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It can be done like this as well.
Dear viewers, we're driving a hot hatch for a change.
We're doing it completely different and drive a tiny car with 197 hp.
On paper this car has 179.5 hp, but don't be fooled: it's 197 hp.
All complicated, with an overboost that works for 20 secs full throttle.
Blah blah homologation in America or Europe. It's difficult.
This car is sold in America with 197 hp, unchanged compared to the EU version.
They're just being a pain in the ***.
It doesn't matter, because this is a great engine.
It's connected to a 6-speed manual. MANUAL.
Renault, are you listening? Volkswagen?
A manual transmission is fun. More so than an automatic with flappy paddles.
Cool if you have launch control, or that shifting is 0.002684 secs faster.
Maybe 0 - 62 mph is 0.2 secs faster, but you won't notice the difference.
6.9 is what this car does.
A bit slower than the Clio RS we tested a few weeks ago, ...
... but it's still good. It just feels faster.
This has to do with the car's suspension and electronics.
It has a new version of Ford's torque vectoring control system.
Now they call it eTVC, with the "e" of "enhanced". Wow.
It's more subtle than in the Focus ST. You could feel it kick in.
In the Fiesta ST it's so subtle, you don't notice the electronics ...
... working to get all the horsepowers on the road.
Next to the great torque, it sounds very nice as well.
This is due to a special tube that transfers sound ...
... from the engine compartment directly into the interior.
The suspension is sharp, as we're used of Ford.
I do have to admit it's a bit too stiff if you drive 100 miles a day.
The car was made to do corners. It turns really sharp.
If you lift when entering the corner fast, the rear will slide out a bit.
It's very subtle and controllable.
I'm still within the speed limit. Honestly.
Do I have something left to complain about? Yes I do.
Dear people from Ford.
That navigation system...
Can I set it on fire?
When reaching a set point in the route, it needs about 1.5 days ...
... to recalculate the ETA at the next destination.
The screen is a bit pathetic anyway.
In the interior, the plastic center console is horrible.
It looks very cheap. Crowded, cluttered and ugly plastic.
This is all I have to whine about. It's not so ugly I want to die.
How can you recognize a Fiesta ST?
It's not that difficult. There's a huge spoiler.
The diffuser is awesome. Usually it's black, but now it's the car's color.
17 inch wheels are standard.
Side skirts, front spoiler, and Recaro seats.
Last time in the Focus, which I think has the same seats, was torture.
Yesterday, early afternoon, my back hurt, but it was fine afterwards.
I'm rather comfy now.
What does it cost, dear people?
The same as all the other hot hatches: about 25,500 euros.
You can get the more luxurious version for 1,300 euros extra.
This includes leather parts and better radio speakers.
I don't know if they're in this car, but if these are ...
... the better speakers: never mind and buy some yourself.
25,500 euros is your ticket to a lot of fun.
It hurts a bit to say, as a fan of French hot hatchbacks, ...
... but it looks like Ford's Fiesta ST has superseded the Clio RS.
This car is more uncompromising, something the Clio RS was before.
If I have 25k-27k euros to spend on a hot hatch, which I would ...
... if I had the money. I would go for the Fiesta ST.
There's another competitor, which we will be testing soon.
That's the 208 GTI. Maybe it could compromise everything for the ST.
Either way, this one is not a bad buy.
Subtitles - Maru
Let's overtake that Ferrari California, yo!