The new Ford Fiesta ST has been already praised for its fun-to-drive character but does its three-cylinder engine provide enough poke to beat its main hot hatch rivals? Time to find out.
The new Fiesta ST -a forbidden fruit for the US market- is powered by a new 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine that makes 197hp (200PS) and 213lb-ft (290Nm) of peak torque. The new powerplant comes with a cylinder deactivation system for better fuel economy and an active exhaust for a better soundtrack.
Ford reckons it’ll do the 0-62mph (100km/h) in 6.5 seconds and hit 144mph (232km/h) flat out. A mechanical Quaife limited-slip differential and a Launch Control system are optional.
Carwow gathered the new Fiesta ST’s main rivals, including the Toyota Yaris GRMN, the Peugeot 208 GTI, the VW Polo GTI and the Mini Cooper S JCW. The most powerful of the lot is the Mini, packing 228hp out of a turbocharged 2.0-liter unit.
The most unusual powertrain belongs to the hot Yaris, which sports a supercharged 1.8-liter with 210hp and is also the lightest among the contenders. The VW Polo is the only one fitted with a dual-clutch transmission.
Which hot hatch wins the race? Head to the video below and find out.