The ST we want, but can’t get

FORD has introduced a special edition of the Fiesta ST, one year on from the first examples hitting roads in the UK. Unfortunately, the Fiesta ST is still a no-go for South Africa, as Ford can’t get the car to run as it should on local pump fuel.

Still, we can salivate over the Blue Oval’s latest pocket rocket.

The Fiesta ST Ford Performance Edition is limited to just 600 examples, all in three-door format and finished in Deep Orange paint.

It gains specially designed Ford Performance parts, including 18-inch Ford Performance alloy wheels – shaving seven kilograms of weight from the standard wheel set – and a Ford Performance coilover suspension pack with stainless steel damper housing and powder-coated Ford Performance Blue springs.

The coilover suspension pack lowers the ST’s ride height by 15mm at the front and 10mm at the rear, and has been extensively tested at the Nürburgring Nordschleife by Ford Performance engineers. The car’s suspension can be adjusted manually, with 12 bump settings and 16 rebound settings for a personalised, finely-tuned driving setup.

The 10-spoke, 18-inch flow formed alloy wheels are stronger and more durable than a traditional cast wheel.

Other standard equipment includes LED headlamps and a Bang & Olufsen premium audio system, in addition to the ST’s signature Performance Pack, comprising a specially-designed Quaife limited slip differential (LSD), launch control and performance shift-light indicators.

More than 5000 new Fiesta STs have been sold in the UK over the past year, attesting to the popularity of the car. It’s a shame that it wasn’t conveived with Mzanzi’s ST fans in mind.