June 2013 - Ford Online

Road test
Ford News reporter
Robin Roberts, who
also edits the
Wheels Within Wales
automotive website,
put the Fiesta ST to
the test on the roads
of south Wales
Ford has restored its image for making
dynamic hot hatches as it rolls out the
Fiesta ST.
It is visually and dynamically very different
to its stablemates and its Team RS tuning is
immediately apparent.
The 1.6 litre engine is a compact fit under
the bonnet and delivers very willing acceleration
from rest and through the gears. On
motorways it cruises with nonchalance at
the legal limit.
But it’s on twisting roads that the Fiesta
ST comes into its own.
The figure-hugging Recaro seats really
hold you securely in place and there is an
immediate response to the steering and
immensely powerful brakes which include
all round discs for the first time on Fiesta.
You can tell the suspension has been
firmed up a lot and the ride lowered because
it corners in a much flatter manner
and it does transmit a lot of bumps back
into the cabin.
Handling is agile and the roadholding very
good with a good safety margin built into
the set-up.
A side effect of this is much more road
noise too from the bigger wheels and tyres
but there is no complaint about the deliberately
intruding exhaust note.
Access is easy in front, more of a
squeeze to slip behind, but the boot and
oddments provision is good. Once seated
there is fairly good leg and headroom in
front but less behind.
Visibility is reasonably good at the back
when parking and clear to front and side.
Instruments are decently sized and easy to
read.
I liked the flowing nature to the powertrain
and gearbox, the agile steering and confidence-inspiring
brakes underfoot.
Over a mixture of roads I managed to get
into the low-30s economy but the engine of
my test car was barely run in and I would
expect this to improve.
Ford News June 2013 13