Fiesta RS?

[Wretched]

What’s this? Well, it’s a dusty, sort of cobbled-together-looking Ford Fiesta hatchback. But look more closely. See that altered front bodywork with the giant air inlets? The tacked-on fender flares? The apparent intercooler peering out from behind the grille? This, friends, is no ordinary Fiesta—it’s almost assuredly a test mule for a hot-rodded Fiesta RS that Ford could be cooking up for 2017.

Ford’s RS game is strong recently, what with the 2017 Focus RS bringing its all-wheel drive and 300-plus turbocharged horsepower to the U.S. and the rest of the world. And when Ford unveiled the slightly larger Focus RS, the company hinted that the RS nameplate would become a long-term performance-oriented sub-brand. A fire-breathing Fiesta would sure fit nicely with that notion.

Our spy’s sleuthy photos of this Fiesta test mule seem to support that assumption. Running around in a convoy that included two camouflaged Focus RS prototypes, the wee Fiesta appears to have a wide-mouthed (and likely temporary) grille echoing the big air inlets of the bigger Focus RS behind it. It has also sprouted tacked-on fender flares and some temporary rear bodywork, both of which were seen on Focus RS prototypes when they were in the early test-mule stages.

If this is indeed a Fiesta RS, we suspect from previous conversations that it will feature an uprated version of the 197-hp 1.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder already seen in the current Fiesta ST, perhaps tuned to make north of 230 horses. We also expect a widened track, a thoroughly reworked suspension, a limited-slip differential, and perhaps some weight savings, along with a manual transmission as the sole gearbox. We’re not so certain, however, that the Fiesta would get big-brother Focus RS’s all-wheel-drive setup.

Given how out-and-out fun the Fiesta ST is, an even hotter RS version could be a dream. And with Ford Performance promising 12 new high-performance vehicles by the year 2020, the Fiesta ST would definitely be welcome in the new family.

http://blog.caranddriver.com/spied-2017-ford-fiesta-rs/

[DJM83]

Yeah spotted this on FB this morn, looking at the pics you can def see what looks like an intercooler in the front bumper. If they do make it i really hope its in 3 door form if they build it. Considering the 3 door ST only comes from Saarlouis then surely if there is an RS it will come from there aswell so 3 door.
Either or seeing how good the Fiesta ST is, this will be even better. Big move Ford, i like it.

[FPV GTHO]

As ive said before, Fiesta should've been the next RS after the MK2 Focus model finished production of you take them as a road car embodiment of a rally car. My main concern with this car would be Ford holding the performance back to keep it behind a Focus RS.

[Cheese3]

Originally Posted by DJM83

Yeah spotted this on FB this morn, looking at the pics you can def see what looks like an intercooler in the front bumper. If they do make it i really hope its in 3 door form if they build it. Considering the 3 door ST only comes from Saarlouis then surely if there is an RS it will come from there aswell so 3 door.
Either or seeing how good the Fiesta ST is, this will be even better. Big move Ford, i like it.

I'm the opposite, I hope they have a 5 door version as well. I have a FiST coming next month but probably in 3 years time I might need rear seats for kids ect and I would love 5 door version, the foST doesn't do it for me.

[dirty hands]

loose the tow ball
they better fit great mags
not much left to lower
rubbish dash

is that a laptop computer in the pic for data collection while running/testing

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by Cheese3

I'm the opposite, I hope they have a 5 door version as well. I have a FiST coming next month but probably in 3 years time I might need rear seats for kids ect and I would love 5 door version, the foST doesn't do it for me.

Well if the focus ST doesnt tickle ya fancy i hear there is a new focus RS coming soon
Sometimes i wish i waited for a Fiesta ST, purely for the 3 door aspect and the way they drive. But they do miss out on a little that the focus gets, but i guess its about keeping the weight down on the Fiesta.
A 2L Ecoboost in a Fiesta, come on ford you know you wanna

Congrats on the Fiesta ST though they are a cracking car thats for sure.

Originally Posted by dirty hands

loose the tow ball
they better fit great mags
not much left to lower
rubbish dash

is that a laptop computer in the pic for data collection while running/testing

Hardly a tow ball.

God picky, its a *** test car FFS

[dirty hands]

towball...sit on it potsie

yes sorry DJM83 a bit too picky

[Cheese3]

Originally Posted by DJM83

Well if the focus ST doesnt tickle ya fancy i hear there is a new focus RS coming soon
Sometimes i wish i waited for a Fiesta ST, purely for the 3 door aspect and the way they drive. But they do miss out on a little that the focus gets, but i guess its about keeping the weight down on the Fiesta.
A 2L Ecoboost in a Fiesta, come on ford you know you wanna

Congrats on the Fiesta ST though they are a cracking car thats for sure.


Hardly a tow ball.

God picky, its a *** test car FFS

Totally agree with you on the way they drive, I borrowed one for a day and did 450km and it was soooo enjoyable. Funnest car I have driven in ages, so I sold my T3 then order one and will be leasing the FiST for the next 3 years. Once the new car arrives my TL50 will hit the sale yards.

The FoRS sounds great but will also come with a great price tag. I would assume the price of a FiRS would be around 35ish if it's AWD.

[kiwijohn42]

2017? I do hope they have a new body by then. I still prefer the look of the WQ to the later versions.

[jd dad]

If they make it more power and fun than the ST a trade up would be highly on the cards

[mrmavx]

One thing that nobody seems to have noticed with the pics is that the intercooler is on the rhs of the car and vertical which is the layout of the 1 litre triples intercooler so is this a proto RS or a 1 litre that has been played with, adding to this theory is the small diameter single exhaust pipe on the rear shot

[bigshotdan]

Originally Posted by DJM83

Well if the focus ST doesnt tickle ya fancy i hear there is a new focus RS coming soon
Sometimes i wish i waited for a Fiesta ST, purely for the 3 door aspect and the way they drive. But they do miss out on a little that the focus gets, but i guess its about keeping the weight down on the Fiesta.

You know a FiST wants - needs - to be revved right, DJ?
[Sorry, couldn't resist]

I'm glad the Euro car only comes as three-door; I don't think the five-door American cars look right. Likewise, for all the people moaning about the next Focus RS only having five doors, I'm not sure a current Focus would look right with three; it's a bigger looking car than the old model...

As for a Fiesta RS, can we please let the Focus be released first before yet more rumour-mongering? Bloody media...