Ford has made quite a big deal out of the 2013 Focus ST, and for good reason. The 252 horsepower, EcoBoost-powered hot hatch is exactly the car young people are craving…though may not necessarily be able to afford. Starting at around $23,700, the Focus ST is a performance bargain, but that doesn’t mean it is exactly cheap.
To slot in just below the Focus ST, Ford is planning to introduce another hot hatch, this one based on the Fiesta subcompact. The Ford Fiesta ST has been caught out in the wild testing, and while we can’t share with you the photos, Autoblog does report on some new details regarding this smallish performance hatchback.
Like its larger sibling, the Fiesta ST gets a four-cylinder EcoBoost engine, though it displaces just 1.6 liters compared to the Focus ST’s 2.0 liter EcoBoost. Even so, the 1.6 liter engine is a feisty motor, delivering 180 horsepower and 177 ft-lbs of torque, a big step up from the 120 horsepower and 117 ft-lbs of torque in the stock Fiesta.
Alas, early spy photos that suggested a Fiesta coupe seem to be fading, with the new test mule wearing four-doors, not two. But drivers will find a six-speed manual to help send power to the front wheels, and a torque-vectoring differential will keep the steering wheel aimed straight. A new look is also due for the Fiesta, which will wear 17-inch wheels and a bodykit aimed at heightening its street cred.
Expect pricing for the Fiesta ST to fall in the $20,000 range, making it a real performance bargain for those who want to drive in style…but on a budget.
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