wonderbot
03-26-2008, 12:10 PM
Filed under: Spy Photos (http://www.autoblog.com/category/spyphotos/), Euro (http://www.autoblog.com/category/euro/), Hatchbacks (http://www.autoblog.com/category/hatchbacks/), Ford (http://www.autoblog.com/category/ford/), UK (http://www.autoblog.com/category/uk/)
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/03/fiesta-rs_rend.jpg (http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/219219/ford_fiesta.html)Although the outgoing Ford Fiesta ST (http://www.autoblog.com/2005/09/20/ford-focus-st/) had its loyal fan base, its bland styling never did it any favors. So while we wait for the Blue Oval to decide on what Fiesta body-style should make it to American shores (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/05/what-say-you-should-ford-sell-fiesta-hatchbacks-in-u-s/), the real litmus test over on the British Isles will be what sort of performance derivatives the dynamically-styled new Fiesta (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/04/geneva-2008-new-ford-fiesta/) will spawn.
One of the principal rivals to any new hot-hatch Fiesta will be the Abarth variants of the Fiat Grande Punto (http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/12/frankfurt-2007-grande-punto-abarth-ss-is-a-mini-rock-star/). And like the two-stage Abarth models, the Fiesta is expected to follow Ford's double-barrel formula for a warm ST and, if the fantasies of Ford performance fans are fulfilled, a Fiesta RS as well. The Fiesta ST (http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/214719/ford_fiesta_st.html) is anticipated to use a 1.6-liter turbo, which could get an upgrade to 200hp for the Fiesta RS. Add to that an aggressive aero kit, bulging wheel arches, a stripped-out cabin with racing buckets, tightened suspension, beefed-up rolling stock and potentially a dual-clutch transmission and Ford could have a real barn-burner in the Fiesta RS. If projections are accurate, the Fiesta ST should bow next year and the RS a year after that. Whether Ford deems us worthy of seeing them Stateside, however, remains to be seen.
[Source: AutoExpress (http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/219219/ford_fiesta.html)]
Read | Permalink (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/26/rendered-speculation-ford-fiesta-rs/) | Email this (http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1149448/) | Comments (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/26/rendered-speculation-ford-fiesta-rs/#comments)
More... (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/26/rendered-speculation-ford-fiesta-rs/)
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/03/fiesta-rs_rend.jpg (http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/219219/ford_fiesta.html)Although the outgoing Ford Fiesta ST (http://www.autoblog.com/2005/09/20/ford-focus-st/) had its loyal fan base, its bland styling never did it any favors. So while we wait for the Blue Oval to decide on what Fiesta body-style should make it to American shores (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/05/what-say-you-should-ford-sell-fiesta-hatchbacks-in-u-s/), the real litmus test over on the British Isles will be what sort of performance derivatives the dynamically-styled new Fiesta (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/04/geneva-2008-new-ford-fiesta/) will spawn.
One of the principal rivals to any new hot-hatch Fiesta will be the Abarth variants of the Fiat Grande Punto (http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/12/frankfurt-2007-grande-punto-abarth-ss-is-a-mini-rock-star/). And like the two-stage Abarth models, the Fiesta is expected to follow Ford's double-barrel formula for a warm ST and, if the fantasies of Ford performance fans are fulfilled, a Fiesta RS as well. The Fiesta ST (http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/214719/ford_fiesta_st.html) is anticipated to use a 1.6-liter turbo, which could get an upgrade to 200hp for the Fiesta RS. Add to that an aggressive aero kit, bulging wheel arches, a stripped-out cabin with racing buckets, tightened suspension, beefed-up rolling stock and potentially a dual-clutch transmission and Ford could have a real barn-burner in the Fiesta RS. If projections are accurate, the Fiesta ST should bow next year and the RS a year after that. Whether Ford deems us worthy of seeing them Stateside, however, remains to be seen.
[Source: AutoExpress (http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/219219/ford_fiesta.html)]
Read | Permalink (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/26/rendered-speculation-ford-fiesta-rs/) | Email this (http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1149448/) | Comments (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/26/rendered-speculation-ford-fiesta-rs/#comments)
More... (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/26/rendered-speculation-ford-fiesta-rs/)