The Fiesta ST’s arrival has not met with the same enthusiasm as the last fast Ford we tested – the Focus RS – not least because it is a far less extreme device. More than that, it appears less desirable than the more potent Renault Clio 182 Cup and the more stylish Mini Cooper Works – especially since rumours suggested that it would provide 170bhp, not 148bhp. Ford claims that it always intended to offer a more affordable package in the Fiesta, not only in price, but also insurability, the ST being up to three groups lower than some rivals. For the young buyers it’s aimed at, that matters.
The ST motifs are distinctive when added to the plain Fiesta. Crystalline fog lamps flank an aggressive grille and there are pronounced side skirts, a diffuser-style rear bumper and ducktail spoiler. It sits low over huge 17in alloy wheels, though not low enough to our eyes. You can also add ‘racing stripes’ from nose to tail, plus side stripes with the new, RS-style ST script.
But this is just decoration. The ST is the first road car from Ford’s TeamRS, so it’s what lies beneath that interests us. Power comes from the same Duratec 1999cc twin-cam four that you’ll find in the Mondeo and Focus, but for the Fiesta it produces 148bhp at 6000rpm and 140lb ft of torque at 4500rpm. Drive heads to the front wheels through a strengthened Durashift five-speed gearbox, re-engineered with closer ratios and a shorter throw.
The layout of the Fiesta’s MacPherson strut front, torsion beam rear suspension is unaltered, but detail changes abound. The front subframe is strengthened, the front springs are 45 per cent stiffer, the rears 13 per cent tauter and the dampers are retuned. The front anti-roll bar is thicker, the rear torsion beam stronger and the front wheels run more negative camber. The steering rack is quicker too, while the front brakes use Focus ST170 calipers and there are discs at the rear. Strangely, ESP, offered on left-hand drive STs, is not yet available here.