Ford to limit Fiesta ST200 production to just 1000 cars
Fastest Fiesta ever will cost $46,000 in UK but will be volume-limited prompting fears we might not get it Down UnderFord has announced that the faster ST200 version of the Fiesta ST it revealed at the Geneva motor show in March will cost around $46,000 when it goes on sale in the UK in the next month.
It was hoped, originally, that the more powerful ST200 would become a permanent fixture in Ford Australia's line-up and sit above the $25,990 Ford Fiesta ST, but that now seems unlikely with a volume cap of around 1000 vehicles.
In March it was revealed the Fiesta ST200 would come powered with a 200hp (147kW)/290Nm version of the ST's 1.6-litre turbo with an overboost function that raised power and torque to 158kW/320Nm for up to 15 seconds.
Combined with a six-speed manual transmission and a shorter final drive ratio, which has been adjusted from 3.82 to 4.06, the Fiesta ST200 is considerably faster, shaving two-tenths of a second off the 0-100km/h sprint, which is now a claimed 6.7 seconds -- 0.2 seconds faster than the regular ST.
Top speed also rises, by 10km/h to 230km/h.
Like the Fiesta ST, the ST200 gets the three-mode stability control system, a modified front steering knuckle, a beefed-up rear twist-beam and recalibrated front and rear spring and damper settings that help lower the centre of gravity by 15mm.
The ST200 also gets shortened steering arms and a quicker steering rack while, to help cope with the extra power, there's larger rear brake discs and a bigger brake master-cylinder.
Available in a new metallic grey paint with 17-inch matte black alloys, Ford says the ST200 also features “enhanced torque vectoring”. Inside, there's standard Recaro seats.
The new ST200 is said to still average 6.1L/100km while emitting 140g/km of CO2.
Last year's motoring.com.au Australia's Best Driver's Car competition proved how capable the little Fiesta ST is, even when judged alongside more expensive and exotic performance cars.
It had been hoped that Ford would build on the popularity of the ST globally by building an RS version, but that car has been repeatedly ruled out by Ford execs.
If Ford Australia doesn't import the ST200 owners will still have the choice of opting for the factory-backed $2500 Mountune power boost.
The aftermarket dealer-fit kit raises the regular ST's output to 158kW/320Nm, but misses out on the ST200's suspension, steering and brake upgrades.
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