The Ford Fiesta ST is more sporty than ever thanks to a new limited-slip differential

Sporty compacts display a series of traits that automatically make them a very interesting vehicle concept; however, some brands still want to take this idea even further. Ford demonstrates this with its spiciest city car, the Ford Fiesta ST, a model that carries a strong legacy from its previous generations, yet the American brand has known how to reinterpret it to perfection. To achieve this goal, Ford has made sure to deliver a tuning worthy of a traditional sports car.

The Fiesta ST arrives to break every mould and prove it can stand up to more demanding vehicles but, to muster enough boldness, the American compact has had to undergo a series of mechanical operations. At the same time, the styling has been coordinated to offer a sporty character without clashing with the whole, something Ford has managed to capture with great success.

The exterior design openly displays the most common lines of a vehicle in the Fiesta’s segment, but Ford has known how to add a series of elements to accentuate its clear charisma as a hot hatchback. This can be seen in a front grille far more aggressive and sporty than the one found on the standard version, which is aided by a small spoiler at the rear, an element that provides greater aerodynamic downforce to the American compact.

The 17-inch alloy wheels as standard also help create a much more dynamic atmosphere in the Fiesta ST but, without a doubt, the oval brand has reserved the best for the compact’s tuning. Ford has invested several hours in the workshop to obtain a far more optimal result compared with previous ST models, something achieved thanks to the fitting of a limited-slip differential.

This system aims to provide greater grip when exiting corners and limits the distribution of engine torque when one of the wheels has reduced grip. At the same time, the differential will reduce the understeer the Fiesta ST may experience; however, this technology will only be available as an option. But Ford did not want the sportiness built into this new model to depend solely on the limited-slip differential, so it has introduced a suspension set-up in keeping with the whole.

Specifically, offset springs have been fitted, which will be the stars when it comes to enjoying better cornering and more agility in the American compact. This is possible thanks to non-interchangeable, uniform springs capable of applying vectoring forces to the rear suspension. Without a doubt, this element stands as an essential part of making the most of the Fiesta ST’s capabilities but we are forgetting the essence of every car, its engine.

If we delve into the hidden depths of the ST, we will find what gives life to the compact, a 1.5 EcoBoost capable of producing 200 CV of power and 290 Nm of torque, figures that allow it to rival directly the Volkswagen Polo GTi or the Peugeot 208 with the same badge. Thanks to this engine, the Fiesta can reach 100 km/h in 6.2 seconds and a top speed of 232 km/h.

This small adventurer stands as the ideal companion for tackling a mountain stretch and, at the same time, meeting our needs in the urban world. However, we still do not know a rather important detail, the price of the Ford Fiesta ST, although we can assume it will slightly exceed 20,000 euros, a very well-balanced figure for the overall package.