From Automobile Magazine
Ford has denied that a Fiesta RS is in the works, but is there still a chance for a hotted-up version of the Fiesta ST? According to Autocar, a Ford Fiesta ST "Plus" could debut at the upcoming 2016 Geneva auto show to plug the gap between the 197-hp Fiesta ST and the 252-hp Ford Focus ST.
Autocar says that the Ford Fiesta ST Plus is a more reasonable addition to the product range than a Fiesta RS, as the latter would likely step on the toes -- in terms of both performance and price -- of Ford's larger Focus ST. Instead, the Fiesta ST Plus will reportedly remain front-wheel drive, but its 1.6-liter turbo-four engine could get some extra power. It's worth noting that Ford tuning partner Mountune has already extracted 215 hp from the Fiesta's engine, thanks to new engine-management software and a new intake pipe. The Fiesta ST Plus might also receive handling and braking upgrades, Autocar says, along with a "more extreme" body kit.
Rumors had longed circulated that Ford would build a Fiesta RS to follow in the footsteps of the all-wheel-drive Focus RS, but last month Ford quashed any hope for a pint-sized RS. Ford Performance chief engineer Tyrone Johnson told reporters that, "In terms of Fiesta RS, I have seen some comments from senior Ford people that it’s definitely not in the plan."
Keep your fingers crossed that a faster Ford Fiesta ST is still in the works, and stay tuned to see whether the car debuts in March at the Geneva show.
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From Autocar.co.uk
The car maker has refrained from providing comment, but Autocar understands a hotter version of the Fiesta ST is on its way, sold under the name ST Plus.
The faster Fiesta, one of seven new Fords planned for this year, will be a powered-up, more focused version of the Fiesta ST rather than a full RS model.
More power and torque are expected from the ST’s turbocharged 1.6-litre engine, which has so far been tuned to 212bhp and 236lb ft in its most potent Mountune form. A sharper chassis and more extreme bodykit are other likely additions to the car.
Rumours that a Fiesta RS would be produced appear to have lost momentum, possibly because there’s no room for such a model in Ford’s tightly compacted hot hatch line-up.
The Focus ST, for example, produces 247bhp from its turbocharged 2.0-litre engine and is priced from £22,745. But the Fiesta ST is only 35bhp down on this once the Mountune kit has been added, and in its top-spec form it’s barely a couple of thousand pounds cheaper.
The four-wheel-drive Focus RS has set a trend that a Fiesta RS would have to follow, but such a car would likely tread on the toes of the Focus ST. A slightly less hardcore Fiesta ST Plus model would therefore squeeze more neatly into the available line-up.
Ford does want to produce more RS models at a later date, however. The firm's global sales and marketing chief, Stephen Odell, said at the recent Detroit motor show that RS “was a really valuable brand” and that the company had “an opportunity to keep it fresh”.
Just yesterday, Ford announced it will be unveiling a new model, its latest in-car technology and the latest Ford Smart Mobility developments at this month's Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona. Though nothing more has been revealed, we expect the updates to come part of a Kuga facelift.
