http://www.ford.co.uk/ie/test_mail/-/fie_st/



Everyone knows that small is beautiful. What people forget is that small is also manoeuvrable. The engineers of TeamRS, Ford’s motorsport and performance arm, were given a forceful reminder of this on a winter’s day earlier this year when they took a prototype of their latest creation, the new Fiesta ST, to the demanding Lommel test track in Belgium.

Everyone expected the ST to be quick, as even in standard form the Fiesta’s super-stiff chassis anchors it to the road, resulting in class-leading handling. But by the end of the session the test car, with its 150PS 2.0-litre Duratec engine and fat low-profile Michelin Sport tyres, was setting such rapid times that Team RS boss Jost Capito’s eyebrows had risen above his hairline. “Even the mighty 212PS Focus RS finds it hard to beat the Fiesta ST at Lommel,” he says. “The car is well balanced and goes exactly where you point it with no fuss and no drama. It’s great fun.”

As you can see, it’s also great-looking. When it goes on sale later this year the ST (it stands for “Sports Technologies”, trivia buffs) won’t just rely on its performance to win plaudits. At the front, a chunky new bumper, fog lamps, expanded mesh-effect grille and deep air intake scream “hot-hatch”, while at the back a spoiler and sports valance enhance the aerodynamics to help the ST make the most of its power. These purposeful changes will leave even the most casual observer in no doubt that this little car can mix it with the best of them – and that’s before you take into account the lowered suspension and 11-spoke, 17in alloy wheels.

Inside, the special driver-hugging sports seats and steering wheel benefit from leather trim and the pedals, handbrake and door handles are chromed to accentuate the ST’s performance credentials. It looks like Ford has come up with a scorching supermini that will dominate the sector in the same way the Fiesta XR2i once did.

You just know that they're gonna use that Josh Abrahams track when advertising this, don't you...

Very cool. Wonder if the photo they have used is available?

Well spotted Hugh.

i just wanna know the specifications everyones waiting for, anyone reckon they'll reveal them at the paris motorshow in sept 04? as much as i wanna believe that the ST is only two seconds slower round the lommel circuit than the focus RS is it really true? considering that the track has alot of straights for the RS to pull away the ST must be super fast through the bends its unreal, especially when the focus RS is one of the best Front whell drive cars ever made.

but then that leaves the question that surely the fiesta RS will be faster round the track than the Focus RS, and is that really what ford want considering the focus is there flagship?

The Fiesta RS will definitely be quicker around corners than the Focus RS. It'll probably be quicker on the straights too.

Yes, you are right. In order for the gap to be that close the Fiesta ST must be destroying the RS around the bends. And that takes some doing.

Would the fiesta not need a LSD to be quicker round corners than a FRS or a very hard suspension setup not really practical for road use?

Not necessarily. The Fiesta is smaller in size than the Focus but has a very wide track. That means the weight distribution could be a bit better than the Focus (the nearer the weight is to the centre of mass the better).

It weighs a bit less too which always helps.

I would still like to see an LSD althought it is not essential.

Nice try Craig, the attachment thingy doesn't like them to be more than 2megs in size though for some reason. Would be an excellent track for a potentialyl great advert.

Anyone know the power to wieght ratio of the RS? Be curious to compare to the ST.

git!

Assume you mean Focus RS vs. Fiesta ST? The Fiesta has around 125 bhp/tonne and the Focus RS has around 169 bhp/tonne.

Sorry, yes I do Dave. Thing is the ST being NA has the power on tap, only a minimal difference but through a corner and a gearchange it's be quite significant.

This is true, but then again the Focus RS has the power available through a much larger percentage of the rev range where as any 4 cylinder N/A engine needs to be revved to extract the power.