Hot hatchbacks have long been the perfect compromise for many car enthusiasts, embodying a holy trinity of performance, value, and utility. But while Europeans enjoy a deluge in this segment year after year, Americans have been left to pick between just a few practical pint-sized powerhouses like the Volkswagen GTI. But recently a flood of newcomers have invaded our shores, including the Hyundai Veloster Turbo, the Fiat 500 Abarth, and Ford Focus ST.
Now entering this small but growing group of compact performance is another Ford, the 2014 Fiesta ST. While less powerful than its big brother, the Focus ST, this smaller five-door hatch will use a "high-output variant" of the turbocharged 1.6-liter EcoBoost inline-four found in the ordinary 2013 Ford Fusion and the Euro-spec Fiesta ST, but with output increased to a reported 197 hp and 214 lb. ft. of torque?available at just 3500 rpm. The increased punch is married to a six-speed manual; Ford says it will get 34 mpg.
In addition to more power, the Fiesta ST will receive suspension improvements over the stock model including a stiffer rear axle, new steering knuckles to sharpen the steering ratio from 14.3-1 down to 13.6-1, and bigger disc brakes with four-wheel ABS (the stock Fiesta comes with disc brakes on the front only). There's also electronic Torque Vectoring Control to reduce the understeer which plagues front-wheel drive cars and three-mode electronic stability control.
With an added rear-spoiler, front splitter, and improved rear diffuser, the Fiesta ST looks like it?ll stay planted once the driving gets spirited, and the Sound Symposer will pipe in engine roar to remind you things are getting hot and heavy. No official price has been announced yet, but expect the Fiesta ST to retail somewhere slightly north of $20,000 when it goes on sale later next year.
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