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Motrolix

Interesting Insights: Ford’s Fiesta ST Is In A Class By Itself

If the plethora of tuned Fiesta STs at the 2013 SEMA show is any indication, the subcompact hot hatch is one hot tamale. And a recent powwow with a few of our colleagues has unearthed the fact that Ford’s recently-launched B-segment pocket rocket is the only such vehicle in its class in North America.

Think about it: none of the other automakers offer a souped-up mainstream subcompact/B-segment vehicle in the New World:

Subcompact/B-Segment Vehicles In North America
BRAND MODEL PERFORMANCE VARIANT?
CHEVROLET SONIC (AVEO) RS CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR
HONDA FIT NOPE
TOYOTA YARIS LOL
NISSAN VERSA FUNNY!
HYUNDAI ACCENT HILARIOUS!
KIA RIO SERIOUSLY?
MAZDA 2 NOT EVEN CLOSE
SUBARU NONE NOPE
CHRYSLER/DODGE NONE NOPE
VOLKSWAGEN NONE NOPE

The only subcompact that comes close to the Fiesta ST in North America is Chevy’s Sonic RS, which has the looks, but lacks the powertrain prowess of the Ford.

As a reminder, the Fiesta ST sports a 1.6 liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine good for 197 horsepower and 202 lb.-ft. of torque while mated to a six-speed stick. There are also a unique sport suspension, enhanced Torque Vectoring Control, Recaro seats, and some tasteful ST sport design flair.

Plus, part of the buying experience for Fiesta ST owners is complimentary precision driving instruction at Miller Motorsports Park in Toole, Utah. The exclusive experience includes classroom instruction as well as karting and autocross driving lessons from Miller’s professional instructors.

The Motrolix Take

Talk about a competitive advantage! It’s awesome to see Ford offer a vehicle that is, no matter which way you spin it, exclusive in and defines its class (in North America). This rings especially true for a car that’s as fun-do-drive and affordable as the Fiesta ST. We expect a huge aftermarket tuning and enthusiast community to spring up around the Fiesta ST in no time (if it hasn’t already), which should continue driving market interest in and sales of the subcompact hot hatch. Great work, Ford!

Motrolix Founder with a passion for global automotive business strategy.

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