Report: Ford Fiesta ST dead in North America
Ford's small hot hatch won't see a successor stateside
By Wesley Wren
The Ford Fiesta ST might be a favorite among enthusiasts and autocrossers, but it doesn't look like Ford sees enough demand to support the next-generation to hit North American shores. According to Carbuzz's interview with Ford Performance Europe's director Leo Roeks, the hot hatch doesn't make sense financial sense for Ford in the US. We'd heard rumors the base Fiesta's days in our market were limited, but this confirms that the sportier variant is done here, too.
Roeks explains: "It's simply a matter of a lack of interest in the B-segment in America. It doesn't make sense, nor is it possible financially speaking, to import a single trim level, and a niche one at that." Fulfilling the crossover takeover, the Ecosport seems to be filling the space that the Fiesta currently occupies in Ford's small car lineup.
Two banger! Ford Fiesta ST turbo 3-cylinder can drop to 2 for efficiency
Roeks also mentioned that the upcoming Fiesta won't have support for an all-wheel-drive system, which should dash any hopes of Ford slapping an RS badge onto the upcoming car. That's unfortunate, because there wouldn't be anything much cooler than a road-ready version of Ford's Fiesta WRC rally racer.
While we won't get the 1.5-liter turbocharged I3 powered Fiesta ST, there's still hope for the upcoming Focus to have another slate of hot hatch variants that will hit our shores. Of course, that won't completely scratch the Fiesta ST's itch, but it'll be better than nothing.
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