Ford Fiesta ST Concept is a five-door street tough Car News and Review
If you’re wondering around the future of Ford powertrains, the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show and the 2013 Ford Escape should provide entirely the clues you need. The entry-level crossover features a pair of EcoBoost four-cylinder engines and exactly zero V6 options.
The smallest EcoBoost displaces only 1.6 liters, and promises terrific fuel economy and performance. That engine is the thriftiest engine in the Escape, but what if it were to reside under the hood of something much smaller? That’s where the Fiesta ST Concept comes into play. The performance-oriented Fiesta is on display at the Ford exhibit in LA, and though it’s a showcar for now, this B-segment hatch looks production ready.
Ford claims that in this application, the 1.6-liter EcoBoost delivers 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque – a whopping 60 more ponies than the naturally aspirated 1.6 featured in the garden-variety production Fiesta. Given that the base Fiesta is only 2,600 pounds, we’re guessing 180 horsepower is more than enough punch to turn the Fiesta into one heck of a fun ride.
The Fiesta ST concept surely looks the part of a high-performance hatch, with a gaping, aggressive black mesh grille, attractive body-colored moldings and chunky five-spoke 17-inch wheels. Hit the jump to read over the Ford press release, and feel free to click on the gallery above for our high-resolution photos.
