Return of speed

"Our goal was to make the Fiesta ST the best all-rounder in the class," explains Project Leader, Nick Collins, "but we believe we have created a car whose dynamics will be the best of the lot. Its ride handling balance is fantastic, and the grip is phenomenal". Fiesta ST is also the first road car to come from Ford's new TeamRS organisation. The Team was formed early in 2003 when the Company's competition and performance road car engineers were pulled together for the first time to create performance road cars and new competition models.

Latest ST delivers performance and value, ST stands for 'Sports Technologies', and the new Fiesta ST is the first of Ford's Sports Technologies models to feature new style ST branding. Its new 'ST' badge uses a central red stripe design inspired by Ford's classic RS 'racing stripes' logo and will be adopted by all new Ford ST models introduced from now on. Fiesta ST is powered by a specially modified version of Ford's 2.0 litre Duratec 16-valve engine, delivering 150PS and a wide spread of torque for flexibility and pulling power.

The Fiesta ST gets from 0 to 60mph in just 7.9 sec with a maximum speed of 129 mph. Fiesta's acclaimed chassis has been modified to deliver class-leading handling and roadholding for the ST. Steering is quicker acting and the brakes have improved in performance, with rear disc brakes fitted for the first time on Fiesta. Transmission ratios in the five-speed manual gearbox have been revised and there is a new, short-throw gearshift for ultra-fast, precise gear changes.

Fiesta ST looks the part, too. A wider and deeper front grille, new bumper mouldings, discrete side skirts and a functional rear spoiler complement its low stance, and handsome multi-spoke alloy wheels with low profile, specially tuned Pirelli P Zero tyres to create a bold, performance look. Inside, the cabin has also been given the ST treatment. Unique new front sports seats are trimmed in black leather with bold red or blue cloth centre sections and the distinctive new ST logo. ST interior detailing includes a thick, leather-wrapped steering wheel, unique gear lever, metal foot pedals and ST branded scuff plates.

The TeamRS target for Fiesta ST was to create a fun to drive, rewarding and safe handling car. After nearly two years of development work, on every sort of road from twisty English country lanes to the famous Nurburgring Nordschleife, the team's engineers feel they have more than achieved their objectives. mThe Fiesta range was engineered from the start with a chassis intended to provide high standards of driving quality, inspired by the class-leading dynamics of Focus and augmented a dash of small car fun.

Inside, Fiesta ST has been designed both to look good and to create the driving environment an enthusiast driver demands. The special sports seats have been developed carefully to give maximum support to drivers of different sizes and builds. At the same time they have retained the excellent everyday comfort required of an ST variant. The front seats themselves are trimmed in black leather with central cloth sections finished in either red or blue, depending on exterior body colour, and featuring the new ST logo. As an option the seats are available with full leather trim.

Fiesta's ergonomically excellent driving position is given the special ST treatment with a thick, leather-wrapped steering wheel that has a bright steering wheel spoke design and ST logo, metal pedals and a unique gear knob design. It all creates a 'cockpit' that will not just look the part but will also be supremely functional. Special ST interior detailing includes revised white on black instrument graphics and matt finish rings around the instruments themselves, added brightwork on the handbrake and door pull handles, and aluminium 'ST' scuff plates on the door sills. For more details visit: www.mediaford.com