Ford Is "Categorically Not Working On A Fiesta RS"
The Ford Fiesta ST is one of the best affordable enthusiast cars on the market today, and with Ford Performance claiming it’ll have 12 fast models by 2020, exactly what is still to come from the Blue Oval has been cause for speculation. At the forefront of this has been talk of a Fiesta RS, with many outlets reporting that a 250bhp model is on the way, however we can officially write that off - for now.
Jay Ward, Product Communications Director for Ford of Europe, confirmed that the company is not working on a hotter Fiesta. While he refused to speculate on future models, Ward said “we can say categorically that we are not working on a Fiesta RS at this time. Where that speculation came from, no one quite knows, but at no point was it fed by us. I totally get the enthusiasm for it - I mean, wouldn’t it be great? - but right now it’s not [happening]”.
That’s not to say that it won’t happen, as we still have a few years for Ford Performance to fill its model quota, however anyone hoping that the car might be imminent will be disappointed. Dave Pericak, Ford Performance global director, added “if we’re going to do an ST or an RS, it’s going to be a full commitment, and that takes a lot of effort and resources.”
So while it’s not never, it’s not coming any time soon. To convert the Fiesta to an RS would mean full commitment from start to finish, and if Ford hasn’t even started yet, the earliest you could expect a mega-Fiesta - if at all - would be at the tail end of that 2020 plan.
Comments
It will be sad if they don’t make it
I’m wondering if one of the 12 new models will be a hot version of the Mondeo (since it has AWD and the engine from the Focus ST right now, and it could always go hotter) and maybe something more euro friendly than the Mustang like a new Capri. 1.6L and 2.0L in the Capri, 2.3L and V8 in the Mustang.
I sure hope so and I would love them to make a Abarth 500 rivalling Ka…just too see how much Ford can improve a dreary car (also I think it’s been changed from 20 to 12 in the article)
If I’m correct in America the Mondeo is sold as the fusion. I did see an article that the fusion would be getting an ST badge to fit into Fords performance line up
I think they are doing a Mondeo ST and I have seen pictures of the new Capri concept from ford
I did ask whether we might see ST or RS badging on either a car that’s never worn it before or on something that hasn’t worn one for a while, using the Mondeo as an example, but they have a strict rule about not talking about future products. But they did say that they are having huge success with performance cars and are pushing forward with making enthusiast cars in the same answer, so I think there might be a possibility…
It’d be cool to see a cosworth variant of the fiesta. I really wanna see what they can do with the little hatchback.
Because why make exiting cars when you can make another Ford [insert any letter here]-Max and sell it to boring people
Ford is one of the few automakers (at least in the US) still making driver-centered cars.
Correct, i have it on good authority that they’re instead working on a 3 cyl ecoboost with 200bhp to replace the fiesta ST 4cyl.
I was really hoping to see this, an affordable but practical fun daily driver.
So you’re saying there’s a chance…
It would be great to finally see a Fiesta RS if not, a more hardcore track focused machine.
Nobody was working on the Ford GT either