Video: 2014 Ford Fiesta ST

Performance Division and the European Performance Division work together to create this globally available package and it's now available in the U.S. The legitimate performance option on the Fiesta. The Fiesta ST's more athletic appearance, very much mirrors its larger brother, the Focus ST. It has a rear diffuser and unique rear styling, the spoiler, as well as 17 inch wheels in summer only performance tires, and up front you have the ST specific grill in front styling with the front chin spoiler, but what's really special is under the hood. 197 horsepower in the Fiesta ST is potent. It's a lightweight subcompact car with a hot rod turbocharged four cylinder engine in it. And it does 0 to 60 in 6.9 seconds according to Ford. That is blazing fast for a subcompact car, it's only slightly less so than the Focus ST. Perhaps most surprising, it's just how good this engine sound. I didn't expect it from a little four cylinder like this, but Ford pipes the engine noise into the passenger compartment. A lot of automakers do this, not a lot of engines sound as good as this one, it sounds very authentic and natural, unlike another car such as the Subaru BRZ. That engine doesn't sound that great and piping that noise in the passenger compartment doesn't do it as much justice as this engine does. Adding to the Fiesta ST's credibility is its transmission offering, which is only a six speed manual transmission. While the engine is impressive, perhaps what's most surprising is the Fiesta ST suspension. Once you're off the road and on the track, it has unexpected levels of grip that are unheard of in the subcompact class. Under the fenders is a new, lower suspension. In addition, their revised steering knuckles, they give a quicker steering ratio. The brakes are also unique to the ST, there are larger and there's rear disc brakes instead of rear drum brakes on the regular Fiestas. The Fiesta ST is extremely playful on the track because it has a tendency for oversteer, rather than understeer most front wheel drive cars. A sport stability mode helps rein in that a little bit more, you get a little bit of fun on the track before the system kicks in and straightens you out. But it's wild that this little front wheel drive car can slide into a corner. The Fiesta ST suspension is tuned fairly aggressively, so it's more at home on the track than on the street. Once you're on city roads, rides a little rough, rides a little choppy. The Focus ST is a much more civilized package. Despite the turbocharge hot rod of engine under the hood, gas mileage isn't hit that hard, you're looking at 29 miles per gallon combined. The Fiesta ST starts at $22,000 with destination. Now, once you start adding options like the Recaro seats, the moonroof, navigation and expensive paint options as well, you are at the $25,000 territory, and that's where the Focus ST starts. Now, the Fiesta is a legitimate performance package, but the Focus ST is a legitimate performance package that's much more livable every day. (car passing by) (engine roaring)