The line of turbocharged EcoBoost engines built by Ford represent enormous performance in the right hands. Ford’s own engineers know this, and they’re working to put EcoBoost engines into every Ford model, including the cute sub-compact Fiesta.
Ford has displayed an EcoBoost-powered Fiesta ST before, but now at the Geneva Auto Show in Switzerland the Blue Oval has revealed specs and details on an actual production model…as well as hinting that this very same ST may even come over to the U.S. We can only hope.
The Ford Fiesta ST is initially destined only for Europe, though Ford may bring it to North America.
On tap is a 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine cranking out 180 PS, or 177 horsepower, with a top speed of around 125 mph. More importantly to us though, the Fiesta ST ditches two doors, going from a sedan to a coupe. We think it is a dramatic aesthetic improvement for Ford’s economy offering, along with the bigger wheels and aggressive grille. Other performance features include a torque-vectoring differential to reduce torque steer and a highly-tuned suspension for throwing the ST into the twisties.
Pricing was not announced (we expect it to slot in around $23,000) and Ford has only confirmed availability in Europe. But with a wink and a nod, Ford also acknowledged that it was remaining “open” to bringing the Fiesta ST to other markets, including North America, which is listed on the Ford website that it’s due for a late 2012 release. We think it’d be a huge misstep to deny Americans of a hot hatchback like the Fiesta ST, so count us on board with the “Bring it here!” crowd.