Ford: Fiesta News
#161
Drifting
Slightly nicer than the 89' Festiva I bought for pizza delivery back in HS at the staggering price of $500. It had 3 whole cylinders and a cherry bomb exhaust with full weight reduction..... okay admittedly somehow it was fast till about 45mph.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/1988-1989_Ford_Festiva_--_02-22-2010.jpg/800px-1988-1989_Ford_Festiva_--_02-22-2010.jpg)
#162
Moderator
Had a Fiesta SE hatch for a rental for a couple days. Not a bad little car, only complaints I had were the console/armrest sucked & wasn't long enough, buzzy vibrating mirrors on the highway & the trans was a little jerky at parking lot speeds. But this was on a rental with 30k on it.
I'd drive one
Though I'd go for the ST or minimum a Titanium.
I'd drive one
![Shrug](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/shrug.gif)
#163
Race Director
2018 Ford Fiesta hatchback spotted | Autoweek
The Ford Fiesta will grow in size when it is redesigned for the 2018 model year, new spy photographs show.
The Fiesta has been criticized for a cramped interior relative to its competitors, and the upcoming redesign aims to address that and other concerns.
Sources have said the Fiesta, along with the 2018 Focus, likely will lose the dual-clutch transmission that has damaged Ford’s third-party quality ratings in recent years.
The Fiesta hatchback spotted this week has a longer wheelbase and a new silhouette with a nose that looks less rounded than that of the current model. It’s expected to arrive in the U.S. by mid-2017. The taillights move from a vertical orientation to a horizontal look that extends onto the tailgate and gives the car a wider look.
The seventh generation of the Fiesta will mark the first full redesign for Ford’s smallest U.S. car since the 2009 model year. A 2013 freshening included new front and rear fascia.
The Fiesta has been criticized for a cramped interior relative to its competitors, and the upcoming redesign aims to address that and other concerns.
Sources have said the Fiesta, along with the 2018 Focus, likely will lose the dual-clutch transmission that has damaged Ford’s third-party quality ratings in recent years.
The Fiesta hatchback spotted this week has a longer wheelbase and a new silhouette with a nose that looks less rounded than that of the current model. It’s expected to arrive in the U.S. by mid-2017. The taillights move from a vertical orientation to a horizontal look that extends onto the tailgate and gives the car a wider look.
The seventh generation of the Fiesta will mark the first full redesign for Ford’s smallest U.S. car since the 2009 model year. A 2013 freshening included new front and rear fascia.
#165
Azine Jabroni
Seems like a good move by Ford to drop the DCT. I just don't feel like it's necessary on a slower model.
#166
Moderator
I didn't mind the DCT (assuming that's what it had) on the Fiesta I had as a rental last year. A little jerky at parking lot speeds, but not bad above that.
#167
Moderator
Meet the brand new Ford Fiesta - Euro Market
Meet the brand new Ford Fiesta | Top Gear
First images of all new 2017 Ford Fiesta revealed. Like it?
So this is it: the latest version of Britain’s best-selling car, the Ford Fiesta. The car that has moved 17 million copies since it launched in the mid-1970s.
This red one’s an ST-Line. It’s one of four variants Ford revealed at tonight’s glitzy launch event. Spoilers, skirts and sports suspension – expect the next ST-proper to look like this but more so.
Of course it’s Fiestas like the brown, five-door Titanium that most will buy. OK possibly not in brown. But those not-too-sporty mid-to-upper trims are where Ford does the bulk of its trade. And the claim is that it now shows a whole lot of higher technology and better quality.
Because the small-car market is diversifying, and because premium brands’ small-car sales rose 25 per cent in the past year alone, Ford also has Fiestas aimed at answering those questions. The chunky-looking one is called the Fiesta ‘Active’ – a pseudo-crossover with body-cladding, roof-rails and elevated ride-height. That’s set to join the line-up soon after launch. The white one is a super-posh Vignale, which isn’t only about the lux interior but a better ‘customer experience’ from the dealer at both sales and service time.
Available with three- or five-doors, the new Fiesta is appreciably bigger than the car it replaces. Inside, the old Fiesta’s interior was designed to ape a technology that, by the time it was released, didn’t really exist – a mobile phone with actual, physical buttons.
The new one gets a floating centre-screen (8in in these cars) running SYNC3 – the latest version of Ford’s much-maligned infotainment software. This time the screen is said to be far more responsive ‘with the highest resolution in the industry’. It runs greatly smarter voice-recognition abilities too. The screen setup cuts some 20 hard-buttons out of the old car’s total. The optional stereo is by B&O and has many watts.
Ford’s calling the Fiesta the “world’s most technologically advanced small car”. Sensors monitor the path ahead as far away as 130 metres for the collision mitigation system – that’s 20 times further than the old one. They can detect pedestrians as well as vehicles.
More sensors around the car give it myriad more ways to assist you. On the menu are – deep breath – blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist (not just lane departure warning, note), blind-spot warning, cross-traffic warning when reversing, active parking with perpendicular capability, and adaptive cruise control. None of them new, but it’s a list that’s unique among superminis.
Most people will go for more expensive trim levels (top-spec Titanium accounts for nearly half of Fiestas sold so far this year), so even Style and Zetec are bound to be well equipped. Now Ford has the Ka+ to do its budget-bidding, it doesn’t need to cheapen the Fiesta.
Which is why the designers get very aerated about the quality of the cabin materials. The words ‘premium’, ‘upscale’ and ‘craftsmanship’ keep cropping up. The Vignale’s cabin features a double-stitched dash top, and the same piece is soft-touch on the rest of the range. A second smaller colour screen sits between the speedo and rev-counter.
The engine line-up is a familiar one, but improved. And that’s fine. Ford does good engines. There’s the 1.0-litre, three-cylinder EcoBoost with 100, 125 or 140PS. To save fuel, it features the world’s first cylinder deactivation on a three-cylinder. A 1.5-litre diesel comes in two versions, the ‘high-power’ one topping out 120PS. The new entry-level motor is a 1.1-litre triple (so-long ancient 1.25). That engine gets a five-speed manual, while the EcoBoost gets a new manual gearbox, a six-speeder at last, or an auto.
The outgoing Fiesta is the best car in its class when it comes to the business of driving, years after its launch. Ford is candid that the new car is a ‘fine-tuned’ development, not an all-new start. The claim is that the new one delivers more grip (thanks to a wider track) and better steering feel. Disc brakes at the back mean, they say, the Fiesta can stop in similar distance to a 997-era 911.
But at the same time it’s said to be comfier. Ride quality is said to be better. So is refinement, to the point where Ford says it’s the quietest car in its class.
As to the design, the team says it “listened to the customers” who said they love the existing car. Course they do, they bought one. So the design of the new car hasn’t exactly shaken things up. But it’s a neat job, if in the case of the sill-extended ST-Line, a little porky looking in the flesh. That’s just our opinion. YMMV. It’ll go on sale next June. In the meantime, tell us what you think below.
First images of all new 2017 Ford Fiesta revealed. Like it?
So this is it: the latest version of Britain’s best-selling car, the Ford Fiesta. The car that has moved 17 million copies since it launched in the mid-1970s.
This red one’s an ST-Line. It’s one of four variants Ford revealed at tonight’s glitzy launch event. Spoilers, skirts and sports suspension – expect the next ST-proper to look like this but more so.
Of course it’s Fiestas like the brown, five-door Titanium that most will buy. OK possibly not in brown. But those not-too-sporty mid-to-upper trims are where Ford does the bulk of its trade. And the claim is that it now shows a whole lot of higher technology and better quality.
Because the small-car market is diversifying, and because premium brands’ small-car sales rose 25 per cent in the past year alone, Ford also has Fiestas aimed at answering those questions. The chunky-looking one is called the Fiesta ‘Active’ – a pseudo-crossover with body-cladding, roof-rails and elevated ride-height. That’s set to join the line-up soon after launch. The white one is a super-posh Vignale, which isn’t only about the lux interior but a better ‘customer experience’ from the dealer at both sales and service time.
Available with three- or five-doors, the new Fiesta is appreciably bigger than the car it replaces. Inside, the old Fiesta’s interior was designed to ape a technology that, by the time it was released, didn’t really exist – a mobile phone with actual, physical buttons.
The new one gets a floating centre-screen (8in in these cars) running SYNC3 – the latest version of Ford’s much-maligned infotainment software. This time the screen is said to be far more responsive ‘with the highest resolution in the industry’. It runs greatly smarter voice-recognition abilities too. The screen setup cuts some 20 hard-buttons out of the old car’s total. The optional stereo is by B&O and has many watts.
Ford’s calling the Fiesta the “world’s most technologically advanced small car”. Sensors monitor the path ahead as far away as 130 metres for the collision mitigation system – that’s 20 times further than the old one. They can detect pedestrians as well as vehicles.
More sensors around the car give it myriad more ways to assist you. On the menu are – deep breath – blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist (not just lane departure warning, note), blind-spot warning, cross-traffic warning when reversing, active parking with perpendicular capability, and adaptive cruise control. None of them new, but it’s a list that’s unique among superminis.
Most people will go for more expensive trim levels (top-spec Titanium accounts for nearly half of Fiestas sold so far this year), so even Style and Zetec are bound to be well equipped. Now Ford has the Ka+ to do its budget-bidding, it doesn’t need to cheapen the Fiesta.
Which is why the designers get very aerated about the quality of the cabin materials. The words ‘premium’, ‘upscale’ and ‘craftsmanship’ keep cropping up. The Vignale’s cabin features a double-stitched dash top, and the same piece is soft-touch on the rest of the range. A second smaller colour screen sits between the speedo and rev-counter.
The engine line-up is a familiar one, but improved. And that’s fine. Ford does good engines. There’s the 1.0-litre, three-cylinder EcoBoost with 100, 125 or 140PS. To save fuel, it features the world’s first cylinder deactivation on a three-cylinder. A 1.5-litre diesel comes in two versions, the ‘high-power’ one topping out 120PS. The new entry-level motor is a 1.1-litre triple (so-long ancient 1.25). That engine gets a five-speed manual, while the EcoBoost gets a new manual gearbox, a six-speeder at last, or an auto.
The outgoing Fiesta is the best car in its class when it comes to the business of driving, years after its launch. Ford is candid that the new car is a ‘fine-tuned’ development, not an all-new start. The claim is that the new one delivers more grip (thanks to a wider track) and better steering feel. Disc brakes at the back mean, they say, the Fiesta can stop in similar distance to a 997-era 911.
But at the same time it’s said to be comfier. Ride quality is said to be better. So is refinement, to the point where Ford says it’s the quietest car in its class.
As to the design, the team says it “listened to the customers” who said they love the existing car. Course they do, they bought one. So the design of the new car hasn’t exactly shaken things up. But it’s a neat job, if in the case of the sill-extended ST-Line, a little porky looking in the flesh. That’s just our opinion. YMMV. It’ll go on sale next June. In the meantime, tell us what you think below.
#168
Moderator
![](http://www.topgear.com/sites/default/files/styles/fit_1960x1102/public/images/news-article/carousel/2016/11/68d150b63fb2c99eb3e16561a86b578e/ford_fiesta2016_range_01_1.jpg?itok=NPP7lVSn)
![](http://www.topgear.com/sites/default/files/styles/fit_1960x1102/public/images/news-article/carousel/2016/11/add3760ab261141ef2d18e1c42f37011/ford_fiesta_st-line_34_front.jpg?itok=iOZRqnWr)
![](http://www.topgear.com/sites/default/files/styles/fit_1960x1102/public/images/news-article/carousel/2016/11/68d150b63fb2c99eb3e16561a86b578e/ford_fiesta_active_profile.jpg?itok=T-HgO08s)
![](http://www.topgear.com/sites/default/files/styles/fit_1960x1102/public/images/news-article/carousel/2016/11/68d150b63fb2c99eb3e16561a86b578e/ford_fiesta_titanium_34_front.jpg?itok=Nb_8Fevl)
![](http://www.topgear.com/sites/default/files/styles/fit_1960x1102/public/images/news-article/carousel/2016/11/68d150b63fb2c99eb3e16561a86b578e/ford_fiesta_vignale_34_rear.jpg?itok=R-b8-bfK)
#169
Moderator
![](http://www.topgear.com/sites/default/files/styles/fit_1960x1102/public/images/news-article/carousel/2016/11/68d150b63fb2c99eb3e16561a86b578e/ford_fiesta_vignale_cockpit.jpg?itok=ne6WGvFq)
![](http://www.topgear.com/sites/default/files/styles/fit_1960x1102/public/images/news-article/carousel/2016/11/68d150b63fb2c99eb3e16561a86b578e/ford_fiesta_st-line_middle_console.jpg?itok=m-H6Pvwu)
#170
Moderator
Assuming the US will get similar, minus the 3-door & diesel.
Looks a bit 'softer' than the current Fiesta.
Looks a bit 'softer' than the current Fiesta.
#171
Moderator
Ford Fiesta Active
https://www.netcarshow.com/ford/2017-fiesta_active/
The Ford Fiesta Active is the first Fiesta crossover model, combining rugged SUV-inspired styling that includes raised ride-height, roof bars and additional cladding; hatchback practicality; and true Fiesta driving dynamics.
Ford Fiesta Active is further differentiated by a raised suspension profile, with dark cladding flowing from the front bumper lip, through the wheel arches and side profile to the rear. A hexagonal grille design features along with a dark element for the liftgate licence plate area, contrast painted roof, and roof bars, all of which contribute to a more rugged, versatile feel.
Ford Fiesta Active is further differentiated by a raised suspension profile, with dark cladding flowing from the front bumper lip, through the wheel arches and side profile to the rear. A hexagonal grille design features along with a dark element for the liftgate licence plate area, contrast painted roof, and roof bars, all of which contribute to a more rugged, versatile feel.
#172
Moderator
![](https://www.netcarshow.com/Ford-Fiesta_Active-2017-1600-01.jpg)
![](https://www.netcarshow.com/Ford-Fiesta_Active-2017-1600-02.jpg)
![](https://www.netcarshow.com/Ford-Fiesta_Active-2017-1600-03.jpg)
![](https://www.netcarshow.com/Ford-Fiesta_Active-2017-1280-05.jpg)
![](https://www.netcarshow.com/Ford-Fiesta_Active-2017-1600-0b.jpg)
#173
Ex-OEM King
that interior looks good!
Unfortunately, the terrible crossover-like monstrosity will be the best selling one in the US because having a slightly lifted hatchback is more cool than a normal one.
Unfortunately, the terrible crossover-like monstrosity will be the best selling one in the US because having a slightly lifted hatchback is more cool than a normal one.
#174
Moderator
Which is why we have the HR-V & GLA, and no longer get the Legacy wagon (along with poor US wagon sales in general).
I'd much rather see the A-class MBZ here than the GLA.
Waiting to see the true Fiesta ST, but not sure I like the new 'softer' looking Fiesta.
I'd much rather see the A-class MBZ here than the GLA.
Waiting to see the true Fiesta ST, but not sure I like the new 'softer' looking Fiesta.
#175
2024 Honda Civic Type R
Looks like Ford is going with the "iPad dash" like the others. Regardless, I think the interior looks great.
That first interior photo of the white 3-door looks like it has a full leather dash!
That first interior photo of the white 3-door looks like it has a full leather dash!
#176
Moderator
Wonder if they're bringing the Vignale trims here? Since Titanium is the highest non-ST trim currently.
#177
Moderator
Behold the new, quite different Ford Fiesta ST | Top Gear
A three-cylinder engine, many driving modes... the Ford Fiesta ST gets techy
It’s the brand new Ford Fiesta ST. And similar though it may look to the car it replaces, it really is brand new beneath. And it’s exhibiting quite a philosophy change.
The current ST is a superb little hot hatchback that keeps things simple, the turbocharger on its engine the only notable nod to ‘technology’.
Its replacement, however, is different. Out goes a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, replaced by a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol with 197bhp and 214lb ft.
That makes it exactly as powerful as the Fiesta ST200, and its 6.7sec 0-62mph time is identical, too. But the way the performance feels could be quite different.
The engine is an all-new unit in Ford’s Ecoboost range, and it’s the first three-cylinder we’ve seen in a bona fide hot hatch. As if that’s not enough, it can run on two cylinders too, deactivating one under light throttle loads. The idea, as ever with these systems, is that it de- and reactivates quick enough to never affect performance.
Lots of clever stuff like direct fuel injection and twin-independent variable cam timing help make the engine very efficient, says Ford, with claimed CO2 emissions of 114g/km. Although by the time the new Fiesta ST launches, that will no longer secure a bargain car tax rate, and you’ll be paying £140 a year in the UK. Ford does claim (as yet unspecified) improvements in fuel economy, though.
While the engine still drives the front wheels through a manual gearbox, the next big piece of news concerns driving modes. The outgoing Fiesta ST simply has a stability control button, so you can drive with it on, off, or in an intermediate ‘sport’ level.
Now, a drive select system will allow Normal, Sport and Track modes for the steering, engine, stability control and even engine noise, with something called Electronic Sound Enhancement now fitted as standard. Purists will be further upset with 18-inch alloys coming as standard (the old ST is already rather firm on 17s).
There’ll be all manner of personalisation options, including different styling packs and the new Liquid Blue colour, seen here. Happily, the old ST’s Recaro seats remain, and you can have them pointing towards a fancy touchscreen and a posh B&O stereo.
All told, then, it’s a far more multifaceted car than the unashamedly old-school ST it replaces. The aim, we’re told, is for the new Fiesta ST to “deliver a broader appeal for an even wider range of car-buyers”. As such, you can buy three- and five-door versions.
Worried they’ve messed too much with the recipe? Or are you excited by the idea of a funky little three-cylinder hatchback with oodles of tech? Let us know below.
We’ll also bring you more information when we see the car for real at next month’s Geneva motor show…
A three-cylinder engine, many driving modes... the Ford Fiesta ST gets techy
It’s the brand new Ford Fiesta ST. And similar though it may look to the car it replaces, it really is brand new beneath. And it’s exhibiting quite a philosophy change.
The current ST is a superb little hot hatchback that keeps things simple, the turbocharger on its engine the only notable nod to ‘technology’.
Its replacement, however, is different. Out goes a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, replaced by a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol with 197bhp and 214lb ft.
That makes it exactly as powerful as the Fiesta ST200, and its 6.7sec 0-62mph time is identical, too. But the way the performance feels could be quite different.
The engine is an all-new unit in Ford’s Ecoboost range, and it’s the first three-cylinder we’ve seen in a bona fide hot hatch. As if that’s not enough, it can run on two cylinders too, deactivating one under light throttle loads. The idea, as ever with these systems, is that it de- and reactivates quick enough to never affect performance.
Lots of clever stuff like direct fuel injection and twin-independent variable cam timing help make the engine very efficient, says Ford, with claimed CO2 emissions of 114g/km. Although by the time the new Fiesta ST launches, that will no longer secure a bargain car tax rate, and you’ll be paying £140 a year in the UK. Ford does claim (as yet unspecified) improvements in fuel economy, though.
While the engine still drives the front wheels through a manual gearbox, the next big piece of news concerns driving modes. The outgoing Fiesta ST simply has a stability control button, so you can drive with it on, off, or in an intermediate ‘sport’ level.
Now, a drive select system will allow Normal, Sport and Track modes for the steering, engine, stability control and even engine noise, with something called Electronic Sound Enhancement now fitted as standard. Purists will be further upset with 18-inch alloys coming as standard (the old ST is already rather firm on 17s).
There’ll be all manner of personalisation options, including different styling packs and the new Liquid Blue colour, seen here. Happily, the old ST’s Recaro seats remain, and you can have them pointing towards a fancy touchscreen and a posh B&O stereo.
All told, then, it’s a far more multifaceted car than the unashamedly old-school ST it replaces. The aim, we’re told, is for the new Fiesta ST to “deliver a broader appeal for an even wider range of car-buyers”. As such, you can buy three- and five-door versions.
Worried they’ve messed too much with the recipe? Or are you excited by the idea of a funky little three-cylinder hatchback with oodles of tech? Let us know below.
We’ll also bring you more information when we see the car for real at next month’s Geneva motor show…
#178
Moderator
![](http://www.topgear.com/sites/default/files/styles/fit_1960x1102/public/images/news-article/carousel/2017/02/d2a3abdce42141d85a6a538c0b3d6b17/ford_2017_fiesta_st_02.jpg?itok=7WLaO5TQ)
![](http://www.topgear.com/sites/default/files/styles/fit_1960x1102/public/images/news-article/carousel/2017/02/d2a3abdce42141d85a6a538c0b3d6b17/ford_2017_fiesta_st_04.jpg?itok=TffI2rYN)
![](http://www.topgear.com/sites/default/files/styles/fit_1960x1102/public/images/news-article/carousel/2017/02/d2a3abdce42141d85a6a538c0b3d6b17/ford_2017_fiesta_st_03.jpg?itok=fxxuH6kx)
#179
Moderator
![](http://www.topgear.com/sites/default/files/styles/fit_1960x1102/public/images/news-article/carousel/2017/02/f26d93051d040b1f2625df539ff9ea72/ford_2017_fiesta_st_19.jpg?itok=rP_7fVp0)
![](http://www.topgear.com/sites/default/files/styles/fit_1960x1102/public/images/news-article/carousel/2017/02/f26d93051d040b1f2625df539ff9ea72/ford_2017_fiesta_st_16.jpg?itok=aCpOYNk4)
#180
Moderator
Looks a lot less aggressive than the current ST.
#181
Pumped in engine noise? 3-cyl? Well, at least it's all-aluminum. The other EcoBoost engines AFAIK are all iron block. The Fiesta has never been all about power, but hopefully there are the same kind of gains to be safely made on this one. Doubtful.
I prefer the pre-MMC rear much more over this refresh. The wheels are awful as well
I prefer the pre-MMC rear much more over this refresh. The wheels are awful as well
#183
Team Owner
I'm loving the wheels too.
#184
![ugh](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/ugh.gif)
The wheels look like takeoffs from something in the Honda lineup. Just with much better offset.
#186
2024 Honda Civic Type R
I don't really like the wheels and 18s are overkill for that small car. And 4-lug!
Yeah how does the 3-cylinder sound?
Rear does look too vanilla.
The headlight knob looks like a fancy electronic version now!
Yeah how does the 3-cylinder sound?
Rear does look too vanilla.
The headlight knob looks like a fancy electronic version now!
Last edited by RPhilMan1; 02-28-2017 at 02:51 PM.
#187
Ex-OEM King
^ Knob is euro spec, ours will be the normal crappy one we get here without rear fogs.
I like it, the interior is nicely updated and the gauge cluster finally gets a real screen in there. The engine should be fine, it's a Fiesta so what do you expect? Wheels are terrible but that's an easy fix.
If the new Focus comes in liquid blue as an available factory color, I'm scrapping my plans to buy an RS this year and waiting until next. That color is t1ts and has been only used on concept performance cars/truck. If it makes it to production, I'm in.
I like it, the interior is nicely updated and the gauge cluster finally gets a real screen in there. The engine should be fine, it's a Fiesta so what do you expect? Wheels are terrible but that's an easy fix.
If the new Focus comes in liquid blue as an available factory color, I'm scrapping my plans to buy an RS this year and waiting until next. That color is t1ts and has been only used on concept performance cars/truck. If it makes it to production, I'm in.
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#188
Race Director
The Ford Fiesta ST might be a favorite among enthusiasts and autocrossers, but it doesn’t look like Ford sees enough demand to support the next-generation to hit North American shores. According to Carbuzz's interview with Ford Performance Europe’s director Leo Roeks, the hot hatch doesn’t make sense financial sense for Ford in the US. We'd heard rumors the base Fiesta's days in our market were limited, but this confirms that the sportier variant is done here, too.
Roeks explains: “It’s simply a matter of a lack of interest in the B-segment in America. It doesn’t make sense, nor is it possible financially speaking, to import a single trim level, and a niche one at that.” Fulfilling the crossover takeover, the Ecosport seems to be filling the space that the Fiesta currently occupies in Ford’s small car lineup.
While we won’t get the 1.5-liter turbocharged I3 powered Fiesta ST, there’s still hope for the upcoming Focus to have another slate of hot hatch variants that will hit our shores. Of course, that won’t completely scratch the Fiesta ST’s itch, but it’ll be better than nothing.
Read more: Report: Ford Fiesta ST dead in North America | Autoweek
Roeks explains: “It’s simply a matter of a lack of interest in the B-segment in America. It doesn’t make sense, nor is it possible financially speaking, to import a single trim level, and a niche one at that.” Fulfilling the crossover takeover, the Ecosport seems to be filling the space that the Fiesta currently occupies in Ford’s small car lineup.
Roeks also mentioned that the upcoming Fiesta won’t have support for an all-wheel-drive system, which should dash any hopes of Ford slapping an RS badge onto the upcoming car. That’s unfortunate, because there wouldn’t be anything much cooler than a road-ready version of Ford’s Fiesta WRC rally racer.
While we won’t get the 1.5-liter turbocharged I3 powered Fiesta ST, there’s still hope for the upcoming Focus to have another slate of hot hatch variants that will hit our shores. Of course, that won’t completely scratch the Fiesta ST’s itch, but it’ll be better than nothing.
Read more: Report: Ford Fiesta ST dead in North America | Autoweek
#189
That's sad. FiSTs are really fast in autocross.
Maybe the 10th or 40th time I'm saying this, but at the time I would have gotta a FiST if I didn't get my BRZ. Fun, affordable cars just aren't popular enough.
Maybe the 10th or 40th time I'm saying this, but at the time I would have gotta a FiST if I didn't get my BRZ. Fun, affordable cars just aren't popular enough.
#192
You'll Never Walk Alone
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I feel like offering AT or DCT would've helped. The Golf GTI and Golf R are doing well partly because they get be equipped with DSG. I'd imagine a lot of people want a fun to drive hatch but don't wanna deal with MT....
#193
Race Director
The Ford EcoSport became the first vehicle made in India to be sold in the U.S. when it quietly went on sale this month, arriving a little late to the subcompact crossover party. The nameplate has been around since 2003 and the current one has been on sale since 2014 -- it's hardly new -- and this Fiesta-based CUV has been a hit in many world markets. The decision to offer the EcoSport was sparked by the unexpected surge in demand for compact crossovers more than five years ago.
Powered by a choice of a 1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder producing 123 hp and 125 lb-ft of torque driving the front wheels or a 2.0-liter four-cylinder good for 166 hp and 149 lb-ft of torque driving all four wheels, each paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, the EcoSport is offered in four trim levels with a starting price of $20,990 for the base S trim. Standard features on the base trim include a 4.2-inch infotainment screen and 16-inch aluminum wheels, among other items. The top SES trim level starts at $27,735 and includes the beefier 2.0-liter engine, a revised suspension, 17-inch wheels, and an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, in addition to other features.
![](https://hanabi.autoweek.com/sites/default/files/styles/gen-738-415/public/FordEcoSport_10_HR.jpg?itok=_vhNpc8b)
The most unusual aspect of the EcoSport, aside from the fact that this model has been on sale elsewhere since 2014, is that the rear hatch opens this way.
But has the market already moved on to bigger vehicles?
The case for the EcoSport was overwhelming five years ago, but consumer tastes have gravitated to larger and more luxurious SUVs and CUVs thanks to a significant drop in gasoline prices. But the demand for subcompact crossovers is still growing, having increased by 14 percent in 2017 to 563,763, according to the Automotive News Data Center. Ford expects further growth in this segment through the end of the decade, but then again the decade is coming to a close.
The case for the EcoSport is certainly still there and we're curious to find out how it will compare to segment rivals like the Toyota C-HR, Mazda CX-3, Jeep Renegade, Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, Fiat 500X, and Chevrolet Trax.
Read more: 2018 Ford EcoSport is the first Indian import to be sold in the U.S.
Powered by a choice of a 1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder producing 123 hp and 125 lb-ft of torque driving the front wheels or a 2.0-liter four-cylinder good for 166 hp and 149 lb-ft of torque driving all four wheels, each paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, the EcoSport is offered in four trim levels with a starting price of $20,990 for the base S trim. Standard features on the base trim include a 4.2-inch infotainment screen and 16-inch aluminum wheels, among other items. The top SES trim level starts at $27,735 and includes the beefier 2.0-liter engine, a revised suspension, 17-inch wheels, and an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, in addition to other features.
![](https://hanabi.autoweek.com/sites/default/files/styles/gen-738-415/public/FordEcoSport_10_HR.jpg?itok=_vhNpc8b)
The most unusual aspect of the EcoSport, aside from the fact that this model has been on sale elsewhere since 2014, is that the rear hatch opens this way.
Ford's competitors have fielded luxury and non-luxury subcompact CUVs for years now, making the absence of the EcoSport from Ford's lineup a surprise. Ford was seen as moving too slowly to respond to changing customer tastes as competitors such as Honda, Chevrolet, Toyota, Fiat, Jeep, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan and others raked in the profits in this segment.
But has the market already moved on to bigger vehicles?
The case for the EcoSport was overwhelming five years ago, but consumer tastes have gravitated to larger and more luxurious SUVs and CUVs thanks to a significant drop in gasoline prices. But the demand for subcompact crossovers is still growing, having increased by 14 percent in 2017 to 563,763, according to the Automotive News Data Center. Ford expects further growth in this segment through the end of the decade, but then again the decade is coming to a close.
The case for the EcoSport is certainly still there and we're curious to find out how it will compare to segment rivals like the Toyota C-HR, Mazda CX-3, Jeep Renegade, Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, Fiat 500X, and Chevrolet Trax.
Read more: 2018 Ford EcoSport is the first Indian import to be sold in the U.S.
#195
Moderator
I'm guessing by "first Indian made vehicle" they are meaning 4-wheeled. Since the BMW G310R has been on sale for a few months & is built by TVS in India.
#196
Moderator
https://www.topgear.com/car-news/hot...rd-fiesta-st#1
Geek out on how the Fiesta ST's new tech makes it a hot hatch hero
The aero is real
The front chin, rear spoiler and rear diffuser do actually cut lift, even if not to the point where lift goes negative – ie downforce.
Don't fret over the wheel options
The standard wheel is a 17, the optional an 18. But Leo Roeks, head of Ford Performance in Europe and the man most in charge of the ST’s development, says they drove so similarly most people won’t be able to tell the difference. Both wear the same Michelin Pilot Supersport tyre type.
You want the Performance Pack
This brings you the limited-slip differential, made by motorsports people Quaife. Plus shift-up lights and launch control. That’s £850 and sounds to us like a bargain because LSDs are expensive pieces of mechanical engineering, and this one is calibrated beautifully so the ST spits itself out of tight corners on full power with nary a trace of understeer.
The springs are bananas
Ford has invented a new kind of spring for the rear suspension. It’s slightly banana-shaped, so when it’s compressed it exerts a sideways force. Normally with a torsion-beam suspension, the sideways force on the outer tyre causes the beam to move in its bushes, slightly steering the back end of the car in an inconsistent way. That mucks up steering precision. As a countermeasure, sporty cars get stiff bushes, which is bad for comfort. These new springs are oriented in the chassis so that when the car begins to roll in a corner and the outer spring is compressed, that spring pushes back against the wheel’s lateral force, keeping the wheels pointing straighter. So the new arrangement lets the bushes be tuned softer for better comfort, while the steering precision remains.
It's got canny dampers
The dampers aren’t adaptive, and pressing the sport button doesn’t change them at all. But they do a have an unusual characteristic. In big-stroke relatively slow movements – body control when you’re going for it – they’re fairly firm. But for quick short movements they’re relatively soft, helping the ride.
The steering is very positive
The steering ratio is very direct – your smallest hand movements summon vigorous direction change. On some cars that’s a bad idea, because without precise steering, it feels twitchy and inconsistent and you lose confidence. After a brief acclimatisation the ST is just fine. You revel in the quick answers, but it all feels natural. And it grips more, not least because of better tyres and a 48mm wider front track.
It all works together
All these bits of chassis geekery harmonise beautifully. Most sporty-car suspension engineers would want stiff dampers even in the small-stroke high-frequency events, because that quells roll changes, improving steering precision. (It means that even for a small change in steering wheel angle, you get a change in car direction, rather than wasting the initial impetus on a roll-angle change.) The ST instead draws better steering precision from its new rear suspension, thanks to those clever springs. So again it doesn’t need such firm high-frequency damping. It’s been set up on relatively soft springs and bushes, and its short-amplitude damping is more pliant too. That means better road noise suppression and less ride harshness. And the quick steering makes it agile.
It's got a clever engine
The headline tech feature of the new three-pot engine is the cylinder cutoff system. When you’re light on the gas this allows it to run on just two of the three. You never feel the join, by the way, but the economy improvement is noticeable. Still, it’s a performance engine too. It’s got an oil cooler for hard work, and both port and direct injection to hose in the fuel when you need power.
It sounds good, too
There’s less of the twittery warble we’ve come to expect from little three-cylinder engines. It’s more purposeful, but still with character. There’s a bit of sound enhancement through the speakers, but it’s ‘live’ sound played through filters to get the best notes – not false synthesis. There’s also a flap in the exhaust. Sport mode opens the flap and turns up the enhancement too. And it brings over-run pops, but not to the embarrassing degree some more juvenile rivals fire at you.
It's not the most powerful Fiesta, but it is faster than before
The quoted power output is the same as the old Fiesta ST200. But the ST200 had access to overboost nearly all the time, so it made 215PS or 212bhp. And the new car is 20kg heavier thanks mostly to a stronger body shell. Even so the new one accelerates faster because it gets it to the road better. Thank the LSD and the grippier tyres and the launch control.
#197
Moderator
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#198
Moderator
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#199
Ex-OEM King
It's a shame that's not coming to the US. I get it though, very few people would buy it.
#200
Moderator
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