Ford has finally brought the Fiesta to the States, but only in sedan and 5-door hatchback body styles – the 3-door is only available in Europe. We’re fans of this frugal little Ford, though we definitely wouldn’t mind getting our hands on the hotter models that Europe has enjoyed. But until now we’ve only seen the next Fiesta ST testing as a 3-door hatchback in European-spec.
A Spicier Fiesta
The current U.S.-market Fiesta is powered by a 120-bhp 1.6-liter inline-4 cylinder, mated to either a 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. We love the taut handling and suspension of the base model—especially since vehicle dynamics often take a back seat to economy and value in the this market segment.
Look for the Fiesta ST 5-door hatchback to have approximately 60 additional horsepower, courtesy of a turbocharged 1.6-liter EcoBoost inline-4. Ford will likely offer a choice of 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. Minus the goofy-looking grille covers, the prototypes spotted by our photographers show the car pretty much as it will appear later this year at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Expect a hunkered-down suspension, chunky alloy wheels, and more aggressive front and rear fascias. Like the previous (European) Focus ST, the cabin should feature more heavily bolstered seats, along with a thicker steering wheel and sportier-looking pedals and instrument cluster. Ford hasn’t announced pricing, but with fully loaded Fiesta 5-doors scraping their way past $20,000, a Fiesta ST is likely to carry a sticker price in the region of $22,000.
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