Epic hot hatch

Ford’s best has just got better. Your Car jumps behind the wheel of the new Fiesta ST200

Ford has taken one of the best cars it has ever made – the Fiesta ST – and improved it. More power, new suspension and improved steering have all been added to the already impressive mix, and let’s make no bones about it, the result is absolutely epic.

That Storm Grey paint job is your only option when it comes to picking out your ST200, and as you can’t have it on a normal ST, it’s a bit of a tell-tale. It’ll certainly draw the attention of any boy racer who knows his cars, although whether that’s good or bad is a matter of opinion.

When said boy racer does come snooping, though, he’ll spot a few subtler features than the paintwork. Those black alloys, for example, are modelspecific, as are the red brake calipers that lurk behind them.

Inside, there’s another big clue in the shape of the massive ST200 badge that sits proudly on the centre console, while the more knowledgeable observer might also spot the grey trim on the supportive Recaro seats.

Because the ST200 is just a Fiesta, it comes with all the practicality of a normal 1.0-litre EcoBoost. Room in the front is plentiful, but adults wouldn’t want to sit in the back for too long, thanks to a spine-twisting lack of rear headroom.

In truth, though, rear passenger space is an issue for most of the Fiesta’s rivals, so it’s unfair to criticise too much.

To drive, the Fiesta ST is brilliant, but the ST200 is on another planet.

Let’s deal with the speed first, because we can quantify that. As the name suggests, the ST200’s 1.6-litre turbocharged engine produces 200 metric horsepower, or 197bhp, which represents an 18bhp increase compared with the basic ST.

It’s more complicated than that, though, because a transient overboost function means 212bhp is actually available for short periods.

The result is a 0-62mph time of 6.7 seconds and a top speed of 143mph. It may not sound like a big improvement on the ST – a car only two-tenths slower to 62mph and just 4mph behind at full chat – but the ST200 does feel much meatier thanks to increased torque and shortened gear ratios.

It sounds great, too, thanks to some glorious whooshes from the turbo wastegate when changing gear and a twin exhaust that produces a fruity bubble when the pedal’s depressed even slightly.

More impressive, though, is the way this car goes around corners. The steering weight is almost perfect, the balance is sublime and body roll is controlled in just the right measure.

“To drive, the Fiesta ST is brilliant, but the ST200 is on another planet”