Ford spent a fortune on making the new Fiesta ST a properly good subcompact hot hatch, something that the Volkswagen Polo GTI and Renault Clio RS should be afraid of.
Whether they have succeeded is pretty much subjective at the end of the day, but not many can deny the fact that the range-topping version of the supermini is very cool.
In fact, it’s 200PS (197hp / 147kW) and 290Nm (213lb-ft) of torque cool. It uses a new turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine, and claims an official 0-100km/h (0-62mph) sprint of 6.5 seconds; top speed is 232km/h (144mph).
Also Read: Could Ford Actually Be Working On A Fiesta RS After All?
Now, for a supermini hot hatch, the new Ford Fiesta ST has a few features that were once reserved only for the upper segments. Here we can mention the optional mechanical Quaife limited-slip differential, special driving models that include Normal, Sport and Track, Recaro front seats and Bang&Olufsen premium sound system, in addition to a host of driving assistance gear.
Moreover, it also has a Launch Control system, which is accessible through a special menu on the instrument cluster. Yes, Launch Control on a B-segment hatchback that comes with a manual gearbox.
Carfection decided to dedicate a short video to this special function, showing viewers how to engage it and how it works, so if you’re curious if it’s actually any good compared to the good old clutch/throttle coordination instead, then all you have to do is click the play button below.