Auto Express Ford Fiesta ST Mountune 230 review

[rooSTer]

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/ford/fiesta/94235/ford-fiesta-st-mountune-230-review

A few years back specialist tuner Mountune released a series of tweaks that promised to up the ante and inject even more firepower into our favourite hot hatch, the Fiesta ST. We’ve already driven the MP215 upgrade, which adds a 33bhp boost for just £599.

Now, though, Mountune will offer you a ‘Racing’ kit for your Fiesta ST. The MR230 setup adds another 15bhp – taking that figure up to 227bhp – through the addition of a new high-flow air box, alloy intercooler, air filter and cat-back exhaust.

It can be applied to any current-generation ST and takes around seven hours to fit. The work needs to be carried out either at Mountune HQ or at one of the ‘PRO’ Ford dealers dotted around the country. The price for all the above is £2,295 – a hefty whack for a few extra horsepower.

On the road, the ST MR230 is quick – very quick, in fact. It’ll sprint from 0-60mph in 5.9 seconds, which is not only a full second faster than the standard car, but six-tenths faster than the bigger, more powerful Focus ST.

The extra 50Nm of torque comes in handy, too. The in-gear acceleration is simply mind blowing, allowing you to pass slower moving traffic with ease. The turbo seems perfectly tuned and constantly on boost, allowing you to pull up motorway slip roads at lightning pace. You’ll need to watch your speed, though, as you’ll be past 70mph before you know it.

The noise has been turned up a notch, too. The new exhaust emits a pleasing rasp under hard acceleration, but it quickly turns into an intrusive drone on the motorway. Our car also had an uprated spring kit fitted, which made the car unbearably firm. We’d stick with the standard setup as it’s still delivers pinpoint handling, while also being far easier to live with day-to-day.

And that’s the beauty of the Fiesta ST. It’s just as simple to drive as a humble 1.0-litre EcoBoost. As you’d expect, the cabin is identical, with the same rear seat space and a matching boot.

The biggest issue is the lack of manufacturer warranty. The ‘Performance’ kits – like the MP215 package fitted to our old long-termer – maintain Ford’s original guarantee, but these higher-spec ‘Racing’ kits invalidate it. Mountune does offer a 12-month/12,000-mile warranty on all parts supplied though, so if your ST is more than two years old, you’ve not much to lose.

 

[Fasta123]

So this is like Cobb stage 3 minus the downpipe? So 227hp... With the downpipe and a protune I think 240 is generally accepted as a reasonably attainable number and e40 250bhp is the number.... So if there saying 0-60 is under 6sec with that then stage 3 pro tune is definitely firmly in the 5sec range e40 tuned being 5.6/5.5?

 

[Fasta123]

Has anyone noticed the difference between the center console screen on "world" fiestas and us ones? Ours are quite a bit bigger right?

 

[bobjob]

Its different for UK models and US models. Apparently the UK spec needs a cam adjustment tool and the US does not. Also on mountuneusa.com you "need" the downpipe (so its the same kinda hardware as cobb stage 3).

 

[Fasta123]

Its different for UK models and US models. Apparently the UK spec needs a cam adjustment tool and the US does not. Also on mountuneusa.com you "need" the downpipe (so its the same kinda hardware as cobb stage 3).

A cam adjustment for what? I was talking about 0-60 times. Iv seen some people saying a stage 3 fist can't hit 0-60 in under 6sec

 

[bobjob]

for timing. look at the UK site and the us site for the details of the mr230. they are different (hardware wise). the programming should be similar

 

[nmh5001]

Has anyone noticed the difference between the center console screen on "world" fiestas and us ones? Ours are quite a bit bigger right?

They have three trim levels, ST, ST2, and ST3. The basic ST is pretty much a US spec ST with zero options, a downgrade from the Sony stereo (similar setup to the base FoST), and no auto climate.

 

[Fasta123]

They have three trim levels, ST, ST2, and ST3. The basic ST is pretty much a US spec ST with zero options, a downgrade from the Sony stereo (similar setup to the base FoST), and no auto climate.

So a base us fist without recaros is equivalent to an st2?

 

[Fasta123]

for timing. look at the UK site and the us site for the details of the mr230. they are different (hardware wise). the programming should be similar

Yea but power wise Cobb stag 3 has even more I'd say especially if pro tuned or on e40... So a stage 3 fist here has got to be under 6 0-60

 

[nmh5001]

So a base us fist without recaros is equivalent to an st2?

Pretty much, but they get LED running lights and tinted windows.

http://www.ford.co.uk/Cars/Fiesta-ST

 

[KiwiJoe]

The rest of the world (Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, briefly China) get a variation of the three door that differs from the three UK variants. These world models get, as standard:

- Halogen projectors with LED DRLs
- Keyless entry/start
- Cloth Recaro seats. No leather content, no heating.
- Auto headlights
- Rain sensing wipers
- Automatic electronic climate control
- Cruise control
- Rear parking sensors
- SYNC 1 with a 4.2" monochrome screen
- Auto-dimming rear view mirror
- Stainless steel door sill with ST logo
- Power fold door mirrors with puddle lights
- Vehicle security system
- Sony premium audio system
- Full size spare wheels
- TPMS via ECU (ABS sensors)

What they don't get (even as an option), which are available in UK three doors and/or US four doors:

- Partial leather Recaro seats with heating
- Navigation with a colour touch screen, SYNC 3
- Illuminated two piece door sills
- Red brake callipers
- Rear tinted privacy glass (UK)
- Heated windscreen
- Heated exterior rear view mirrors
- Moonroof
- Smokers package
- Window deflectors
- TPMS via sensors (US, not UK)
- Switchable (multi-colour) interior LED lighting

 

[nmh5001]

The rest of the world (Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, briefly China) get a variation of the three door that differs from the three UK variants. These world models get, as standard:

- Halogen projectors with LED DRLs
- Keyless entry/start
- Cloth Recaro seats. No leather content, no heating.
- Auto headlights
- Rain sensing wipers
- Automatic electronic climate control
- Cruise control
- Rear parking sensors
- SYNC 1 with a 4.2" monochrome screen
- Auto-dimming rear view mirror
- Stainless steel door sill with ST logo
- Power fold door mirrors with puddle lights
- Vehicle security system
- Sony premium audio system
- Full size spare wheels
- TPMS via ECU (ABS sensors)

What they don't get (even as an option), which are available in UK three doors and/or US four doors:

- Partial leather Recaro seats with heating
- Navigation with a colour touch screen, SYNC 3
- Illuminated two piece door sills
- Red brake callipers
- Rear tinted privacy glass (UK)
- Heated windscreen
- Heated exterior rear view mirrors
- Moonroof
- Smokers package
- Window deflectors
- TPMS via sensors (US, not UK)
- Switchable (multi-colour) interior LED lighting

One Ford is clearly a work in progress.