2007 Ford Fiesta ST

Ever since the Fiesta XR2 of 1981, affordable performance and sheer driving pleasure have been major characteristics of Ford’s small car range. Now the Fiesta ST brings those virtues to a new generation of drivers.

Fiesta ST is aimed right at the heart of the popular ‘junior hot hatch’ class and Ford’s engineers are confident it will take the class by storm. "Our goal was to make the Fiesta ST the best all-rounder in the class," explains Project Leader, Nick Collins, "but we believe we have created a car whose dynamics will be the best of the lot. Its ride handling balance is fantastic, and the grip is phenomenal".

Fiesta ST is also the first road car to come from Ford’s new TeamRS organisation. The Team was formed early in 2003 when the Company’s competition and performance road car engineers were pulled together for the first time to create performance road cars and new competition models.

Latest ST delivers performance and value

ST stands for ’Sports Technologies’, and the new Fiesta ST is the first of Ford’s Sports Technologies models to feature new style ST branding. Its new ’ST’ badge uses a central red stripe design inspired by Ford’s classic RS ’racing stripes’ logo and will be adopted by all new Ford ST models introduced from now on.

"The new style ST is more than just a badge, it is a whole new performance and design concept devised by TeamRS as an ongoing part of its road car programme," explains Jost Capito, TeamRS Director.

"ST should be synonymous with affordable, dependable performance and an ST model should reflect the character of the car from which it is derived," says Jost Capito. "Theoriginal Fiesta XR2 created a feeling of driving fun and youthful spirit that has been part of the Fiesta’s DNA ever since. The new Fiesta ST encapsulates that attitude once again. It aims to bring out the enthusiast in every driver while being enjoyable to live with as an everyday car."

Interior

Inside, Fiesta ST has been designed both to look good and to create the driving environment an enthusiast driver demands.

The special sports seats have been developed carefully to give maximum support to drivers of different sizes and builds. At the same time they have retained the excellent everyday comfort required of an ST variant.

The front seats themselves are trimmed in black leather with central cloth sections finished in either red or blue, depending on exterior body colour, and featuring the new ST logo. As an option the seats are available with full leather trim.

Fiesta’s ergonomically excellent driving position is given the special ST treatment with a thick, leather-wrapped steering wheel that has a bright steering wheel spoke design and ST logo, metal pedals and a unique gear knob design. It all creates a ‘cockpit’ that will not just look the part but will also be supremely functional.

Special ST interior detailing includes revised white on black instrument graphics and matt finish rings around the instruments themselves, added brightwork on the handbrake and door pull handles, and aluminium ‘ST’ scuff plates on the door sills.

"These elements are details the more enthusiastic driver looks for in a sporty car, the ‘jewels’ that advertise elegantly that you’re inside something special," says Ford’s Small Car Chief Designer, Ehab Kaoud.

Design