Ford Fiesta 2016 News

A hot little Fiesta ST priced at $25,990 will headline the updated range when it arrives in Australia with a fresh design, new engines and features.

Scheduled to go on sale here towards the middle of 2013, the Ford Fiesta range will kick off with the tiny 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder EcoBoost engine that claimed the World Engine of the Year award a few months ago. “We’ve confirmed the three-cylinder turbo for the Fiesta,” Ford spokesman Neil McDonald says. “Originally it was going to be the EcoSport SUV  but Fiesta will beat it to market by several months. The turbocharged engine is offered in two levels -- 74kW/170Nm and 92kW/200Nm – but there’s no indication yet of whether we will get both. “It’s a little bit early to talk what the engine line-up will be,” McDonald says, although agreeing there would have to be consideration of whether the local market would go for two 1.0-litre versions or would expect to see a larger unit in the upper spec cars. The leaked official images show the main styling changes are focused on the nose, which gets the Aston Martin-flavoured grille shape -- already worn by the overseas Ford Fusion (Mondeo) – set off with a new front bumper and headlight clusters featuring LED running lights. McDonald says it’s also too early to discuss whether price and specification levels will change markedly from the current range, which opens with the $16,990 CL and tops out at the $23,490 Zetec – or whether they will be joined by the Fiesta ST seen overseas. “There’s been a Fiesta ST concept vehicle shown in Europe but we haven’t confirmed it for here,” he says. “For the rest of the range, it’s too far out to talk about price, but we plan to remain competitive. The Fiesta has been doing quite well -- around the 700 per month. It’s been a pretty strong seller for us.” While the release of fresh metal can often mean extra demand that constrains supply of some imported cars, McDonald points out Asian production means it won’t be a problem for the Fiesta. “Our vehicles are built in Thailand so I don’t think supply is going to be an issue,” he says.  

Since the disappearance of the Fiesta XR4 in 2008, there has been a big hole in the hot end of Ford’s small cars. Instead of the hot version of the Fiesta, they got a super-green version in the form of the Fiesta Econetic. That’s great but it hardly warmed the hearts of true performance hatch fans. But Ford is about to set things right with the confirmation this week that Aussies will be getting the hot new Fiesta ST unveiled at Geneva motor show some time next year instead of the XR4’s 110kW, the new ST punches out a mouth-watering 132kW -- and that’s from a smaller 1.6-litre turbo rather than the XR4’s 2.0-litre. That puts it right up there with the Polo GTi, we reckon. We'll be getting the 132kW tyro sometime next year as the hottie starts to roll out in Europe. "The car is a definite starter for Australia too in 2013 but at this stage its too early to put a specific time on it,'' a spokesman for Ford Australia said. "We think itll be a good opportunity to raise the ST profile locally as well also have the Focus ST on sale later this year.'' While the XR4's 2.0-litre engine produced 110kW the new ST's 1.6-litre turbocharged unit (it will be called ST here too) is good for 132kW. With 240Nm of torque on tap it can sprint from 0-100km/h in under seven seconds and has a top speed of more than 220km/h. At the same time, the EcoBoost technology delivers a 20 per cent reduction in COinf2 emissions compared with the previous ST. Developed by Ford's Team RS, the new Fiesta ST delivers significant ride-and-handling improvements through the introduction of a specially tuned chassis that sits 15mm lower than the standard Fiesta; Ford's enhanced Torque Vectoring Control system; and three Electronic Stability Control modes. The technologies were put to the test over 5000 kilometers of driving on Germany's Nurburgring Nordschleife. "We believe Ford customers will be blown away by the new Fiesta ST, and not only by the exhilarating performance but by the styling and specification, too,'' said Jost Capito, Ford's director of Global Performance Vehicles. "This dynamic new hot-hatch is undoubtedly our best Fiesta ST to date,'' The high-contrast interior features unprecedented levels of equipment and specification to suit the sporting driver, with standard Recaro sports seats for the first time. It also will be equipped with MyKey, which allows owners to limit performance and ensure activation of safety features for when less-experienced drivers use the vehicle; and SYNC, Ford's voice-activated in-car connectivity system. A new bold and dynamic exterior design drives home the high performance message and features the latest Ford design signatures including a large trapezoidal grille.

A street version of its Fiesta RS World Rally Championship weapon for 2011 is "under consideration'' - the first sign that the Blue Oval is prepared to rekindle memories of the XR4 edition of the early 2000s. "We would love a high-performance Fiesta,'' says Ford Australia's general marketing manager David Katic.  "We're looking at al opportunities (the WRC car can bring)." He describes the XR4 as a "great car''.  But no-one at Ford Australia is talking about timing, pricing or even the name. It is possible it could wear the ST moniker to share with the hot Focus hatch that is also a possible for Australia. The talk in Europe about a hot Fiesta is stronger. Spy shots show a three-door hatch with twin exhausts and an intercooler peeking through the front bumper inlets. It is believed that adding the turbocharger and intercooler to the 1.6-litre engine will produce up to 130kW. That should be sufficient for a 0-100km/h time of about six seconds. The hot Fiesta would be built in Europe, alongside the ECOnetic diesel. Other Fiesta models for Australia are now made in Thailand.

Taking advantage of that country's free trade agreement with Australia. The car, due to go on sale here early in 2009, will be designed and engineered in Europe but built in Thailand

A RED-HOT version of the Fiesta hatch is being reconsidered by Ford Australia. The Fiesta ST, which would take on the Volkswagen Polo GTi, was originally dismissed by Ford Australia because it believed there was not enough demand for it. But now that sales of the Fiesta range have picked up, Ford is having second thoughts about the potent micro-hatch. "We are looking at it again," Ford Australia president Tom Gorman says. "When we looked at it before, the economics were hard. But we are revisiting that." Gorman says the success of the turbo Focus XR5 and improved sales of the whole Fiesta range have triggered the rethink. "This time last year I would have said no, because our volume (of standard Fiesta) was so much smaller," Gorman says. "When you're doing 300 to 400 a month it's hard to get excited about something like that. But when you're talking about 600 to 700 a month it is a possibility, particularly when you look at the success of the XR5." Gorman says the Fiesta ST business case didn't stack up when Ford Australia examined it last time. "When we looked at it before the economics were hard, but when you come back and look at what you might take on a volume basis it changes," he says. The Fiesta ST uses a meaty 2.0-litre engine that pumps out 110kW and 190Nm of torque. The specially tuned engine is not turbocharged, but is still quite strong. Ninety per cent of peak torque is available from as low as 1350 revs. Given its relatively low weight tally of 1137kg, there is enough grunt to push the ST from 0-100km/h in a respectable -- but not scintillating -- 7.9 seconds. The ST sits on big 17-inch alloy wheels and is fitted with a body kit including beefier bumpers, side skirts and a rear-mounted spoiler. The ST can be ordered with optional racing stripes, which, apart from a Blue Oval badge, is the only thing this baby car has in common with the GT that Ford photographed it with (above). Ford Australia is also looking hard at bringing a convertible version of the Focus here, following the success of the XR5. "We are definitely looking at it," Gorman says. "It's not an enormous player for us so we have to make sure the economics make sense."