Our morning started off as we drove into the Weber's Inn parking lot. Upon arriving you can see two long rows of Fiesta STs as well as the Ford team welcoming us to the event. During the morning breakfast we were given a thorough presentation on the vehicle, various global strategies, their commitment to reliability as well as Team RS's involvement in developing this car. We were then given free reigns to the Fiesta STs waiting for us back at the parking lot. Upon first glance the Fiesta ST looks a lot like it's older sibling, the Focus ST. However as you move around towards the side and rear, it becomes evident that the styling is very unique to the Fiesta. Sitting inside the car felt amazing, the Recaros were quite comfortable and in some ways reminded us of the first generation Focus SVT with the Euro package. We didn't get a chance to play around with the infotainment system, but everything was ergonomically laid out nicely including a large navigation display screen and even the armrests were quite comfortable. As you start up the car, you hear a really nice throaty exhaust coming from the rear and a few revs quickly reminded us of the turbo sitting in the engine.
We were then given permission to test drive around the twisty back roads of Ann Arbor Michigan. This is where the Fiesta ST's tuned suspension really shine as we experienced very little body rolling or flexing coming out of 90 degree turns and S curves at high speeds. The close ratio 6-speed shifted very smoothly and the clutch was very grippy getting in and out of gears. All though Ford rates this vehicle as having 197 horsepower and 214 pound-feet of torque, we really didn't feel the power come on until above the 3000 rpm mark. However for highway passing, power will come on instantly and we had little trouble overtaking slower cars on the two-lane road. In addition to the blow-off valve, the sound symposer really added to the affect that you were behind a high-performance sports car. We also experience very little brake fading during our 2.5 hour drive and had no issues slowing down into tight turns. Interior road noise was very minimal and we had no problem conversing inside the cabin. One thing we do wished Ford would have added was a dead pedal as well as a boost gauge similar to the one found in the Focus ST. Overall the car is an amazing machine and we're very happy to see this vehicle finally going into production for the North American market. Those who plan to own one will not be disappointed. We would also like to thank our friends at Ford for giving us the opportunity to attend this Fiesta ST drive event.
Upon arriving back to the hotel, there were some final questions and answers before we departed, we've listed a few down below.
Q) When will the Fiesta ST be available to the public?
A) End of September is when customers are expected to start receiving their cars.
Q) Will Ford offer a 3-door version in the US?
A) The costs for tooling an existing plant or shipping them from overseas would be too much.
Q) Will there be an option for HID lights in the future?
A) No HID lights will be offered on the Fiesta ST.
Q) Will there be an option for a boost gauge similar to the Focus ST?
A) No boost gauge will be offered in the Fiesta ST.
