[BrokenSVT]

The general feel in size while tossing them around was similar but the gap between confidence levels when it comes to driving in anger is considerably bigger.

I'm curious what you mean by this.

Being an owner of both myself, I'll say that the Fiesta does feel a bit smaller inside than the Focus. It's not an uncomfortable smaller, per se...but smaller. Cargo space of course is much less in the Fiesta ST. If you drop the floor down by removing the full six spare it certainly increases, but still doesn't match the ZX3's space.

As a layman, the steering feels just as nice in the FiST as in the SVT Focus despite the electrical nannies in the ST. Both cars are capable on the track right out of the can, and I'll give the nod to the ST's very stiff suspension.

Power...power...power. Well, that's a given. The SVT Focus, in its heyday accelerated just fine. It wasn't a high-winding Honda engine but the warmed-over Zetec was rewarding to drive to redline. The FiST, on the other hand, is always pulling. It's a little dull past 5.5k RPMs, but still eagerly tugs the car forward at those higher revs. The biggest contrast is low-end torque. The little 1.6L spins the tiny turbo up VERY quickly and finds redline far more quickly than it should.

I love both cars nearly equally, but the Fiesta ST is(as I've said before) everything the SVT Focus might have been with ten more years of technology and with boost thrown in for good measure. It is an absolutely amazing little car.

That's most of my two cents on the matter.

 

[Rodewaryer]

Let me clarify then. Whilst the two may be roughly similar in size, the performance of the two is not. The Fiesta engine felt agricultural to me (after having a ZX3 and an SVT prior to it) and even with big brakes on it, the car couldn't compare to the level of a Focus when it came to pushing it. Even the ZX3 felt more precise and rewarding to drive fast. Having said that, I'm sure it will seem like I'm ragging on the Fiesta, but fact is I still miss Rhino (our 2011 Fiesta) and enjoyed owning it.

 

[BrokenSVT]

I see. I had already forgotten that yours was a base Fiesta. Have you had the opportunity to drive an ST, stock or otherwise since then?

 

[Rodewaryer]

I see. I had already forgotten that yours was a base Fiesta. Have you had the opportunity to drive an ST, stock or otherwise since then?

In making the basic comparison of chassis' I was tapping on my experience with my ZX3 too. Everyone seems to like to knock the SVT in saying the ST Fiesta is everything the SVT should have been. The SVT was everything I thought my ZX3 should have been.

If I'm ever out in my twisty element in my SVT, I sure hope I run across a Fiesta ST.

 

[Apex clipper]

Ford should have built a RS version.

Circa 250hp, active diff.

What's not to like. I'm quite sure that'll worry a Focus RS.

"What's and if's"......

 

[BrokenSVT]

There's a lot of banter and speculation on the ST forums, whether there's a Fiesta RS on the horizon. Between that and Ford's flirty answers to questions of whether one will come to fruition, there's hope.

In the meanwhile, I'm a decision on exhaust away from Stage 3 on my little FiST, and then a larger turbo away from bliss. I'll live that dream for a while...then start thinking about limited slips and the like

 

[Apex clipper]

Lightweight Fiesta>~ 200 odd...brake horsepower.

Goodbye focus.


Simple power to weight..using the same driver.

 

[Apex clipper]

There's a lot of banter and speculation on the ST forums,

I'm from England...so tight bends and short straights are the norm here.


A RS fiesta will muller the focus version.

 

[crapwacker]

I was fortunate enough to get to drive my son inn law's FiST out to Carlisle, due to the face that my SVT wasn't up to full health. Good feel, nice ride, pulled hard in top gear. And drop it down to pass, it's a pocket rocket. Of course it tops out a little quicker that it should, it's a 1.6. I can't speak for twisties, but it's roan manners and snappy handling were impressive. The old lore is that Ford cut the nuts off the SVT as to not embarrass the 'thoroughbred' Mustang, lest the SVT would have come to us blown, and well North of 200hp.

 

[BrokenSVT]

There's plenty of power left in that 1.6L as well. A Fiesta ST forumite made 375 whp(330 ft-lbs) a couple of weeks ago with plenty of bolt-one, an upgraded turbo and good tuning. IIRC, it was an e30 tune. A friend local to me made 300 whp just prior, and his car is damned impressive.

 

[Apex clipper]

There's plenty of power left in that 1.6L as well. A Fiesta ST forumite made 375 whp(330 ft-lbs) a couple of weeks ago with plenty of bolt-one, an upgraded turbo and good tuning. IIRC, it was an e30 tune. A friend local to me made 300 whp just prior, and his car is damned impressive.

Let FORD build it.

They are very clever..when that euro RS brand appears.

 

[captainmorbid]

Let FORD build it.

They are very clever..when that euro RS brand appears.

We all might be too olde by then! I'm still hoping the Fiesta RS will be AWD, and since the Focus RS is at 345, the Fiesta RS will be 260-270...

considering the Fiesta RS WRC sits at 330 hp with a strangler intake, I like the mid to high 200s for a street car...

 

[Forbidden Doughnut]

I don't see how a fiesta RS would fit into ford's lineup. It would have to cost 30k to not compete with the focus RS, and at that price it will compete directly with the focus ST.

 

[spots25]

I'm still hoping the Fiesta RS will be AWD

If there is a Fiesta RS, I doubt it'll be AWD

 

[captainmorbid]

I don't see how a fiesta RS would fit into ford's lineup. It would have to cost 30k to not compete with the focus RS, and at that price it will compete directly with the focus ST.

The only thing that would make it viable would be limited production volume. Ford enthusiasts would be able to choose hammer or scalpel between the Focus RS and Fiesta RS.

I still doubt there will be a 2wd Fiesta RS for the same logic that you provide. And there is little chance that there will be a Fiesta RS on the current platform. The next gen Fiesta would allow for tooling the platform to allow for the introduction of a new subcompact UV with allowances for AWD to replace the ecosport(fwd only) and jump into the new category that Honda and Mazda and GM have recently joined. Thereby giving a subcompact platform with AWD capability.

Of course Ford will likely prove my assumptions wrong and give us a true Focus RS descendant with a FWD Fiesta RS at a much lower price point than the Focus ST...

 

[Forbidden Doughnut]

In this scenario, which is the hammer and which is the scalpel?

Also, a fiesta RS that was cheaper than the focus ST would be the same price as the fiesta ST....there isn't much of a gap between the two.

 

[captainmorbid]

In this scenario, which is the hammer and which is the scalpel?

Also, a fiesta RS that was cheaper than the focus ST would be the same price as the fiesta ST....there isn't much of a gap between the two.

Fiesta, scalpel, Focus...

That point supports my guess that if there was going to be a Fiesta RS, it would have to be AWD, and more expensive than a Focus ST base price. The gap in Canada is not too close, $22k for the Fiesta ST(which only has a single package, and the only options are Nav, sunroof) and $27k for a base Focus ST(very similar packaging and options to the U.S.). There is some gap, enough to justify AWD and 230-240hp? Maybe not.

 

[crapwacker]

If we're talking competing with the Focus ST, that is at a completely saturated market (I see at least 3 a day, a Fiesta RS(which will be limited, like the Focus RS), won't pose any competitive market share. Best hope is that if it appears, they will stuff a LSD in it, and bolt up a tricked out control blade rear end in it. "Oh no, we won't be able to sell the rest of these Focus ST's !' Horse-feathers. Make that little RS the best it can be. And with a 2.0. the Fofos st will still sell, because of what it is. I myself would be more inclined to buy the Fiesta. Lighter, tighter, more agile.
Now, mind you, what would really make me throw my junk into the cash grinder? And the Ford executives think will steal sales? They tried it before, without the help of the performance teams- a snotty Fusion. ~450 hp, awd., ____ where is that at? Does Ford not want to play with BMW? Great stuff, but touchy and somewhat problematic when it gets more than 8 years old> Yeah, 50k for a Ford, but isn't that going to cut into the Lincoln market? Or the Mustang market? Ford, I am NEVER going to be old enough to buy a Lincoln. The de tuned Taurus sho, MKX still scared the oldies, and the douchies that thought they were supposed to have one had their women leave them.
Yes, I know this is a Focus forum, but the current Focus is just a touch smaller than the original fusion
A badass Fiesta RS could be more Ford than than anything. Like the GT40. Out of the dealer, it will eat anything in it's class, or above. Yes, it's bigger brother, and steroid laden uncle the mustang, has more blah, blah, blah. But this could be the no frills monster that no one will build or sell any more.

 

[BrokenSVT]

I agree with everything said above. A lot of the discussion on the FiST forums revolves around "but model overlap" and "but price overlap." Who cares? A loaded-out FoST converges on a bottom-barrel Mustang. A loaded current model year FiST is priced similarly to a new but previous model year FoST.

Some folks prefer the smaller car or the bigger car or the car with more cargo space. Maybe they want a certain color that isn't available on other models, etc. Ford is realizing this, and it's evident in their performance lineup. An AWD Focus in North America, priced outside the RWD flagship sports car? Who'd have thunk it? And it'll sell. Fast.

Give me a Fiesta RS. And yes, slap a 2.0(or 2.3) in it.

 

[SR Performance]

I am most likely the biggest hater of the Focus RS on this site. I will tell you right now though, if Ford was to make a Fiesta RS with AWD, 2.0L Ecoboost, 280-290hp and manage to keep it under 3,000lbs at $30-32k, I'd be waiting with cash in hand.

The hard part for Ford would be keeping it under 3,000lbs. They have a porker fetish. (along with every other domestic manufacturer) It will drive them mad if they kept the weight down so you can count on them finding a way to make it as fat as it can possibly be.