Back at the 2010 Paris Auto Show, Ford->ke31 pulled off the sheets on the new Fiesta RS WRC rally carr, which will be competing in the 2011 FIA World Rally Championship.

Now that the season opening race is only days away - Rally Sweden on February 10-13 - Ford officially unveiled the car decked in all its racing livery.

Set to be driven by the Abu Dhabi World Rally Team and its driver line-up of Mikko Hirvonen, Jari-Matti Latvala, and Khalid Al Qassimi, the new Fiesta RS WRC rally car was built by M-Sport and loosely based on the S2000 car that recently took the top step of the podium at the Monte Carlo Rally in 2010.

With a recent triumph under its belt, M-Sport is looking into kicking off the new year on a high note with a lighter yet stronger Fiesta RS WRC that is capable of competing with the big boys of the WRC.

Whether that goal becomes a reality remains to be seen. What we do know is that with the season opening race a few days away, we won't have to wait too long to find the answer.

Details after the jump

2011 Ford Abu Dhabi Fiesta RS WRC Rally Car

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2011 Ford Abu Dhabi Fiesta RS WRC Rally Car
  • Engine/Motor: 1.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine
  • Horsepower: 300 horsepower
  • Torque: 331 lb/ft of torque
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior and Interior

The car gets eye-catching appearance and acclaimed ’kinetic design’ styling cues synonymous with Ford’s latest road vehicles. The interior will also be instantly recognizable as a Fiesta RS WRC rally car as it contains a number of production parts.

The 2011 Ford Fiesta WRC comes with new front and rear suspensions courtesy Macpherson struts with external reservoir dampers. On top of that, the rally car also comes with a set of special wheels that are going to be used for specific road conditions. When driving on gravel or snow, the Fiesta WRC will be fitted with 7x15” aluminum wheels that comes with 650 mm tires wrapped around it. When the car is running on asphalt, the 15” wheel are replaced and substituted with 8x18” wheels that also comes with 650 mm tires wrapped around it. Complementing the wheels are Brembo ventilated brake discs with 4-piston monoblock calipers.

Ford didn’t release the full details on what to expect on the car’s interior. But seeing as this is a full-fledged rally racer, you can expect the usual items, including Recaro racing seats, harness seat belts, a roll cage, and a modified steering wheel.

Performance

Powering the new Fiesta WRC will be a 1.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine that has been turbocharged by a Garrett System, producing a powerful output of 300 horsepower and 331 lb/ft of torque mated to an X-Trac six-speed sequential transmission.

Pricing

No price tag has been attached to this racing prototype. If you’re interested in a standard For Fiesta, you can buy one at a very affordable base price of $13,995.

Competition

Get ready to see the 2011 Ford Fiesta WRC rally car to exchange dirt baths against the likes of Sebastian Loeb and the Citroen Total World Rally Team, Ken Block and the Monster World Rally Team, and Kimi Raikkonen and the Iceman 1 Racing Team.