FORD has revealed the updated Fiesta ST, due to arrive in Australia early next year, and featuring confident, fresh styling and an enhanced technology package, making the compact hot hatch more future-ready than ever.
New exterior styling on the Fiesta ST includes a bonnet design that increases the height of the nose, combined with larger upper grilles. The Ford ‘blue oval’ badge is now displayed within the grille, rather than on the bonnet lip.
Standard LED headlights contribute to the confident, modern design language of Fiesta ST, while at the rear, the taillights receive new black surrounds for a more sophisticated appearance.
Two new exterior colours complement the revised exterior styling – Boundless Blue and ST-signature Mean Green. A fresh exterior design incorporates a more aggressive fascia appearance, with honeycomb upper and lower grilles alongside large lower side vents.
The Fiesta ST’s upper grille and side vents finished in distinctive Chrystaline Grey, and the aero-optimised lower lip spoiler, side skirts, rear hatch spoiler and rear diffuser are finished in body colour. Standard 18-inch alloy wheels feature a dark Magnetite finish.
New performance seats have been developed in-house to provide greater support during high-performance driving and additional comfort on the road. An integrated headrest and 14-way adjustment help drivers find their ultimate driving position.
Distinctive red contrast stitching and Sensico trim complete a premium feel. A flat-bottomed sport steering wheel and a matte carbon-effect foil with red detailing adds further sporty character to the cabin.
The Fiesta ST features a 1.5-litre EcoBoost engine, providing 147kW of power and peak torque of 320Nm. Patented, cold-formed force vectoring springs and Tenneco twin-tube front dampers endow the Fiesta ST with sharp turn-in and high levels of body control.
The Quaife mechanical limited-slip differential further enhances traction and cornering agility. In addition to the Normal and Sport drive modes, Fiesta ST also features a Track mode, which disables traction control and sets ESC to wide-slip mode for circuit driving.
The updated Fiesta ST introduces driving technologies designed to increase comfort, confidence and convenience in scenarios from city driving to highway cruising too, including Matrix LED headlights, with adaptive beam technology.
A 12.3-inch, fully-configurable TFT digital instrument cluster is introduced to the Fiesta ST for 2022, giving drivers the ability to personalise and prioritise information displays including navigation notifications.
The cluster features uniquely-themed displays to correspond with selected drive modes, and a separate area for high-priority information such as driver assistance technologies.
Technologies designed to prevent or mitigate the effect of collisions with other road users include blind spot information with cross traffic alert and active braking, lane keeping, and pre-collision assist with active braking.
Advanced connectivity features also help Fiesta ST customers enjoy stress-free ownership experiences, including FordPass. The modem and app technology allows owners to operate door locks, locate their vehicle, check fuel, alarms and tyre pressures.
The Fiesta ST’s connectivity provides live traffic updates for the available navigation system and also enables local hazard information. These features are in addition to the SYNC 3 infotainment system.
The system delivers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility and is supported by an 8.0-inch central touchscreen with pinch and swipe functionality, as well as the ability to display a 180-degree image from the rear-view camera.
Another feature of SYNC 3 is rear occupant alert, designed to help drivers avoid leaving children or pets in their vehicle by reminding them to check the back seats when the rear doors have been opened at the start of a journey.
Further available premium features include a wireless charging pad for smartphones and a B&O sound system with 10-speakers, an integrated subwoofer and a 575-watt amplifier to deliver selectable surround sound.
The 2022 Fiesta ST will be available in Australia from Q1 next year.
