Ford first showed off the Fiesta ST concept at the Frankfurt show earlier this year, touting the three-door concept as a go-fast version of the popular global subcompact. Now Ford has unveiled a five-door version of the Fiesta ST, which will go on display at the Los Angeles auto show later this month.
The difference in number of doors is significant: Ford sells the standard Fiesta as a three- or five-door hatchback in Europe, but the American market only receives the five-door version. Showing off the five-door version in L.A. lends us hope that the hot Fiesta ST might make its way to our shores.
Motivation comes from a 1.6-liter EcoBoost inline-four, rated at 177 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque, with power channeled to the front wheels via a six speed manual transmission. The Fiesta ST gets a racy new body kit, which resembles that of the Focus ST, as well as unique 17-inch wheels, Recaro seats, and upgraded suspension components.
“The suspension is designed to reward excellent drivers, and flatter novices,” said Jamal Hameedi, SVT chief nameplate engineer.
Hameedi said the Fiesta ST should manage the 0-to-60-mph sprint in about seven seconds, and would be capable of a top speed of at least 140 mph.
Ford stresses that the Fiesta ST is only a concept car, and that there are no announcements about plans for production — “but it does demonstrate how we could extend the global ST lineup,” hints Hameedi.
The Ford Focus ST was only a concept car when it debuted at the Paris auto show in 2010, and now the car is a confirmed production model that will go on sale some time next year. Based on that timeline, we’d say it is almost certain that the Fiesta ST will go into production — and be sold in the U.S. — at some point in the future.
