Reviews for the 2014 Ford Fiesta ST are coming in, and critics love the sporty hot hatchback with EcoBoost power. The gutsy 1.6 liter EcoBoost is rated at 197 ponies from the factory and 202 ft-lbs of torque, though everybody knows that there is plenty of power left on the table. Over in Europe, the Old World tuners of modern cars have wasted no time in tapping into the potential of the Fiesta ST 

Auto Evolution reports that Germany’s oddly-named Loder1899 has taken the Fiesta ST and added the usual mix of intake, exhaust, and ECU tuning to boost horsepower and torque by nearly 20% This pocket rocket just got a lot more interesting.

As with all of Ford’s EcoBoost engines, the teensy 1.6 liter motor is restricted from the factory by emissions and fuel economy concerns. But out in the real world such concerns are the realm of politics and treehuggers. All us gearheads want is more power across a wider RPM range, and that’s exactly what Loder gave Fiesta ST fans.

By adding a better-flowing exhaust, a cold air intake kit, and reflashing the ECU with a more aggressive tune, Loder was able to boost output to 235 hp and 247 ft-lbs of torque. That’s a substantial bump in the tiny hatchback, and Loder claims a 0.4 second decrease in the 0 to 60 mph time as a result.

Not content with modding the engine, Loder also added some big Brembo brakes and Sparco racing seats, all but insisting you take this pocket rocket to the local autocross scene. With a face and engine like that, how could you say no?