New 2018 Ford Fiesta ST: Limited Slip-Diff, Launch Control and more

The 2018 Ford Fiesta ST – the performance take on Ford’s latest Fiesta – will soon start arriving in the UK, complete with options like a Quaife LSD and Launch Control.

It’s sometimes hard to fathom why it takes so long for some cars to arrive, and the 2018 Ford Fiesta ST is one such car.

The ‘Hot-ish Hatch’ take on the latest Ford Fiesta – itself revealed at the end of 2016 – the new Fiesta ST was actually revealed more than a year ago, ahead of a public debut at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, and only now is it about to go on sale officially in the UK.

When Ford first revealed the new ST we learnt that it would, like the new Fiesta range as a whole, become a lot more grown-up and offer more big boys toys and improved technology.

We already know it gets a new 197bhp 1.5 litre three-pot engine, as quick as the old Fiesta ST200, with cylinder deactivation (yes, on a three -pot) to improve economy by an impressive 11 per cent.

We also know it comes with a choice of three driving modes – Normal, Sport and Track – and more personalisation options like bigger alloys and Recaro seats.

But now we know the new Fiesta has more to offer too.

The new Fiesta ST is the first compact hot hatch to come with Ford’s force vectoring springs, which act on the rear suspension by taking cornering forces in to the springs to apply vectoring and increase lateral stiffness.

Ford say that will give you sharper turn-in, works with the normal dampers, doesn’t compromise comfort or ride quality and saves weight. Which all sounds very impressive.

Be prepared to tick a few option boxes when you order the ST and you’ll be able to have proper grown-up toys too, like a Quaife LSD for improved front end traction, and track only (some hopes) Launch Control.

Leo Roeks, Ford’s Performance Director Europe, said:

Hot-hatch drivers are expecting big things from this small car. We’ve applied what we’ve learned from recent Ford Performance models including the Focus RS and Ford GT to develop an all-new Fiesta ST that sets a new standard for driving fun in its segment.

The 2018 Ford Fiesta ST officially goes on sale in the UK in the spring.