Concept comes into play. The performance-oriented Fiesta is on display at the Ford exhibit in LA, and though it's a showcar for now, this B-segment hatch looks production ready.

Ford claims that in this application, the 1.6-liter EcoBoost delivers 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque - a whopping 60 more ponies than the naturally aspirated 1.6 featured in the garden-variety production Fiesta. Given that the base Fiesta is only 2,600 pounds, we're guessing 180 horsepower is more than enough punch to turn the Fiesta into one heck of a fun ride.

The Fiesta ST concept certainly looks the part of a high-performance hatch, with a gaping, aggressive black mesh grille, attractive body-colored moldings and chunky five-spoke 17-inch wheels. Hit the jump to read over the Ford press release, and feel free to click on the gallery above for our high-resolution photos.

Continue reading Ford Fiesta ST Concept is a five-door street tough

Ford Fiesta ST Concept is a five-door street tough originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford bringing five-door Fiesta ST concept to LA Auto Show

Steven J. Ewing — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:01:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, LA Auto Show, Performance, Hatchback, Ford

Ford already debuted the Fiesta ST concept at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, but if you recall, that show car was based on the three-door Fiesta that isn't available here in the United States. Now, Ford is showing off a proper five-door version of the Fiesta ST, set to debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in two weeks.

Ford still tells us that the Fiesta ST is purely a concept right now, but the fact that both three- and five-door variants of the concept have been made leads us to believe that we'll eventually see a production version. What's more, Ford's own press release states, "The five-door Fiesta ST Concept shows the promise for a globally available performance model." Here's hoping.

Just like the three-door concept from Frankfurt, the five-door Fiesta ST is powered by Ford's new 1.6-liter EcoBoost inline four-cylinder engine, good for 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. Like its big brother, the Focus ST, the Fiesta ST concept uses a front-wheel-drive setup, with power being sent to the wheels via a six-speed manual transmission.

Speaking of the Focus ST, we already saw the production car alongside the three-door Fiesta ST in Frankfurt, but Ford has announced that it will debut the left-hand-drive, North American-spec version of the car in Los Angeles, as well. The Focus ST is powered by Ford's 2.0-liter EcoBoost four, good for 250 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque, and features amenities like Recaro seats, a performance-tuned suspension and upgraded wheels, tires and brakes.

See what the Fiesta ST concept looks like with an extra set of doors in our attached high-res image gallery, and follow the jump for Ford's official release on the new concept.

Continue reading Ford bringing five-door Fiesta ST concept to LA Auto Show

Ford bringing five-door Fiesta ST concept to LA Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Fiesta ST Concept is tiny-tough hotness

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 03:15:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Frankfurt Motor Show, Performance, Hatchback, Ford

Meet the Fiesta ST concept - it's all the goodness of the newly introduced Focus ST, just in a smaller package. It looks just about ready to hit the streets, and that's a good thing, since
Ford says that it is "seriously looking" at bringing this hot little number to production.

The beating heart under the Fiesta ST's bonnet is a 1.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder, producing somewhere between 175 and 180 horsepower. The concept car uses a six-speed manual transmission and sends power exclusively to the front wheels, and Ford claims that the Fiesta ST is capable of running to 62 miles per hour in under seven seconds.

The big reason why we're hoping the Fiesta ST gets the go-ahead? Ford says that the car will be a global model, meaning we'll have two new Ford performance products to sink our teeth into in the United States. We've seen plenty of spy shots of the hotted-up Fiesta, so we're fairly confident that this little darling will see the light of day sometime after the Focus ST goes on sale. The question is, will we get the three-door configuration, or will it spawn a set of rear doors?

We'll have a slew of live images direct from the Frankfurt Messe in short order. For now, hit the jump to read over Ford's official press release.

Continue reading Ford Fiesta ST Concept is tiny-tough hotness

Ford Fiesta ST Concept is tiny-tough hotness originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 03:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Fiesta ST tackles the 'Ring

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 17 May 2011 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Hatchback, Ford

Ford Fiesta ST spy shots - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ford's tiny-tough Fiesta ST is getting closer to production, and our spies recently captured this revised prototype being put through its paces out on the Nürburgring. This latest tester clearly sports a huge grille opening with a visible intercooler, large wheels and a revised rear exhaust.

The Fiesta ST will be powered by Ford's 1.6-liter EcoBoost inline-four, with an expected 180 horsepower running to those front wheels. We don't doubt that the boosted Fiesta will be a pretty slick little hot hatch, and we'll have the full details when the car makes its official debut later this year. In the meantime, click through our high-res image gallery to see the three-door test mule running 'round the 'Ring.

Ford Fiesta ST tackles the 'Ring originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 May 2011 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Ford Fiesta ST to get 180 horsepower

Steven J. Ewing — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 09:40:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Hatchback, Ford

Ford Fiesta ST spy shots - Click above for high-res image gallery

Much like its big brother - the Focus - Ford's B-segment Fiesta will get a sportier ST version in the coming years. We've seen spy shots of what is clearly a tuned up Fiesta out testing, complete with a front-mount intercooler, larger wheels and a performance exhaust.

Autocar now reports that when the Fiesta ST launches near the end of 2012, it will be powered by Ford's 1.6-liter EcoBoost inline-four, cranking out somewhere around 180 horsepower. The front-drive hatch will likely use a six-speed manual transmission to send its power to the wheels, and with revised suspension geometry, beefier brakes and a host of interior upgrades likely on tap, we expect the ST to be a worthy competitor for pint-sized hot hatches like the Mini Cooper S.

Ford has confirmed that the Focus ST will be sold here in the United States, but the fate of the Fiesta ST is still undecided. Naturally, consider our fingers crossed.

Gallery: Spy Shots 2012: Ford Fiesta ST

[Source: Autocar | Images: KGP Photography]

Report: Ford Fiesta ST to get 180 horsepower originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Ford Fiesta ST gets the nod... but will we?

Zach Bowman — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 19:21:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Europe, Hatchback, Ford, Rumormill

The fine folk at Auto Express are reporting that the powerful Ford Fiesta ST has gotten the official go ahead from the suits in Europe. If all of the whispers making their way around the internet right now are true, our cousins across the pond will be getting a crack at a 180-horsepower version of the Blue Oval's tiny hatch very soon.

All of that pep should come courtesy of a 1.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, and should help the Fiesta get to 60 mph in under seven seconds. Odds are the forced induction engine will be coupled to either a six-speed manual transmission or the company's new dual-clutch gear box.

But does that mean we'll get to enjoy the same kind of fun in our neck of the woods? It's hard to say, but since Ford is openly embracing a new global philosophy, a Fiesta ST for America isn't completely out the question. Consider our fingers crossed.

[Source: Auto Express]

Report: Ford Fiesta ST gets the nod... but will we? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 19:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Next Ford Fiesta ST shelved

Dan Roth — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Hatchback, Ford, UK

Ford is saying that the time is no longer ideal to introduce the hot rod Fiesta ST, but we beg to differ. When is it ever the wrong time to bring the performance guns to market? The sales might not actually support our enthusiasm for the car, as automotive markets are sagging globally, and so the official decision has been made to put the Fiesta ST on the shelf for now. All may not be lost, however. Later on in this Fiesta's lifecycle, Ford might pull the zoomy ST back into the light of day as a way to keep interest in the model going. No matter what happens, Ford's saying that the Fiesta ST will be going away until 2012, at least.

[Source: Autocar, Photo: whatcar]

REPORT: Next Ford Fiesta ST shelved originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Mar 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Fiesta XR4 launches in the land of Oz

Alex Nunez — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: Hatchback, Ford

Click image for hi-res gallery

All the B-car hubbub this weekend centered around the nifty new Mazda2, which we seriously hope to see in the US at some poin tin the future. At Australia's Melbourne International Motor Show, however, Ford showed off its tried-and-true Fiesta in that market's XR performance trim. The Fiesta XR4, looking very swank in it's decidedly Shelby-looking blue-on-white stripe package, is really just a rebadged Euro-market Fiesta ST.

That's no bad thing, as the small hatch (it's slotted below the Focus) pumps out 150 horsepower and 140 lb-ft of torque from its 2.0-liter four cylinder. The only transmission offered on the XR version is a five-speed manual, and we're confident that the car's target audience wouldn't have it any other way. Very snazzy wheels wrapped in Pirelli P Zero rubber combine with great-looking factory bodywork to create an attractive and desirable overall package.

This settles it: we're moving to Australia. It's not enough that they get their killer home-market Ford rear-drivers like the FPV GT, but they get the best stuff Ford of Europe has on offer as well (Fiesta, Focus)? We give up. This weekend, it was announced that Australia's getting the new Mondeo, too. Talk about a glut of riches.

Press release after the jump.

[Source: Ford Australia]

Gallery: 2007 Ford Fiesta XR4 (AUDM)

Continue reading Ford Fiesta XR4 launches in the land of Oz

Ford Fiesta XR4 launches in the land of Oz originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Mar 2007 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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10-unit Focus ST White Edition for Japan

Alex Nunez — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 15:33:00 EST

Filed under: Japan, Hatchback, Ford

Specialized, market-specific limited edition color and trim packages are popular in Japan, and Ford has just announced a very exclusive new addition to that segment: the Focus ST White.

Limited to 10 units, the Focus ST White (Japan's traditional racing color) can only be reserved on the web beginning August 1, 2006. If more than ten potential customers register (bet on it), names will be drawn to see who gets to pony up ¥3,200,000 ($27,000 USD) for one of the cars.

Mechanically, nothing differentiates it from any other Focus ST. It's still powered by the 2.5L turbocharged 5 cylinder and makes 225 horsepower.

Until recently, the ST had been available in Japan in just two colors: Electric Orange and Performance Blue. On July 13th, dealers in the country began sale of the Focus and Fiesta ST Black editions. All of these pale compared to the ST White, though. In it, Ford of Japan has achieved something quite remarkable: they have taken a standard issue car in a color that is readily available in other markets and made it into one of the most exotic vehicles to be found in Japan. Amazing.

If the Japanese car culture is as advanced and knowledgable as it seems, the White STs will turn heads wherever they go. You may find this color package underwhelming, but in Japan, these cars will be scarcer than the new Cornes Ferrari.

(More photos after the jump)

[Source: Ford Japan (translated)]

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10-unit Focus ST White Edition for Japan originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Jul 2006 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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