Original Test :-

Ford models are never full, if any; sa fast. And now, finally, there? S a fast Fiesta. has a mildly-revitalize chains cam Mondeo 150PS engine putting out, dropped and stiffened suspension, big 17? alloys with 205/40 tyres unity and, for extra 6300, two police general alarm Carlos Fandango; go faster? stripes along the bonnet and roof. seems particularly good in white with blue stripes, the old Ford motor sports colors, but you also have red, blue or black with white stripes, and stripes along the side for a further 3150. There is; sa single-slot-CD player for the authentic; boom boom; noise. And the exhaust has been refined specifically for sound like a car rally 1960. Thus, the spirit of the original boy racer XR2 has been re-incarnated in the current Fiesta body.

How will all come together?

The engine speed very freely, the suspension is hard rock and the response is instantaneous, so if you want to work while driving, you can put some fairly quick A to B times for your favorite roads. And I suppose? S stiff enough to allow a dignified way car days. There was a foretaste of variation between the cars for testing; A showing an alarming tail waggle at times, hopefully whim of a pre-production of the car. And the ancient Ford fumble of a large gap between 2 nd and 3 rd speed seems to have returned. Close proportions these aren; t. While doing well and the seats are very comfortable and supportive, ST simply isn; tonne for me. And I wonder who is kind. In theory this? S ideal for young people under 25 who buy traditional fast Fiestas. But this? S Group 13 insurance, which will cost young people under 25 years an arm and a leg on top of 570990 list price. I imagine there? Ll is a race series that will shift some. Maybe the market is really 25? 30 years. Perhaps thirtysomething former owners are now running XR2 Jags will buy the second car out of nostalgia. The real concern should watch for days. But I can; T Ford provide metal moving in the numbers they used as XR2s. What can crystal ball are many young hankering after ST, then quoted £ 3k a year to insure, so plumping for 100PS Group 7 Fiesta Zetec 1.6S instead (which we didn? T get to test). For Telegraph readers, the new light sport Fusion Zetec S 90PS with a version of the PSA and Ford? S; Duratorq; 1,6 16 valve common rail diesel makes more sense. Fusions never really took off in the United Kingdom, despite the slightly higher driving position and rear loadspace with a huge flat low loading sill. A curious omission is not grab handle above the front passenger seat, which isn? T is to help the elderly and infirm make entry and exit. But for a small, tall car Zetec S version handles quite decently. A little better than a Mitsubishi Colt or class-leading Honda Jazz, although not better than stablemate Mazda 2. And the EU IV 90PS diesel gives a decent combination of performance and economy just short of magic 120g/km CO2 that annual VED is 4830 instead of 3570. FortunatelyFord saved the best for last. The Fiesta Zetec S, with the same 90PS; Duratorq; diesel engine. This isn? T only extremely cheap to run at 3570 annual VED and average 63mpg,? Es also a lot of fun. The suspension is more compatible than the ST, there; sa little less rubber on the road, no; ESP; switch (and does not need one) and one from diesel vehicles revving sweet you can buy. This raises the question why didn? T go all the 110PS version placed on the Peugeot 205 GTI HDI 110. The answer could be that the 110 wouldn? T have received 3570 VED. Or that they were so good that would have stolen the thunder of ST. Or simply that the PSA wouldn; t let us have this for the Ford Fiesta. Nevertheless, for me, only 90PS, the Fiesta Zetec S diesel car was the day. It rode well. It handled surprisingly well and feel like it will continue to do so in the liquid. It put a smile on my face. And I count myself? D perhaps eventually bypassed 55mpg day to day perhaps 35mpg from the ST, so I wouldn? T have to go and get robbed in service station as often. It is? S even cheaper to insure the group 6E. That is why? S fast Fiesta that gets the thumbs up for me; ll leave the ST fans who wanted such things.

Living with Fiesta ST150

For reasons I won; T I bore you with the liquidation of an all-black RHD ST150 test extended for 3 weeks. After our Thai Soluna Vios and a Mitsubishi Lancer estate, the first Fiesta felt so full of young, hard and darty thought that it would have a hard time not crashing. Because I like little compliance to the suspension, this was a real culture shock. And commit to 20 miles per hour at 1000 rpm at the top? s almost a relaxing cruiser. But this? s not what it is; s around. What is done about the Fiesta, as near to a track-day car as can be. And when I think so, it succeeds very well. It forces you to focus on driving properly. And it can be very satisfactory. We have changed the gear ratios from the initial test cars, because now a brief third gear gives hard acceleration, which is very useful in pulling a motorway. There is indeed bags grip and adjustability. On the straights noise from the engine discourages serious speed. But to get some corners and that the Mercedes was eating your back bumper suddenly becomes Dinky toy in your mirror. Thus, the ST150 can be enormous fun. And it is even more affordable real world now that prices have fallen to around 462000