Geneva motor show 2012: Ford Fiesta ST
* Hot hatch; 178bhp engine
* On sale in early 2013
The Ford Fiesta ST has been revealed on the eve of the Geneva motor show.
The new Fiesta hot hatch will go on sale in the early part of 2013 and cost around 18,000.
See also: All Geneva motor show 2012 news
It's powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged Ecoboost engine thats good for 178bhp and 177 lb ft of torque. Ford claims that this will be enough for the ST to cover the 0-60mph sprint in under 7 secs and onto a max speed of more than 136mph.
Jost Capito, director of global performance vehicles at Ford, told What Car?, 'The Fiesta ST is much more agile than a Zetec S - you just cannot compare them. It has much better handling but is still comfortable with everyday capability.'
The new ST also gets styling and chassis enhancements. Its got a larger grille and deeper front spoilers than the rest of the range and also has some unique interior flourishes too, including standard Recaro seats.
The ST sits 15mm lower than standard cars and has a specially tuned chassis, with a three-mode electronic stability system that promises both ride and handling improvements.
This top-of-the-range Fiesta will also feature Fords latest electronic gadgets, including MyKey, which limits performance with less-experienced drivers behind the wheel. It'll also be equipped with the Sync connected infotainnment system.
Chas Hallett
