Ford Fiesta ST To Enter The Hot Hatch Segment In Australia Next Year

Ford’s new-gen supermini hot hatch, the Fiesta ST, will launch in Australia and New Zealand in Q1 2020, with a starting price of AUD $31,990 (USD $21,497/€19,587).

A rival to the likes of the Volkswagen Polo GTI, it’s powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder making 197 HP (200 PS) and 290 Nm (214 lb-ft) of torque. From rest to 100 km/h (0-62 mph), it needs 6.5 seconds and has a 232 km/h (144 mph) top speed.

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Drivers will easily be able to get close to the official numbers, as the ST features Launch Control and a Quaife mechanical limited-slip differential, as well as traction control, Torque Vectoring Control and Torque Steer Compensation. The drive mode selector includes three different settings named Normal, Sport and Track, with the latter making it feel the liveliest, while also disabling the traction control and setting the ESC to wide-slip mode for, well, having a bit of fun.

Providing extra peace of mind is the Driver Assistance Technology package that includes autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot information, lane keeping assist, cross traffic alert, emergency assistance and traffic sign recognition. Dusk-sensing headlamps with LED DRLs and automatic high beams, rain-sensing wipers, tire pressure monitoring system, launch control and switchable drive modes are also standard.

Compared to regular Fiestas, the ST also boasts a more aggressive body kit. Changes have been performed inside as well, with Recaro seats, a special gear knob, flat-bottomed steering wheel and contrast stitching. The equipment list counts the 8.0-inch SYNC3 infotainment system, 4.2-inch instrumentation cluster, unique digital speedometer display and a B&O Play premium sound system.