New 2022 Ford Fiesta ST facelift gets fresh face and more torque
Ford has treated its peppy little Fiesta ST hot hatchback to a new front end, a few interior revisions and an extra 30Nm of torque
In the world of small hot hatchbacks, the front-running Ford Fiesta ST has come under heavy fire from the new Hyundai i20 N. So this facelifted version of Ford’s hot supermini - part of the grand facelift applied on the Mk7 Fiesta - has come at the right time. It brings a spate of performance and cosmetic tweaks that will help the blue oval beat back its new Korean competitor.
Prices for the revised Ford Fiesta ST start from £22,630, meaning it undercuts the Hyundai i20 N by £2,365. It’s available to order now, with first deliveries due to arrive early next year.
Additional performance has been found in the ST’s turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine. Now, there’s an extra 30Nm of torque, which takes the car’s peak figure to 320Nm. Power is unchanged at 197bhp, though, while the 0–62mph sprint takes an identical 6.5 seconds, so the new torque is more about mid-range boost than off-the-line power.
Drive goes to the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox, which can be upgraded with a mechanical limited-slip differential as an optional extra. Ford says the new Quaife unit will deliver a little more grip and benefit the hot hatchback’s cornering ability.
Styling revisions include a new front bumper, a bolt-on chin-spoiler, a larger honeycomb radiator grille and Matrix LED headlights. Ford has also added Mean Green to the Fiesta ST’s colour palette, which is a shade we first saw on the Puma ST.
The rest of the Fiesta ST’s styling is largely unchanged, with buyers getting the same deep side skirts and tailgate spoiler as the previous model. The rear diffuser is a new body coloured unit, though, while the car’s vents are now finished in Crystalline Grey.
Inside, the previous model’s Recaro seats have been swapped for some in-house replacements, which are 14-way adjustable and trimmed in Sensico synthetic leather. There’s also a little more carbon-effect trim and a flat-bottomed steering wheel.
As before, buyers get Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment system, which is operated using an eight-inch touchscreen perched atop the dashboard. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come as standard.
Now click here to read all the latest news on the facelifted version of the standard Ford Fiesta…
