Ford’s updated Fiesta ST loses a cylinder, but not an ounce of power

By Stephen Edelstein March 7, 2017

Following the European launch of its updated Fiesta subcompact, Ford has unveiled a new version of the Fiesta ST performance model at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. The next-gen Fiesta ST proves that less can really be more.

The Fiesta ST loses a cylinder, but gains a lot in the process. A 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine replaces the previous generation’s 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. The new engine makes the same 197 horsepower as its predecessor, but churns out 11 more pound-feet of torque, for a total of 213. The three-cylinder is also lighter, which should improve handling. Speaking of handling, the Fiesta ST also gets brake-based torque vectoring.

1 of 7

Ford Fiesta ST — Ronan Glon/Digital Trends

Ford Fiesta ST — Ronan Glon/Digital Trends

Ford Fiesta ST — Ronan Glon/Digital Trends

Ford Fiesta ST — Ronan Glon/Digital Trends

Ford Fiesta ST — Ronan Glon/Digital Trends

Ford Fiesta ST — Ronan Glon/Digital Trends

Ford Fiesta ST — Ronan Glon/Digital Trends

Ford expects 0 to 62 mph in 6.7 seconds, as well as improved fuel economy. Like the 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine used in other versions of the Fiesta, the ST’s 1.5-liter unit has cylinder deactivation. It can shut down one of the engine’s cylinders under light loads to save fuel. Deactivating or activating a cylinder takes just 14 milliseconds, according to Ford.

Recommended Videos

The new Fiesta ST also gets three drive modes: Normal, Sport, and Track. They adjust engine mapping, stability, traction control, the electric power steering, and the sound of the exhaust. That is altered by a valve in the exhaust system, as well as artificially through Ford’s Electronic Sound Enhancement system. Electronic exhaust enhancers tend to sound a bit cheesy in other cars, so maybe Ford would’ve been better off leaving that box unchecked.

Like the previous version, the new Fiesta ST is distinguished from more pedestrian Fiesta models by sportier styling elements, which in this case seem to take some cues from the Ford Focus RS. The interior sports Recaro seats, a flat-bottomed steering wheel, and Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment system, with an 8.0-inch touchscreen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will be available, along with a B&O Play audio system.

In Europe, the Fiesta ST will be available as a three-door or five-door hatchback, but expect the U.S. to get the five-door only. Ford will not discuss a U.S. launch date, but don’t expect the new Fiesta ST before the 2018 model year.

Topics

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

Cars

Scout Traveler and Scout Terra forge a new path for EVs

Scout Traveler and Scout Terra.

Electric vehicles are inseparable from newness, whether it’s new tech, new designs, or new companies like Rivian, Lucid, and Tesla. But the Volkswagen Group’s new EV-only brand also relies heavily on the past.

Unveiled Thursday, the Scout Traveler electric SUV and Scout Terra electric pickup truck are modern interpretations of the classic International Harvester Scout. Manufactured from 1961 to 1980, the original Scout helped popularize the idea of the rugged, off-road-capable utility vehicle, setting the stage for modern SUVs.

Cars

Robotaxi aside, a $25,000 EV would be pointless, Tesla CEO says

Blue Tesla Model 3 Highland on the road

Enthusiasts expecting to one day put their hands on the steering wheel of a $25,000 Tesla EV may feel like they’ve been taken for a ride.
CEO Elon Musk has just put a serious damper on those expectations, saying that outside of the driverless Robotaxi recently unveiled by Tesla, a regular $25,000 model would be “pointless” and “silly.”
During a conference call with investors, Musk was asked to clarify whether such a model was in the works.
"Basically, having a regular $25K model is pointless,” Musk said. “It would be silly. It would be completely at odds with what we believe." Tesla, Musk continued, has “been very clear that the future is autonomous.”
On October 10, Tesla unveiled its much-awaited robotaxi, called the Cybercab, an autonomous-driving EV with no steering wheel or pedals. The company also unveiled the Robovan, a much larger autonomous vehicle expected to carry people or goods.
The automaker said the Cybercab is expected to be produced in 2026 and cost $30,000. Musk, meanwhile, said that it would be a $25,000 car without specifying if that price tag included federal tax credits.
Tesla’s ambiguity about an affordable entry-level model has been going on for years. In 2020, Musk signaled that a $25,000 Tesla would arrive within three years. It was later reported that Tesla had ditched the idea, instead favoring the development of a robotaxi.
Language within Tesla’s latest financial report still hints that new affordable Tesla models are on the way. But Musk’s latest comments are putting a floor on just how affordable these would be. So far, Tesla’s Model 3 Rear-Wheel-Drive remains the company’s cheapest model, with a base price of $38,990.
Some rival EV makers, meanwhile, are entering the affordable space more aggressively in the U.S.
General Motors has already put out its Chevy Equinox EV at a price of $27,500, including federal tax credits. Volkswagen America says it plans to release an under-$35,000 EV in the U.S. by 2027.

Cars

Stellantis’ 2027 Dodge Charger Daytona might feature solid-state battery tech

Front three quarter view of the 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona sedan.

The battle to use cheaper, more efficient, and safer EV batteries is heating up among automakers. At the heart of this battle, the development of solid-state battery technology, an alternative to highly flammable and costly lithium batteries, is garnering more and more attention.For proof, Stellantis, the world’s fourth-largest automaker, is betting on the technology for its next generation of electric vehicles. The Netherlands-based company announced that it will launch a demonstration fleet of Dodge Charger Daytona EVs that will feature solid-state battery tech made by U.S. startup Factorial.The demo fleet, expected to launch by 2026, will provide a real-world assessment of Factorial’s technology. Factorial has been partnering with Stellantis since 2021 and is also partnering with the likes of Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai.Besides Dodge, the technology would eventually be deployed on the Stellantis STLA Large multi-energy platform, which includes brands such as Jeep, Chrysler, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati.Stellantis said that the integration of solid-state battery technology will yield “improved performance, longer driving ranges, and faster charging times in the coming years.”Factorial, meanwhile, says its technology provides higher energy density, reduced weight, improved performance, and the potential for further reduction in total vehicle cost over time. Stellantis, Daimler, and Hyundai aren’t the only ones to bet on solid-state battery tech. Toyota, the largest automaker in the world, has heavily invested in the technology. It also created a coalition with Nissan and Panasonic to boost its production in Japan. So far, making solid-state batteries has remained an expensive endeavor. But steps such as the Stellantis demo fleet and production at scale by the likes of Factorial are expected to improve manufacturing processes and costs over time.Other automakers, meanwhile, are working on ways to improve lithium batteries. Volkswagen, for one, is developing its own unified battery cell in several European plants as well as one plant in Ontario, Canada.