Ford kills Fiesta except for ST.

csv8 · 17-04-2018, 10:14 PM

FORD Australia has officially confirmed a local arrival of the next-generation Ford Fiesta ST for about this time next year.

The new ST will feature a more powerful 147kW/290Nm 1.5-litre three-pot EcoBoost engine and six-speed manual transmission, with performance further enhanced by light-weight cutting-edge chassis technology and advanced aerodynamics.

READ NEXT: Search for Australia’s best hot-hatch: Wheels

Ford Performance claims the three-door will sprint from nought to 100km/h in just 6.7 seconds, 0.3-seconds faster than the 134kW/240Nm car it will replace.

The Fiesta’s EcoBoost engine uses an integrated exhaust manifold that delivers torque faster by minimising the distance exhaust gasses travel between cylinders and the turbocharger. It can run on just two cylinders while coasting or cruising to save fuel.

READ NEXT: Ford introduces factory approved Mustang performance packs

The German-built ST will be orphaned as the only seventh-generation Fiesta variant to be sold in Australia.

2018 Ford Fiesta STThis is due to economics rather than a lack of demand for non-performance models, which will no longer be produced in Thailand making it difficult to remain competitive in the sub-$20,000 price range.

There are no such issues with the ST, which has been sourced from Europe previously and will find a home here under the newly launched Ford Performance brand, along with the Focus ST and RS, Mustang and Ranger Raptor.

READ NEXT: 2018 Ford Focus RS Limited Edition review

“There is a strong appetite and passion for the Fiesta ST in our line-up, and we can see the affinity and esteem that Australians have with driving enjoyment of the existing model,” said Ford Australia CEO, Graeme Whickman.

“Fiesta ST shows the depth of enthusiast models that we’re bringing to Australia, with everything from this hot-hatch through to the Ranger Raptor.” https://www.wheelsmag.com.au/news/18...-for-australia

Brazen · 18-04-2018, 12:24 AM

Ford should use the mustang as an influence for their passenger car design direction. I feel the catfish look of fords is so old now.

csv8 · 18-04-2018, 08:49 AM

2019 Fiesta ST.

malazn mafia · 18-04-2018, 11:14 AM

Anyone else chuckle at the thought of 3 cylinders ? I thought daihatsu had this covered back in th 80s, including forced induction. Look how that went

Wretched · 18-04-2018, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

Anyone else chuckle at the thought of 3 cylinders ? I thought daihatsu had this covered back in th 80s, including forced induction. Look how that went

https://media.ford.com/content/fordm...e-year-fo.html

Vesper Martini · 18-04-2018, 12:14 PM

Award winning 3 cyl near 200 HP donk in a car the size of a shoe box! = Good Thing

Wretched · 18-04-2018, 02:04 PM

I am disappointed Ford has done this, restricting the range.

This would have been a good opportunity to re launch the Fiesta range and remove the previous stigma attached.
Across the board (except Mustang and Ranger) they need to do this.

mike_nofx · 18-04-2018, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brazen

Ford should use the mustang as an influence for their passenger car design direction. I feel the catfish look of fords is so old now.

I love this idea. Mustangs tough looks converted into a hatch back would be sweet.

Maybe in a similar way to how Mazda have used a similar look for its RX8 in all of its passenger cars.

It’s a shame, Ford just don’t have any good looking cars other than the Mustang.

IanC · 18-04-2018, 05:26 PM

The 3 cylinder Ecoboost engine has been having big problems in the UK with coolant leaks resulting in complete engine failure.
https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/p...x.htm?t=111213
Ford seem to be as sympathetic to those owners as they were to the mugs who got landed with the DSG gearbox.

Maybe they have fixed the problem now. Maybe. Are you feeling lucky?

I will stick with a nice big engine with no turbos or superchargers to go wrong. If you need more power get a bigger engine.

Windsor220 · 18-04-2018, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanC

The 3 cylinder Ecoboost engine has been having big problems in the UK with coolant leaks resulting in complete engine failure.
https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/p...x.htm?t=111213
Ford seem to be as sympathetic to those owners as they were to the mugs who got landed with the DSG gearbox.

Maybe they have fixed the problem now. Maybe. Are you feeling lucky?

I will stick with a nice big engine with no turbos or superchargers to go wrong. If you need more power get a bigger engine.

Reading that, the issue seemed to be with the plastic coolant pipes which have been updated. Size of the motor had nothing to do with it.

jpd80 · 18-04-2018, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanC

The 3 cylinder Ecoboost engine has been having big problems in the UK with coolant leaks resulting in complete engine failure.
https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/p...x.htm?t=111213
Ford seem to be as sympathetic to those owners as they were to the mugs who got landed with the DSG gearbox.

Maybe they have fixed the problem now. Maybe. Are you feeling lucky?

I will stick with a nice big engine with no turbos or superchargers to go wrong. If you need more power get a bigger engine.

1.0 EB never came with DSG, it had manual trans or 6F auto trans.
the only vehicles that got dry clutch DSG was 2.0 DI Focus and 1.6? Fiesta.

The Dragon 1.5 EB is a different 3 cylinder family, DSG in dry and wet clutch
are being replaced by new corporate 8-speed auto a JV developed with GM

simon varley · 18-04-2018, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wretched

I am disappointed Ford has done this, restricting the range.

unfortunately an EU sourced car will never be competitively priced against the Korean etc cars. ST can command a premium to make it still profitable but base models would have to take a loss. this is another example of Ford playing where they can win - same as restricting some Focus models

Vesper Martini · 19-04-2018, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike_nofx

I love this idea. Mustangs tough looks converted into a hatch back would be sweet.

Maybe in a similar way to how Mazda have used a similar look for its RX8 in all of its passenger cars.

It’s a shame, Ford just don’t have any good looking cars other than the Mustang.

Name a better looking current small hatch that is better looking than the Focus ST?
certainly better than the Mazda 2 with supposed RX8 looks? IMO

Trying to make all Fords look like a Mustang would be a mistake.

mike_nofx · 19-04-2018, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

Name a better looking current small hatch that is better looking than the Focus ST?
certainly better than the Mazda 2 with supposed RX8 looks? IMO

Trying to make all Fords look like a Mustang would be a mistake.

Well I’ll admit that looks are a personal thing. Since I’m not a small hatch buyer my opinion is likely irrelevant. I just cannot find the looks of the Fiesta, Focus or Mondeo even remotely interesting.

Let’s see though, I prefer the looks of the Swift, Polo, i30, civic, Clio... and yes, Mazda 2 over the Fiesta. I feel like sales figures would likely back up my personal opinion also.

Don’t see the RX8 influence in a Mazda 2?

Vesper Martini · 19-04-2018, 05:53 PM

Yes agree looks are subjective but personally I think the small ford and mondeo are the best looking of the bunch.

sorry I dont see the RX8 in the Mazda 2 apart from the grill shape, but they they all have that. you could say it comes from the RX3 which IMO is one of the best looking cars of the late 70's in comparison Mustangs of that era looked pretty ordinary again IMO.

Do you not see Aston Martin influence on the Mondeo?

jpd80 · 19-04-2018, 07:26 PM

I-3s tend to have a six cylinder growl when you put a sports system on them,
that might sound kinda cool through the Turbo...

Nu66et · 19-04-2018, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

Do you not see Aston Martin influence on the Mondeo?

I often wonder why this isnt more widely known, but Fords current VP of Design, Moray Callum, is brother to the Director of Design at Jaguar, Ian Callum, who also oversaw the design of the DB9 and Vantage

mike_nofx · 19-04-2018, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

Yes agree looks are subjective but personally I think the small ford and mondeo are the best looking of the bunch.

sorry I dont see the RX8 in the Mazda 2 apart from the grill shape, but they they all have that. you could say it comes from the RX3 which IMO is one of the best looking cars of the late 70's in comparison Mustangs of that era looked pretty ordinary again IMO.

Do you not see Aston Martin influence on the Mondeo?

That’s the beauty of opinions, everyone’s differs!

Yes I see some RX3 influence too, and yes it mostly is in the grill.
As for the Mustang, it has obvious styling cues from the Eleanor GT500 mustang which I feel is what it owes its success to.

Haha well it’s funny you say that as I really see nothing exciting about the styling of Aston Martins. Same with Maseratis. But some obviously do.

csv8 · 20-04-2018, 09:10 AM

Seen how fugly the Lexus"s are !!!

Vesper Martini · 20-04-2018, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike_nofx

Haha well it’s funny you say that as I really see nothing exciting about the styling of Aston Martins. Same with Maseratis. But some obviously do.

Plenty of people do, and for good reason Im sure the Callum brothers share ideas..

search for the Aston Martin Mondaudi

mike_nofx · 20-04-2018, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

Plenty of people do, and for good reason Im sure the Callum brothers share ideas..

search for the Aston Martin Mondaudi

Plenty of people like Camrys too!

I searched the Mondaudi... totally uninspiring.

IanC · 21-04-2018, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windsor220

Reading that, the issue seemed to be with the plastic coolant pipes which have been updated. Size of the motor had nothing to do with it.

I got the impression that they have made the motor so small that it has very little coolant. Fine until it springs a leak but then the engine is a write off.

I am very suspicious of any highly stressed engine with turbos. I prefer naturally aspirated low stress motors like my BA.

Vesper Martini · 23-04-2018, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanC

I am very suspicious of any highly stressed engine with turbos. I prefer naturally aspirated low stress motors like my BA.

I agree to a point, but were not talking about a Tractor.
a small sports hatch needs a light weight, economical engine full of punch.

**DJM83** · 24-04-2018, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpd80

I-3s tend to have a six cylinder growl when you put a sports system on them,
that might sound kinda cool through the Turbo...

Very much like the 5 cylinder Volvo does.