This performance advantage is also extended to the drivetrain; to support so much power the Stellantis pair also feature a limited-slip differential. However, the Alpine’s wider tracks and larger wheels already form an excellent basis for a new ST, to which Ford will apply its own chassis tuning magic.
What’s unlikely, however, are any major styling changes for the ST. Instead we expect the standard Fiesta’s body to be lightly modified, with ST badges and new wheel designs.
A further power boost could be found in the application of a second, rear-mounted motor, making an all-wheel-drive Fiesta RS a potential high-performance flagship. Renault’s multi-link rear suspension system could theoretically be arranged to integrate a second motor.
Will there be other new fast Fords?
Ford’s performance models shouldn’t be limited to just the Fiesta either, as the three other models – in this case a new Puma-sized BEV and two hybrid models that will effectively replace the existing Kuga and Focus – all share a similar connection to Ford’s high performance heritage. So who knows. A new Puma ST might well also be on the cards, and looking further ahead might this even lead to a new era of Focus ST and RS models? This aligns with plans to integrate Ford’s rally-bred heritage into each of its models.
However, this sense of driver engagement and focus on quality engineering will be tangible across more ordinary variants too, as Ford Europe CEO Jim Baumbick told us: “We develop products for targeted customers, so we can actually bring out the attributes that matter most to them. It doesn’t mean that your granny at 93 has to drive a rally car. When you talk to most customers they can’t explain it, but they say it just feels right. It drives well. And that’s the soul of what we’re trying to unlock and what’s special about our cars.”
Specific timings and price points are still to come, but with Ford racing to get this new era of European models on sale as quickly as possible, we don’t expect it to be too long after the standard Fiesta’s 2028 launch that we’ll see some tastier models hit the showroom floor.
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