Fiesta ST Set to Rattle the Gti [Sydney Morning Herald]

[Molotov]

Sounds like it's a long way off but by the time Volkswagen actually fulfills the orders it'll probably be here.

Fiesta ST set to rattle GTI | concept

It’s a concept for now, but the Ford Fiesta ST is likely to arrive as a pocket rocket contender to challenge the likes of the Volkswagen Polo GTI.

Ford has all but confirmed it will revive a sports version of the popular Fiesta small car with reveal of a Fiesta ST concept at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show.

With a turbochared 1.6-litre four-cylinder making 132kW of power the Fiesta ST is a prime competitor to the likes of the Volkswagen Polo GTI - if it gets built.

Ford Australia won’t comment on the chances of the Fiesta ST being sold here because the car is officially a concept, but European sources suggest it’s all but a done deal, giving Ford a natural successor to the 2.0-litre-powered Fiesta ST available in the previous generation model until a couple of years ago.
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“This is a concept at the moment. We haven’t actually announced any production plans,” says Ford vice president of research and innovation Paul Mascarenas.

“We have announced the ST brand is going global so any products we develop as ST models will be available globally.”

With 132kW of power from a new 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine the Fiesta ST promises above average performance in a sub-$30,000 hatchback package.

The Fiesta ST also picks up styling tweaks inspired by the World Rally Championship program.

Unique bumpers and grille team with larger wheels to create a more aggressive look.

Mascarenas says the ST brand will be marketed globally, meaning the end of the Focus XR5, which is instead set to be called the Focus ST as a next generation model – another unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show.

[Hail22]

Ford

Found

On

Rubbish

Dump.

let me guess, battery issues, alternator problems, cpu malfunction and loads of wait time at the service centre while brainless monkeys figure there is a seal missing from the engine block.

Don't trust ford the best ford is a Taxi.

[nightphotographer]

Glad they're ditching the XR4/5 names - it's been ST in europe for about a decade now.

[nightphotographer]

Just followed the link and that thing is so ugly - no competition whatsover to the new GTI.

[Hail22]

Just followed the link and that thing is so ugly - no competition whatsover to the new GTI.

Ugly is an understatement this thing makes a puss filled wound look more appealing.

[triode12]

I thought you guys were overreacting and being vw fanbois till I clicked on the link and looked at the pics. Yeah...it is ugly.

[Corey_R]

Hmmm.... it's as if they're trying to do a Aston DB9 front, but a little more angular since they don't own Aston anymore.

I really don't like the colour, and I think maybe that is contributing to the bad vibes I have about its looks. Maybe in a Focus RS green or a dark blue or something...
As for it being a Polo competitor. Sure, it might have 132kw like the GTI. But the Fiesta is not the same quality interior etc as the Polo is. Matching the engine numbers doesn't mean it's a competitor in my book... at least not an equal competitor

[goodfella]

I suspect this may be to comply with homologation requirements for WRC in 2012/13 and as VW are entering the Polo then, stay tuned for a similiar 1.6T Polo in whatever drivetrain configuration (I think the Halo R 4motion strategy will flow on). Watch this space!

[Molotov]

Looks like I'm on my own here but I think it looks just as good, if not better than the Polo - nice and aggressive.

I also don't think the 'quality' of Ford is the best angle of attack considering VW's increasingly average/poor record (based on JDPower and personal opinions/heresay).

If the Polo Gti has done one thing, it's created a new market for pint-sized hot hatches. No longer is it acceptable to whack on a silly spoiler and some alloy wheels a declare it a 'sports model', whilst it still does 0-100 in 14 seconds.

Bring on the Fiesty Festy!

[kaanage]

let me guess, battery issues, alternator problems, cpu malfunction and loads of wait time at the service centre while brainless monkeys figure there is a seal missing from the engine block.

As opposed to using oil like a 2-stroke, supercharger clutch squeals, mechatronics with their own mind and melting pistons...

I quite like the look too - the nose is OTT but it's in the style of recent Astons and Jags as Molotov has pointed out and overall, it is much more striking than the rather bland mini-Golf.

[Buller_Scott]

If the Polo Gti has done one thing, it's created a new market for pint-sized hot hatches. No longer is it acceptable to whack on a silly spoiler and some alloy wheels a declare it a 'sports model', whilst it still does 0-100 in 14 seconds.

im not sure if the polo "created" anything new...

cars like the RS clio II, mk3 vr6, swift gti, pulsar SSS, focus st170 etc were all "hot hatches" in australia a while ago...

the only reason that the current climate sees any interest surround cars like the polo gti, mini cooper S (if you like spending $76k on a hatchback, i've seen new 'drive away' examples on carsales recently), audi a1 sport, swift sport, etc etc is probably partially due to word of mouth, proliferation of more niche car knowledge thanks to the internet (and the fact that you can tune them with results), and the fact that in backwater australia, people are just starting to realise that yes, you CAN have a zippy car that's chuckable, practical, easy to drive in the city, and doesnt penalise you $140 every week at the fuel pump.

i remember when people would tell me how fast their V6 magnas were, and there are still plenty of people who would extoll the virtues of owning an SV6 or XR6 as "sports cars" simply because of their mediocre straight line ability (although they often omit the cornering inability).

as far as im concerned, the market has always been there.... it's just growing a little larger in australia now (given that most of australia is a couple of decades behind europe - im sure back then, and even now, most people here would choose a 6cyl VN commodore over a Renault Clio Williams, which is like choosing a 7 hour old roast beef roll from a truck stop, over a perfectly cooked rib eye steak, but that's just my opinion).

the proposed fiesta ST would be very welcome here, i'd hope (and i've always had a thing for ford hatches too)... sure, the front fascia looks like the snout on my black & decker portable handheld vacuum cleaner, but if it helps competition, and helps drive prices down in the "hot hatch" markets (does a clio RS really need to cost $38,000?!?!?!?!?!), then i say bring it on.

[Molotov]

im not sure if the polo "created" anything new...

Nice analysis Scott. Very true. By "new" I was referring to 'Micro-hatches (is there official term?) in Australia'. I always think of the certified "hot hatches" as being the likes of the Golf Gti, WRX, Megane RS 250 etc.

As there seems to be more and more demand for smaller and smaller cars, the Polo Gti seems to be the first of its kind in Australia that has genuine performance attributes at a sub-30k price. You're right, prior to this there was the Clio RS and the Mini but both of these strike me more as enthusiast and/or yuppy toys.

[goodfella]

+1 from me!

I think its alway been a massive Marketing undertaking to try pitch these hot hatched variants at the Aussie market due to the solid brainwashing common motorists have received from the local (goverment funded) manufacturers. With more and more kids staying home longer vs the shrinking aussie dream of 1/4 acre blocks, I think 6/8 cyl Falcodores are destined for the history books. Even GM sees the potential/future here in Aust due to their decision to trade OPEL branded small/medium sector cars here, even then thats most prob a counter attack on Fords Euro-brigade entering the wire!

I dont want the few thousand workers in Adel or Melb to lose their livelihoods, but the sooner the Government cans the dole payouts to Fold'en and Hoard, then a hopeful by-product might be that our local motorsports will regain some excitement with real multi marque racing, in turn reinvigorating the smaller car segment.

Ok, flame suit readied

im not sure if the polo "created" anything new...

cars like the RS clio II, mk3 vr6, swift gti, pulsar SSS, focus st170 etc were all "hot hatches" in australia a while ago...

the only reason that the current climate sees any interest surround cars like the polo gti, mini cooper S (if you like spending $76k on a hatchback, i've seen new 'drive away' examples on carsales recently), audi a1 sport, swift sport, etc etc is probably partially due to word of mouth, proliferation of more niche car knowledge thanks to the internet (and the fact that you can tune them with results), and the fact that in backwater australia, people are just starting to realise that yes, you CAN have a zippy car that's chuckable, practical, easy to drive in the city, and doesnt penalise you $140 every week at the fuel pump.

i remember when people would tell me how fast their V6 magnas were, and there are still plenty of people who would extoll the virtues of owning an SV6 or XR6 as "sports cars" simply because of their mediocre straight line ability (although they often omit the cornering inability).

as far as im concerned, the market has always been there.... it's just growing a little larger in australia now (given that most of australia is a couple of decades behind europe - im sure back then, and even now, most people here would choose a 6cyl VN commodore over a Renault Clio Williams, which is like choosing a 7 hour old roast beef roll from a truck stop, over a perfectly cooked rib eye steak, but that's just my opinion).

the proposed fiesta ST would be very welcome here, i'd hope (and i've always had a thing for ford hatches too)... sure, the front fascia looks like the snout on my black & decker portable handheld vacuum cleaner, but if it helps competition, and helps drive prices down in the "hot hatch" markets (does a clio RS really need to cost $38,000?!?!?!?!?!), then i say bring it on.

[pologti18t]

GM Holden can see the writing on the wall... that's why they are building the Cruze here (underneath it is essentially the astra). As such it can house all the engines that the Astra can as well as Volt derived drivetrains.
The new Barina can also house any of the GM worldwide drivetrains (1.8 ecotec, 1.4 turbo etc etc).
The commodore will see incremental fuel economy improvements in the next few years.

Over the years I have had a few hot hatches - N14 SSS, 306 XSi and GTI6 (one of the best ever) and a few warm ones - Astra SRi 2.2 and Polo GTI.

[sabloke]

Nice analysis Scott. Very true. By "new" I was referring to 'Micro-hatches (is there official term?) in Australia'. I always think of the certified "hot hatches" as being the likes of the Golf Gti, WRX, Megane RS 250 etc.

As there seems to be more and more demand for smaller and smaller cars, the Polo Gti seems to be the first of its kind in Australia that has genuine performance attributes at a sub-30k price. You're right, prior to this there was the Clio RS and the Mini but both of these strike me more as enthusiast and/or yuppy toys.

You're right, the Clio and Mini are not hot hatches. I'd rather call them "racing hatches" Wish there were more of these puppies to chose from... Not bad the Fiesta I guess but not nearly hardcore enough for my liking.