The New Ford Fiesta ST drive review

After five years of silence is another Fiesta ST. He gets busy, because he must against a whole host species record.

Officially, this is the second generation of the Ford Fiesta ST, but really we should not hesitate to speak of the third, because in 1981 there was also a rapid Fiesta XR2 only called that then.

It's not a huge job this ST been brewing since the sportier handling lies mainly in the tuning of the dampers, springs and controls.

The higher speeds are possible with the ST, are also under the bonnet, where the 1.6-liter Ecoboost Focus of houses. The ST has a six-speed gearbox, course manual.

On the street you will immediately recognize the ST are prominent grille with black honeycomb grille, more rugged bumpers and skirts, the 17-inch wheels, dual exhaust and fairly large rear spoiler. There are three special exterior colors for the ST, the Blue Spirit safe and more extroverted Molten Orange and Red Race.

Energetic and spicy
Ford Fiesta ST will cost 25,495 euros, which is only a little more than six grand a Fiesta 1.0 EcoBoost 125 hp costs.

That 'only' is certainly justified, because you will not only get 182 hp under the pedal, significantly more so, and a beautiful exterior, but a nicer interior, aluminum pedals, Recaro's, an ST steering wheel and gear shift, some carbon fiber strips in the dashboard and a sound imposer. The ST sounds so energetic and spicier than a regular Fiesta, especially when the accelerator is pressed firmly.

The Fiesta has a more direct control to the sportiness to a higher level, but not with variable ratio, such as the Focus ST. Really we missed it otherwise not.

Despite the fact that the electrical excitation, there is still a satisfying steering feel, which not only comes with an improved bearing of the device itself, but also by the new steering knuckles (control joints). The chassis of the Ford Fiesta ST is reduced by half an inch, the springs and dampers and torsion beam rear are harder elected and he's nice rubber: Bridgestone Potenza's.

With its 182 hp, the little Ford are good for 220 km / h and a sprint from 0 to 100 in 6.6 seconds. The average consumption is 5.9 liters per 100 km (1 in 16.9) and CO2 emissions are 138 grams per kilometer.

Temperament
With its 240 Nm of torque, the ST is a nippy little car, even with a little more temperamental than the Focus ST. See the Focus ST as an athlete calm and Fiesta ST as a light spitfire.

Most manufacturers set the chassis of their hot hatchbacks so that the so-called lift off over steer completely gone, the back puts no step outside if you're in a fast corner gas release.

Ford has fortunately not for the strategy chosen, the wet, the tail of the ST tasty 'loose', and it's a great fun game much speed into a turn to take, so abruptly lifts the back moves outward - and inside the nose - and exactly on the ideal line with a nice amount of gas to accelerate the bend.

The ESP has three positions, where 'fully' is intended for those who are convinced that their reflexes fast enough to counter oversteer.

Who does not entirely sure, can have fun with the ST experience in sport mode, then turn on the rear still sufficient steps aside to the little Ford to play.

He has exactly the handling characteristics for which the earlier Peugeot 205 GTI was so celebrated. In a few months, the French with a new one, the 208 GTI. Until that time, the Ford Fiesta ST in each case 'the new 205 GTI. But let's also the new Renault Clio RS is not forgotten in the battle for the gold at the little hot hatches.