When Ford announced plans to offer the performance-oriented Fiesta ST subcompact, it piqued the interest of automotive enthusiasts the world over. But when The Blue Oval revealed plans to offer the vehicle in the United States, the sentiment from American car guys (and gals) could be described as nothing short of pure elation. That excitement is something one “feels”, rather than sees, hears, or reads about. We felt it here at Motrolix, and so did Esquire Magazine.
The publication recently named the Fiesta ST its Small Car of the Year, with the theme for the 2013 awards being “the rise of performance”. Here’s what the magazine had to say about Ford’s hotted-up subcompact:
The power and handling of the Fiesta ST are unmatched by that of other subcompacts, most of which understandably are pitched at the All-I-Need-Is-Some-Basic-Transportation commuter class. Only the Mini Cooper S and Fiat 500 Abarth come anywhere close, but the Fiesta ST has way more power than either — 197 horses versus 181 and 160, respectively — and it’s more practical, with a usable backseat and hatchback configuration. And the ST’s ride isn’t the kind of harsh that the Europeans put up with.
| ENGINE: | 197-HP I4 | |
|---|---|---|
| PRICE: | $22 | 195 |
| MPG: | 26 CITY/35 HWY | |
| 0 TO 60: | 6.9 SECONDS |
Of course, the ride part is in reference to different suspension tuning between the American- and European-market Fiesta STs, even though the actual hardware is the same for both models.
The Motrolix Take
This is what happens when the enthusiast community is served, and served well. Other manufacturers should whip out their notebooks and start taking notes.
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