2007 Ford Fiesta ST

Design

The Fiesta demonstrates the latest design thinking for the ST brand, as defined by TeamRS. The look is more overtly performance orientated and the cabin benefits from the sporty detailing that is expected in this class.

The Fiesta ST clearly establishes the design aims for ST. As TeamRS Chief Designer, Chris Clements, explains: "Fiesta ST establishes a new style of ST ‘look’ for Ford. We have developed the key styling cues evident in the Focus ST170 and the Mondeo ST 220 and created a more recognisable performance variant with the Fiesta ST. It was important for us to get the design right. The Fiesta ST is an integral part of the Fiesta family as well as the sporty Ford family, and it has to take our ST range into a new realm."

The Fiesta ST is based on the three-door Fiesta model which, unusually among cars in its class, already has its own distinctively sporty appearance compared with its five-door counterparts. To achieve this, the three-door features a more sloping roofline and steeper angled tailgate, creating a youthful and lively look.

Faster from the outside

Fiesta ST develops this further and adds a strong performance flavour. At the front a new bumper and air dam moulding features a deeper, more sporty version of Fiesta’s hallmark trapezoidal grille. Either side of this are situated circular front fog lights with anodised matt metallic finish surrounds, similar to those seen in earlier ST models.

The grille opening has been tailored for optimum engine breathing, and the small lip spoiler under the front air dam is the result of detail aerodynamic tuning.

Subtle side skirts carry the lower body line of Fiesta ST through from the front bumper to the rear where there is a matching, deeper new bumper moulding. This has a large air diffuser opening and, like the front bumper, has its lower section finished in a charcoal grey colour. To complete the detailing, the exhaust tail pipe is finished with a half-round section, polished metal trim as it exits the bumper.

A rear roof spoiler has been fitted and the gap between this and the roof has been carefully tuned for optimum aerodynamics, reducing drag and improving downforce.

New body side mouldings angle down towards the front end of the car and further emphasise the urgent, performance stance of the Fiesta ST. Body side mouldings, door handles and newly designed door mirrors, powered and heated, are all body coloured.

The whole effect is complemented by the lowered suspension, wide tyres and large, wheel arch filling alloy wheels. These are available with a 9- spoke pattern on 16 inch diameter wheels and 11-spoke on 17 inch diameter wheels. These alloys were specially developed for the car and their look is another styling element that establishes the ST brand in the hierarchy of performance Fords.

Fiesta ST will be available as standard in eight colours, including a unique Performance Blue finish previously seen only on the Focus RS. The TeamRS design department has also created a very special edition colour scheme derived from the twin racing stripes that are such a big part of Ford’s competition heritage. This version is finished in Glacier White paintwork with twin wide ST-blue stripes running up the bonnet, along the roof and down the rear tailgate, in a style that echoes the famous GT40.

Performances