Ford will unveil the Fiesta Concept in LA, with a production version to follow in 2012.
Ford will use the Los Angeles Auto Show to reveal the Ford Fiesta ST Concept, the show car hinting at how a future version of its global subcompact might look when it joins the Focus ST as part of the maker’s expanding small car performance portfolio.
Bold and distinctive, the five-door Fiesta ST Concept embodies the spirit of Fiesta’s high-performance history with an infusion of dynamic, futuristic looks and innovative technology, said to Jim Farley, Ford’s global marketing chief.
“The Fiesta has a rich history of high-performance models so a new ST performance model is a logical next step in our performance vehicle strategy for our global small cars,” added Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development.
The return of the Fiesta to Ford’s U.S. portfolio last year marked the first time the maker had offered a B-segment model in two decades. Already one of the best-selling models in the rapidly expanding small car segment, the Fiesta has drawn in buyers who want more than the traditional econobox by offering a range of features – such as Ford’s high-tech Sync infotainment system – and more dramatic styling.
The Fiesta ST Concept presents a racing silhouette inspired by global Fiesta race and rally cars.
With the addition of an ST version, Ford would pick up on a 35-year history of taking things one step further with a high-performance subcompact in the lines of the iconic European Fiesta XR2 and XR2i, Fiesta RS1800 and RS Turbo, and the more recent first-generation Fiesta ST.
“With a racing silhouette inspired by the global Fiesta race and rally cars currently competing on the world stage, and influenced by the unique appearance of the all-new Focus ST, the new Fiesta ST Concept is an exciting demonstration of the road-going Fiesta’s potential,” Kuzak added.
Farley also confirmed beginning next year North American drivers will be able to own a performance car previously unavailable on this continent – the Ford Focus ST-R. The North American production car made an appearance at the SEMA Show, in Las Vegas, this week –and will have its public debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
(Click Here for the first close look at the Ford Focus ST-R race car.)
The street-legal Focus ST is Ford’s first truly global performance car, building on the heritage of previous Focus ST models in Europe and it underscores the great power of the “One Ford” concept, which has been extended to performance vehicles. It was developed by the Global Performance Vehicles group – made up of Team RS in Europe and Special Vehicle Team (SVT) in the United States – and the strategy they’ve come up with will be used for all future global performance Ford cars.
“Focus ST has not come around by chance,” said Jost Capito, director of Global Performance Vehicles. With this, the core DNA attributes – steering, driving dynamics, sound quality and power enhancements for all ST models – have been defined to the extent that our engineers can take that global DNA fingerprint and use it to create the new Focus ST.”
The new Focus ST has key physical DNA attributes like the aggressively enhanced front and rear bumpers, the addition of a rear spoiler and side skirts, plus unique signature colors.
These same attributes will form the genetic code for future models bearing the Sport Technologies badge in the future, Capito said.