New Ford Fiesta ST coming in next year

Ford has just announced that a new hot 180-hp version of the Fiesta will go on sale late next year to duke it out with the Renaultsport Clio 200 and Seat Ibiza Cupra.

The Fiesta ST will be a road-going version of the S2000 rally car and WRC program, which retired the Focus this year.

Heavily anticipated by fast Ford fans, the front-wheel drive ST will feature a 1.6L Ecoboost turbo four-banger, the same basic unit that powers the bawls-out WRC version and will propel the FIest ST with 180-hp through a manual six-speed.

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Performance figures have yet to be released, but the 197hp Renaultsport goes from 0-60 in around 6.9 seconds for a top speed of 141 mph and will be the benchmark for the Fiesta ST.

Prices are also still unknown but it’s guessed that the Fiesta ST could start around a not-too-heavy £16,500. The ST will also feature the mid-cycle refresh that Ford has planned.

Refresher: The Ford Fiesta is powered by a 1.6L DOHC 4-cylinder engine making 120-hp with a peak torque of 109 lb-ft. The EPA rated the 2011 Fiesta at 29/40 mpg (city/highway) when mated to a 6-speed PowerShift automatic transmission and 28/37 mpg when mated to a 5-speed manual. Pricing for the 2011 Ford Fiesta starts at $13,320.