As many observers noted during the unveiling of the new, seventh-generation Ford Fiesta last Tuesday, the sporty ST model was absent from the festivities. The closest thing present was a new Ford Fiesta “ST-Line,” which amounts to little more than a base car with some ST-looking body kit, and will likely remain a European-market-only car.
But there’s no reason to be concerned; Ford is indeed planning on bringing out a new, proper hot hatch wearing the “Fiesta ST” moniker, and according to Motor Authority, it will be unveiled in late-2017 for a start-of-production in January of the following year. We suspect that the new, pint-sized Ford Performance model will be worth the wait.
Prototypes of the new Ford Fiesta ST have reportedly already been spotted testing in Europe, being benchmarked against the current-generation hot hatch. According to Ford Performance Vehicle Engineering Manager Tyrone Johnson, fans hoping for a big increase in power between the last Fiesta ST and this future one will be disappointed. We’ve even heard tell that it might use Ford’s 1.0-liter EcoBoost I3 for power, which is about 600 cubic-centimeters and one cylinder shy of its predecessor.
Nonetheless, we don’t suspect Ford will allow the Fiesta ST to take any steps backward before its launch in 2018. For more on this story as it develops, stick around.
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