New Ford Fiesta facelift launched in Europe, ST gets Track mode!



Ford of Europe has unveiled the mid-life refresh of the seventh-generation Fiesta hatchback. It was unfortunately never offered in the ASEAN region due to its high cost and Ford Thailand’s focus on pick-ups, where the predecessor was assembled.

Apart from the usual bumper and rim styling changes, Ford designers have also increased the height of the bonnet to better match the new grille that sports the Blue Oval emblem. The tail lamps have been added with black surrounds for a more sophisticated appearance.

The headlamps are standard LED units, while the higher range Matrix LED headlamps includes an advanced automatic high beam (AHB) feature called Glare-Free High Beam. A front-mounted camera detects oncoming vehicles and cancels out just that portion of the high beam to provide the Fiesta driver with uninterrupted lighting as well as not glaring the driver opposite.

The Matrix LED headlamps also adjust their lighting beam according to adverse weather.

For the SUV-inspired Active variant, the front grille has been made wider and added with vertical gloss black bars and even larger corner vents to better reflect the taller crossover stance. The unpainted lower body claddings are also combined with a higher ground clearance of 150 mm in the new Ford Fiesta Active.

As for the high-performance Ford Fiesta ST, the hot-hatch gets aerodynamics optimised front spoiler, side skirts, rear spoiler and diffuser in body colour, contrasted by new Chrystaline Grey-painted upper and lower grilles. The ST Mean Green colour featured in the official photographs is also new for the facelift model.

Under the bonnet of the new Ford Fiesta ST lies a tweaked 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder EcoBoost engine. Maximum torque has now been raised from 290 Nm to 320 Nm (similar to the new 2.0TSI Polo GTI) within a band of 1,600 to 4,000 rpm while peak horsepower is maintained at 200 hp.

The additional torque output did not decrease the benchmark century sprint time, still at 6.5 seconds. Drivers however can experience a more agile and nimble new Ford Fiesta ST on closed circuits thanks to the new Track mode which liberates the electronic stability control.

A limited-slip differential (LSD) is still optional, similar to Hyundai’s latest i20 N junior hot-hatch.

Inside of the facelifted Ford Fiesta, the driver’s instrument cluster comes with an option of a massive 12.3-inch fully configurable TFT digital screen. The new Fiesta ST meanwhile gets a pair of new 14-way Performance Seats that are developed to provide even greater support.

The half-a-million dollars Ford GT in Malaysia! Read here to know who owns it and the reason for its sudden appearance!  

The central infotainment system called SYNC 3 is an 8-inch sized touchscreen with pinch and swipe functionality and buyers can even specify a B&O (Bang & Olufsen) Sound System with 10 speakers with a 575-watt DSP amplifier.  

As for engine choices for the regular Fiesta models, four levels of power outputs are available from a single 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder EcoBoost engine, with two electrified choices. The 1.0-litre EcoBoost Hybrid engine has output levels of either 125 hp or 155 hp and continues to be paired to an 11.5 kW belt integrated starter-generator (BISG) module and 48-volt system.

Thanks to engine overboost as well as the BISG module, the maximum combined system torque available is 240 Nm at 2,500 rpm in the high output EcoBoost Hybrid.

Conventional engines meanwhile maintain the 100 hp and 125 hp output and are only mated to a six-speed manual transmission. Drivers who want an automatic new Ford Fiesta need not think much, as Ford is only offering the new Fiesta EcoBoost Hybrid 125 hp paired with a 7-speed Powershift dual-clutch automatic transmission with the 0 to 100 km/h sprint taking 9.9 seconds or one second slower than the flagship EcoBoost Hybrid 155 hp with manual transmission.

All-new Ford Ranger tested in mud, sand, rocks and even snow! Full reveal this year and deliveries to start in 2022. More images here!

As for safety features, the new Ford Fiesta adds a Wrong Way Alert to warning drivers should they drive through “No Entry” signs on highway ramps. The connected module in the new Ford Fiesta also provides Live Traffic updates and local hazard information to further support the driver in safe driving.


GALLERY