[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/test-drive-new-2013-ford-fiesta-st\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/test-drive-new-2013-ford-fiesta-st\/","headline":"Test drive: New 2013 Ford Fiesta ST","name":"Test drive: New 2013 Ford Fiesta ST","description":"Ford is bringing some serious spice to the hot hatch market with their new Fiesta ST, with up to 200bhp, 6.7 seconds to 60mph and 137mph at top whack; for under \u00a317k. Motor-Vision has just returned from wrapping one of the most exciting fast Fords ever around the hairpins of the French Alps at warp speed. Hot hatch fans must read on\u2026 The big-selling Ford Fiesta has just had a facelift for the 2013 model year, and most notable of […]","datePublished":"2013-03-13","dateModified":"2013-03-13","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/FiestaST_06.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/FiestaST_06.jpg","height":383,"width":510},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/test-drive-new-2013-ford-fiesta-st\/","about":["Cars","LATEST CAR NEWS","Sports \/ Performance & Prestige cars","Sports, Performance & Prestige Cars"],"wordCount":888,"keywords":["ford","ford fiesta","test drives"],"articleBody":"Ford is bringing some serious spice to the hot hatch market with their new Fiesta ST, with up to 200bhp, 6.7 seconds to 60mph and 137mph at top whack; for under \u00a317k. Motor-Vision has just returned from wrapping one of the most exciting fast Fords ever around the hairpins of the French Alps at warp speed. Hot hatch fans must read on\u2026The big-selling Ford Fiesta has just had a facelift for the 2013 model year, and most notable of the facial tweakage has been the addition of a large trapezoidal front grille, a pair of remodelled and modernised headlights, and an interior refresh, too. The facelift also bought along the 3-cylinder EcoBoost engine with its miserly attitude towards fuel. However, Ford didn\u2019t mess much with the Fiesta\u2019s chassis and driver-loading because, well, if it ain\u2019t broke\u2026Now, more important to lovers of fast-fun is the a new engine and ST trim to cuddle up with the refreshed car; a 180bhp \u2013 200bhp on overboost \u2013 1.6-litre, variable valve timing, low inertia turbo\u2019d little packet of fruity fun. Mixed up with the sweet chassis that the pre-facelift Fiesta was always famous for and we\u2019ve got a delicious-sounding performance recipe.King of the mountains\u00a0The international press \u2013 hey, that\u2019s me! \u2013 are based in Nice on the south coast of France for this Fiesta ST launch, and all around the launch hotel are miles of mega mountains that could tickle God on the chin. Running around these mountains are the sort of sinuous roads that\u2019d have a chap who loves his hot hatches going weak at the knees. That guy is me and as I walk towards the Spirit Blue Fiesta ST2 (\u00a317,995), hot-lit in the sunshine, I\u2019ve got a gait on me like John Wayne after a week in the saddle.For me, this Spirit Blue, that harks back to the days of the deep-blue Ford Focus RS MK1, is the colour of choice, but there is a gold metalflake Molten Orange that looks good in the sun \u2013 do we get sun in the UK?! \u2013 and there was word of the white Fiesta ST too, but none were on the launch for me to ogle.Of course, most normal cars look good in their fastest incarnations, and the new ST gets an ST-only bodykit of side skirts, big roof-tip spoiler, a rear diffuser-style lower bumper, and a sharpened front bumper. This Spirit Blue over this bodykit \u2013 with that big new grille now deathly black with a laser-red \u2018ST\u2019 badge – and the ST is definitely the fittest Fiesta in town. A lowering by 15mm \u2013 over grey 17-inch alloys – of a now stiffer suspension set up also helps; indeed springs, dampers and front anti-roll bar are full ST spec, and that means lower, stiffer, and yes, corner-roll-free.Recaro bucket seats\u00a0Tug the 3-door-only driver\u2019s door and a pair of Recaro buckets familiar from the Focus ST fill the eyes \u2013 cloth for ST; half-leather for ST2 \u2013 and these are a welcome sight for hot hatchers. We always demand fresh butt-holders! The rest of the interior is new Fiesta spec \u2013 with some ST badges and a leather-wrapped ST steering wheel for good measure. But, the best thing about this Fiesta and the one before it is the highly adjustable seating position, which, for long leggers like me, is deep and low in the chassis, making me feel hooked up with the car. My Recaro hugs my shoulders reassuringly as I set off to go hunting in the hills.Weekend warrior, workday ready\u00a0ST\u2019s engine note is best described as a burble, that builds to a big burble when the righthand pedal is mashed. There\u2019s a sound-tuned tube that carries intake noise into the cabin \u2013 allowing the engineers to choose what ST drivers hear \u2013 and it\u2019s about right for a hot hatch weekend warrior that\u2019ll serve you well in Monday to Friday traffic, too.Familiar friends from the Fiesta before are a snicky-feeling 6-speed manual gearbox and the Fiesta\u2019s usual appetite for apexes, but for ST that quick-thinking chassis gets the engine it deserves, more powerful brakes \u2013 discs all round for the first time \u2013 and quicker steering. Oh, and you want grip? You got it. 205mm wide Bridgestones bite hard and Ford\u2019s electronic Torque Vectoring Control system \u2013 that brakes the inner wheel to pull the front end through the bends, as seen in Focus ST\u2013 works a treat.The 180bhp EcoBoost engine gets wads of low-down torque and pulls hard \u2018n\u2019 fast all the way to its near-7k redline, and I\u2019ll tell ya; it feels quicker than 6.7 seconds to 60mph.Hairpins pinned\u00a0Sprinting between these French hairpin bends reveals a great chassis made better and a lusty engine hauled up by powerful and progressive brakes. And, find me a quicker steering \u2013 with great weight and feel \u2013 current hot hatch and I\u2019ll jump at the chance to drive it.Fiesta ST fans have waited a long time for this car and I\u2019ll eat a tramp\u2019s hat if they\u2019re disappointed. It\u2019s fast, fun and looks like a streetfighter. It\u2019s on sale now and if you\u2019re in this kind of new car market, then a heartier test drive recommendation cannot be given.  By Dan Anslow "},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Latest News","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Test drive: New 2013 Ford Fiesta ST","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/test-drive-new-2013-ford-fiesta-st\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]