New Ford Fiesta ST 2020 pricing and specs detailed: Increased cost and performance for baby hot hatch

Ford’s new-generation Fiesta ST performance hatch will blast into Australian showrooms early next year wearing a $31,990 before on-road costs pricetag, $4500 more expensive than the outgoing version.

However, the shift to new-generation form means the go-fast Fiesta morphs from a three-door hatchback to a five-door body style, while also upping performance and specification.

While the outgoing Fiesta ST was powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine outputting 134kW of power and 240Nm of torque, the new version employs a 147kW/290Nm 1.5-litre turbo three cylinder.

Both send drive to the front axle exclusively via a six-speed manual gearbox, but the latter also gains a Quaife limited-slip differential, launch control and torque vectoring to help accelerate it from a standstill to 100km/h in a claimed 6.7 seconds – 0.2s quicker than before.

Three selectable driving modes are also available – Normal, Sport and Track – which adjust traction, steering and exhaust settings to suit, while the electronic stability control can also be fully deactivated.

Ford has also fitted the Fiesta ST with a tricked-out suspension set-up that include force vectoring springs and a twist-beam rear end for what the brand claims is “a more connected feel” and “an exceptional fun-to-drive experience”.

As a result of the five-door body style and new-generation platform, boot space is also up 21 litres to 311L in the new Fiesta ST, which is also fitted with a full-size spare wheel.

Ford’s new-generation Fiesta ST performance hatch will be available in Australia early next year.

Standard equipment includes keyless entry, flat-bottom steering wheel, leather upholstery with red-stitch highlights, 10-speaker sound system, 4.2-inch driver display and 8.0-inch Sync3 multimedia touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, satellite navigation and digital radio.

The Fiesta ST also boasts autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, cross traffic alert, traffic sign recognition, automatic headlights and highbeams, and tyre pressure monitoring system.

The only options available on the new Fiesta ST are prestige paint ($650) and a panoramic sunroof ($2500).

The performance-orientated ST will be only seventh-generation Fiesta available in Australia after Ford announced the discontinuation of the light hatchback range in August 2018.